Roku has never offered a Gigabit network connection on their players with an Ethernet jack. If you consider their primary use that they were designed for, Gigabit is unnecessary because nothing that streams from the Internet comes close to even Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps). No, they cannot be upgraded with a software update.
There are rumors of a new top end Roku coming this fall, but there's no guarantees that a) one is actually coming and b) no idea if it will finally offer Gigabit Ethernet.
You can use WiFi and get about 220 Mbps, but that's the limit of what the Roku hardware can handle anyway, so why install (more expensive) Gigabit when the hardware can't come close to using that level of bandwidth.
Wonder why Apple is putting gigabit Ethernet connectivity on their 4k streaming device? Sony Bravia Core movies runs close to 100mbps on the Pure Stream technology movies now. 100mbps will likely be surpassed before a new Roku that is purchased now would need to be replaced. I have the Apple device but hate it’s remote and I like the Roku but without gigabit Ethernet capability I’m not sure about purchasing a new Ultra device now.
Apple likes to sell high-end stuff. For example, you can go onto their website and spec out a Mac pro to over $12K. Roku really seems to be more about the advertisements and subscriptions, so even their “high end” device tends to be pretty “main stream”.
Even for a consumer who likes the best new stuff, the question of: buy the highest end thing now, vs buy something cheap now and get something even better in the future, possibly for less total money, is never a simple question.
It's a funny thing browsing old/use stuff for sale and thinking: Wow, that piece of junk used to be the highest end product of its day,
My house was built in 2006. Has a Cat5e Ethernet Port from the kitchen to the master bedroom. Never used it.
Even so, I'm paying $100 for 500Mpbs from COX. Even when wired, I've never come close to using all 500Mbps.
