As a long-time Roku user, I’ve had my share of experiences with their remotes. Starting back in 2017 with Roku Ultras, the included voice remotes, powered by double A batteries, were a constant source of frustration due to poor battery life. It felt like I was swapping batteries every three months, which was far from ideal.
Moving to newer Roku Streaming Stick 4K devices brought a change in remote design. These models feature smaller remotes that use triple A batteries. A noticeable difference is the removal of the headphone jack, a feature present on the older double A battery remotes. While losing the headphone jack might be a downside for some, the newer triple A remotes are undeniably more comfortable to hold – they’re smaller, lighter, and feel better in hand. Plus, the battery life seems significantly improved. I’ve seen around 10 months of use before needing a battery change on these newer remotes.
Despite the improvement in battery longevity with the triple A remotes, the older double A remotes are still in use with my older Roku Ultras. However, I’ve learned a trick to manage their battery drain: I remove the batteries when the Roku isn’t in use. It turns out these older remotes are power hungry, draining batteries even when the Roku is off or unplugged. This suggests a design flaw that constantly draws power, even in standby mode.
Unfortunately, both generations of Roku remotes share some persistent annoyances. One is the random, and non-disableable, low battery notifications that pop up on the TV screen. These alerts can be disruptive and appear without warning. Another consistent design issue is the placement of the volume and mute buttons on the right side of the remote. This placement makes it easy to accidentally press these buttons when simply picking up or handling the remote, leading to unintended volume changes or muting.
In conclusion, while Roku has made some improvements with their newer remotes, particularly in battery life and ergonomics, fundamental design flaws persist. From excessive battery drain in older models to inconvenient button placement and disruptive notifications across all models, there’s clearly room for a complete redesign of the Roku remote. As a user relying on Roku devices and their remotes daily, a more thoughtfully designed remote would significantly enhance the overall streaming experience.
