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AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Rolling Out to Select Roku Streaming Players and TVs

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Roku today announced that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are now rolling out to select streaming players, including the Roku Ultra, Roku Streambar, Roku Smart Soundbar, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Roku Premiere, as part of a free Roku OS 9.4 update. The software update is also in the process of rolling out to select Roku-based 4K TVs from brands like TCL.

roku airplay
AirPlay 2 enables users to stream videos, music, podcasts, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a Roku-connected TV, with no Apple TV box necessary. And with HomeKit support, users can control the TV's power and and more using the Home app and Siri on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or HomePod.

The software update began rolling out earlier this month for some users and should be available on all supported Roku devices within the coming days.

Tags: AirPlay, HomeKit Guide, Roku

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Top Rated Comments

Senseotech Avatar
Senseotech
76 months ago

It's about the content.. Apple is not overly concerned with selling AppleTV boxes
I also suspect that for many, myself included, we're willing to pay a premium for an additional box that's independent of the TV and its OS/upgrade cycle and that has that familiar Apple "feel" to it. I've never been a fan of Roku's clunky interface and "channel" model where everything feels slow; having my TV in Homekit and with AirPlay 2 directly is nice, but I'm still going to buy the next AppleTV device for the interface, ease of use, and overall ecosystem, and I suspect there's a sufficient number of people like me to where its not an EITHER OR scenario.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chazzle Avatar
Chazzle
76 months ago

Forgive my ignorance if I missed this detail, but will this allow the TV to also output audio via AirPlay 2?
Yes, works great. I can even play music thru my HomePod and sound bar that’s hooked up to my roku tv and it plays perfectly in sync.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whyamihere Avatar
whyamihere
76 months ago
My TCL 55R617 said it checked for an update earlier today but was still on 9.3. I did a manual update check and sure enough, there was 9.4. AirPlay works great!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
alent1234
76 months ago

There goes a main selling point for Apple TV. wonder why Apple finally caved on letting AirPlay be on other devices
because everyone else was going to have some casting ability from a phone to a tv and it would be stupid if their $1300 phone couldn't cast to a TV without an additional $150 box
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
seinman
75 months ago

Hmmmm. OK, we have 2 of the 4K streaming sticks in our home and they burn through a set of AAAs (alkaline) every 2 to 3 weeks. Not kidding. I recently switched-up my entire home WiFi so I could put both Roku on 2.4ghz and clear up our 5ghz for stuff that I really want on 5ghz, so maybe that will help.

In terms of the Airplay performance, I've only tested it a few times, but at on the 4K sticks it seems to be just as good as on the Apple TVs, so that's good news.
I have two streaming sticks and two streaming sticks+, and all four remotes last at least five or six months. Haven’t done anything special with WiFi, all 4 devices are on 5 ghz.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
rumormiller
76 months ago
I don't think it's available in the UK. My Streaming Stick+ has updated to 9.4.0 yet no Airplay.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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