This is one area where the Roku easily beats Apple TV

• The Apple TV remote could be more
• There are still things I like about the remote

I love my Apple TV 4K, and it’s by far the streaming device I use the most despite having an Amazon Fire TV Stick, a Roku Streaming Stick, and a Roku Ultra. The Fire TV Stick isn’t plugged in anymore, but I use my Ultra in the bedroom and the Streaming Stick in my basement, while the Apple TV is in my living room as my primary viewing device.

This is because, at least in my opinion, the Apple TV 4K gives the best picture quality, and that’s what I’m looking for from my streaming device. It also helps that it’s still very snappy despite being a first-gen model. If there’s one area the Apple TV 4K is lacking, it’s the remote. I’m not even talking about the old remote, either, as I have a second-gen 4K remote. While this remote is a clear upgrade, it leaves a lot to be desired, and I wish it did more than it does. This is an area where the Roku remote comes ahead, and I believe it’s something to consider if you’re in the market for a streaming device.

The Apple TV remote could be more

It’s nothing special

Don’t get me wrong, the Apple TV 4K remote is perfectly fine for what it sets out to do. If you just need something to control your volume and flip through apps, then it does that as well as any remote. It’s when you start looking at other remotes that you begin to notice the Apple TV one leaves a lot on the table.

For the sake of this argument, I’m going to use my Roku remote as a comparison. It would be unfair to use a high-end universal remote as an example, as that’d blow both of them away. The Apple TV doesn’t have a ton of buttons on it as is, and while some people might be glad it cuts away a lot of the bloat, I wish it had more. Something I miss compared to my Roku remote is the dedicated Netflix button. That’s the app I use the most on my Apple TV, and if it isn’t, then it’s very close. Instead of having to navigate to the tile on my home screen, it’s nice to just hit the button and open the app.

It also doesn’t help that I’m only able to have a limited amount of customization with my Apple TV remote. I’m able to change my TV’s input using the remote, but that’s about as far as it goes. If you want something basic, the Apple TV 4K remote is right up your alley. If you’d like more buttons to program and have more control over your TV, you should look elsewhere. The Roku remote isn’t the be-all, end-all of remotes by any means, either, but I’d give it the edge over the Apple TV in this area.

There are still things I like about the remote

It’s not all bad

The build quality is the biggest thing that’s working in the Apple TV’s favor. I love that it’s not a big, bulky piece of plastic like many other remotes. The downside to that is that it gets rather chilly in the winter months when I touch it, but it’s something I get over quickly.

I like how it works with my receiver to control the volume, because it means I can leave behind my much bulkier one that came with the receiver. Of course, other remotes do that job too, so I can’t heap too much praise on the Apple remote, but I’m glad it has the functionality nonetheless.

I’m also glad the latest remote finally adopted USB-C. I don’t have the third-generation remote, so I’m still using a Lightning cable that I purchased specifically for this remote, as the Apple TV is the only Apple product I own. It’s annoying, but I’m happy Apple got on board with USB-C as the standard with the latest remote.