TVs & players

[cordcutternewbi]

I'm tired of paying Verizon $180+ every month.

I can't decide what streaming system to get. I can't decide whether to get a TV with Roku or whatever included or get a streaming box.

Do you happen to know what company makes the Roku TVs?

[RokuJohnB · Accepted solution]

Hi @cordcutternewbi,

Thank you for posting here in the Roku Community and we appreciate your interest with the Roku devices.

Roku^® manufactures its own Roku-branded TVs and also partners with a variety of other TV manufacturers like TCL, Hisense, Onn, RCA, Sharp, etc who build Roku TV^™ models with different screen sizes, price points, and picture resolutions. 

Each of these models is a standalone smart TV with a built-in TV display and Roku operating system that lets you stream content over the internet without needing to connect any additional devices.

A Roku player on the other hand, is an external device like a cable set-top box that must be connected to a TV with an HDMI^® cable to let you watch content streamed over the internet. A Roku® Streaming Stick® 4K | Powerful & portable HD & 4K streaming stick | Roku is a type of Roku player that also connects to a TV, but it plugs directly into the HDMI port on a TV.

If you're looking to compare features between the latest Roku streaming devices, the following resources will help answer your questions. If you're unsure what type of TV you own, use the guidelines below to help determine if you have a Roku TV or a Roku-branded TV.

• Compare Roku Streaming players of Roku streaming devices
• Go to the product finder page for guided help selecting the right Roku streaming device

For future reference, learn more about the exciting features and specifications of our Roku TVs from our Roku Official website Roku TV – Learn about Smart TVs with Roku streaming built-in | Roku.

All the best,
John

[Logik]

I have been unable to find out who manufactures Roku branded televisions.  It is possible that Roku hired television design engineers and built a factory to make televisions, but it is much more likely Roku contracted with an existing manufacturer to manufacture them.  One mainboard they use appears to be used in Onn, Roku, Westinghouse, JVC branded televisions.  The JVC brandname is used by the Chinese television maker Shenzhen MTC.  So there is a good chance that is who actually makes (at least some of) Roku brand televisions.

[Lutzman420]

That's great that roku tvs are made by roku. But what country are they made in? Trying my hardest as an American to not support China or any communist country. 

[DaveTheRave1]

Why does the device ID say SONY7335***  ? Why use the word Sony on the device

[renojim]

@DaveTheRave1, the Device ID is random characters.  If everyone's said SONY, it might be meaningful, but I doubt that's the case.  Not to mention, are you sure that O isn't a zero?

[Logik]

I went to the FCC listings for all products made by Roku Inc:

https://fcc.report/company/Roku-Inc

There are numerous streaming devices, remote controls, and what looks to be a wireless subwoofer.

But there are no televisions.

So the question remains: who is actually making the televisions with the "Roku" brand on them?  If someone has the FCC ID number for one or more, that could be checked.

[Logik]

Here is the mainboard of an Onn tv:

https://tvpartstoday.com/products/515c90102m05-onn-main-board-mt90102-zc01-01-65r4a5x

Here is the mainboard of a Roku tv:

https://www.shopjimmy.com/roku-515c90102m05-main-board-for-65r4a5r/

They are the same.

The mainboard for a JVC 55" tv is essentially the same (on the JVC version the 4th hdmi socket is not mounted, though the traces are all there for it, and the upper left edge is indented.)

https://www.shopjimmy.com/jvc-main-board-515c90100m14-for-lt-55maw595/

JVC tvs, and presumably the models from these other brands that use nearly the same mainboard, are made by Chinese TV maker Shenzen MTC.  They make tvs under many brand names.

https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/tvs/tv-brands-arent-always-what-they-seem-a100...