For the first time since at least 2015, Roku will not introduce any new devices this fall, following in the footsteps of Apple and Google this year. And where is Nvidia?

2023 has brought notable advances in display technology, such as MLA OLED and second-generation QD-OLED, but it has been a slow year for new player hardware.

While it is not surprising that there have not been major new UHD Blu-ray player launches, what is surprising is the absence of new streaming player launches from the likes of Apple, Google, and Roku.


 Chromecast with Google TV (4K) has not been upgraded since 2020. Photo: Google

The most recent Apple TV 4K was released in 2022 and the latest Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was launched in September 2022. Nvidia Shield has not seen a refresh since 2019.

Amazon is the exception, with the launch of the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Nevertheless, the rest of the company's streaming devices are showing their age.


Refreshed hardware in 2024?
Apple has an event planned for next week, but Bloomberg has previously reported that the next Apple TV will not launch until 2024. References to a new Chromecast with Google TV has been found, but nothing concrete has emerged so far.

Roku has explicitly ruled out the possibility.

- "Roku isn't introducing any new devices this fall, a spokesperson told me via email this week," reported Lowpass.

One reason is that smart TVs with built-in apps are becoming increasingly prevalent in households, surpassing dongles in the US, with a penetration rate of 74% for smart TVs compared to 64% for dongles, as highlighted in a Leichtman Research report cited by Lowpass. Roku is also shifting its attention to Roku TVs.

Another contributing factor may be that covid-19 disrupted supply chains, leading to significant chip shortages and necessitating changes in industry plans.

A third factor is that premium features such as 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are now widely supporting, leaving less room for obvious new features in new streaming players.

Still, there is plenty of opportunity so we hope to see more action in 2024.