A hands-on look at Roku's new streaming boxes (photos)

Roku announced three new budget streaming boxes, with sleeker designs and some hardware improvements.

Matthew Moskovciak

Sept. 25, 2013 12:01 a.m. PT

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The new Roku lineup

Roku announced three new budget streaming boxes to its line, adding the Roku 1, Roku 2, and a redesigned Roku LT. (From left to right: Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku 1, and Roku LT)

Roku 1, 2 and 3 with their respective boxes

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Roku 1, 2 and 3 with their respective boxes

These new streamers replace the Roku's old entry-level models (Roku HD, Roku 2 XD, and the existing Roku LT), designed to offer less expensive options for those who don't need all the bells and whistles available on the flagship Roku 3.

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The new Roku LT, $50

Like before, the Roku LT offers 720p playback, HDMI and analog video outputs, and is available only at online retailers.

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Roku LT, back

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Roku LT with remote

The Roku LT and Roku 1 remotes are slightly different than the budget remotes in the past, featuring direct-access buttons for Netflix, Amazon Instant, Blockbuster, and M-Go.

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Roku 1, $60

The Roku 1 adds 1080p playback to the Roku LT's feature set.

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Roku 1, back

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Roku 1, with remote

Eagle-eyed Roku fanatics will also notice that the "jump back" button has been restored to the cheaper models, which previously was only available on the Roku 3.

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Roku 2, $80

The Roku 2 adds two killer features to its remote that made the Roku 3 a hit: a headphone jack, for private listening, and Wi-Fi Direct, so you don't need line of sight to send commands to the box.

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Roku 2

In a way, the new boxes look even sleeker than the Roku 3, with a sloping case that gets thinner toward the front, while still maintaining enough room in the back for the analog jacks.

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Roku 2, back

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Roku 2 remote, with included earbuds

The Roku 2 remote doesn't have the motion-control functionality or gaming buttons that the Roku 3 has, but given the scarcity of quality games available for Roku, it's not a big loss.