Roku is starting to roll out Roku OS version 9.4 and the big new feature is the addition of Apple Airplay 2 and HomeKit support. AirPlay allows users to cast video from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a supported Roku device, providing a decent alternative to Apple’s own Apple TV hardware and a new way to watch HBO Max on Rokus, since the app is still not available on the platform. HomeKit support allows for control of compatible Roku devices through Siri voice commands and Apple’s Home app.
The Roku models receiving AirPlay and HomeKit support are the Roku Ultra (4800x, 4670x, 4661x, 4662x, 4660x, 4640x), Roku Streaming Stick+ (3811x, 3810x), Roku Premiere (4630x, 4620x, 3920x), Roku Smart Soundbar (9101x, 9100x), Roku Streambar (9102x), and select Roku TVs (Axxxx, Cxxxx, CxxGB, 7xxxx). Power and basic remote commands can be controlled through HomeKit on the Roku boxes and Sticks, while the volume and input on Roku soundbars and TVs can also be controlled.
At just $39.99, and often on sale for less, as it is now for $29.00, the Roku Premiere is now the least expensive AirPlay receiver on the market. If you or your household members are heavy iPhone users, it might be worth picking one up just for the casting capabilities alone. There are several apps that add AirPlay support to Fire TV devices, of which I recommend and use the $2.99 AirReceiver app, but all of these apps are not going to be as reliable as a device with official support, since the Fire TV apps all reverse engineer the AirPlay protocol. Now that Apple is making AirPlay support available to 3rd-party devices, like Rokus, the hope is for Amazon to eventually add AirPlay support to Fire TV devices, but Amazon has not indicated that it is coming.
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Would rather side load to a Fire TV than cast an app from a phone.
All three ultra devices have been updated with 9.4 no Apple air play 2 I noticed your article says Roku Tv only but other articles mention that air play is on ultra can I please have a clarification
The second paragraph of the article lists all compatible devices, including 6 different Roku Ultra models. The compatibility list was provided by Roku. I’ve seen some people say that they received Roku OS 9.4 a while ago but only in the last day or two did it gain AirPlay support, so it sounds like having the OS update isn’t enough.
This is great news. Airplay works great on my 58″ Sharp/Roku TV. I’ve always loved AirPlay functionality but never cared for the Apple TV boxes.
See the option to set up AirPlay and Home kit but all I can do is turn on AirPlay but can’t add my Sharp Roku TV to my Home. I’ve tried several times to add the TV but it fails every time. Are there step-by-step instructions describing how this is supposed to work?
To clarify, all I want to do is send audio from my TV to my home pods.
I’m pretty sure that is not possible. Audio playing through your HomePod can be synced to your TV speakers, but you can’t send audio from your TV to the HomePod. Again, I’m not positive about this.