Roku Unveils New Low-Cost Roku SE For $25 On Black Friday And $50 Afterwards

Roku is rolling out a budget-friendly player called the Roku SE, which is priced at $50 and will be marked down to $25 on Black Friday. With this low-cost variant, Roku's lineup has been expanded to accommodate every customer, from 4K viewers to users who just want an affordable player.

The Roku SE will be missing some features, which is expected. It'll lack 4K streaming capability, but it'll support at least 1080p. Also, it won't have an Ethernet port as well as remote finder and voice search features. Roku didn't exactly disclose all the hardware specifications, but it's probably safe to assume that it's housed with low-end internals — compared with other models, that is — to keep its price tag as low as possible.

"The Roku SE player sets a new precedent in streaming player value this Black Friday. From 4K UHD streaming with the new Roku 4, to the simple and portable Roku Streaming Stick, to the affordable Roku SE; there's a Roku player for everyone," Matthew Anderson, chief marketing officer of Roku, says in a news release.

The Roku SE will run on the most recent Roku OS 7 and will be compatible with both HDMI and analog TVs. It'll also provide media casting features and access to Roku's over 3,000 streaming channels, amounting to about 300,000 TV episodes and movies. On top of that, it'll allow users to search across more than 20 streaming channels by director, actor or title, as well as check out the price of TV shows and movies.

Considering its specs and $50 price tag, it's a lot like the Roku 1, but the Roku SE won't be replacing it as one of the company's mainstays, as the special edition will be available for a limited time only.

"This special edition Roku player will be available in the U.S. for a limited-time only during Black Friday weekend online and at select national retailers starting 11/26," Roku says on its blog.

The Roku SE is the hardware maker's most notable deal this coming Black Friday, and it will be available for $25 on Roku's website and Amazon as well as at retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart.