Roku has announced its first 4K streaming ultra-high definition (UHD) TV models will be available at Best Buy starting on March 10, Thursday. The retail giant will offer three Insignia Roku TV models with 4K resolution online and they will hit physical stores throughout the United States in early April. Roku's smart TVs will run its operating system and allow people to access many streaming channels.
The company announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 that it would roll out 4K TV models this year. That would give brands including TCL and Insignia an upgrade to UHD technology.
4K TV owners will be able to enjoy movies and television shows on thousands of streaming channels. That include 10 channels that offer 4K resolution content, according to Ubergizmo.
Roku's Insignia TV sets will be available in different sizes and prices including 43-inch ($399), 50-inch ($499), and 55-inch ($649). They will all include a quadcore processor and dual-band Wi-Fi for improved wireless streaming.
In addition, the Roku TVs do not require an external Roku box or stick to stream UHD video. They are cable-compatible but the default setting is for the Roku platform.
Roku has plans to add access to more 4K channels and content when they are available for the platform. The 4K televisions will be sold in the United States but some models will also be on sale in Canada, according to The Verge.
Prices of the Roku TVs are close to other 4K-resolution budget TVs. For example, a 55-inch 4K Vizio model is available at Best Buy for $800. However, the price tags are much lower than UHD TVs sold by high-end brands including Sony, Samsung, and LG Electronics.
TCL plans to ship a 4K Roku TV sometime this year although an official release date has not been announced.
In other UHD TV news, Japan will offer 8K TV broadcasting during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. The Olympics Broadcasting Services (OBC) will shoot 130 hours of 8K video content during the Rio Olympics.
It follows Sharp becoming the world's first electronics company to launch an 8K TV set last October. The 85-inch TV has a sky-high $140,000 price tag.
Here's a Roku 4K streaming box: