Roku recently released a software update that added AirPlay support [0].

If you have iOS, you can beam HBO Max content from iPhone to TV. Not as ideal as having the HBO app on the Roku OS itself, but better than having to buy extra hardware.

[0] https://blog.roku.com/apple-airplay-homekit

Apple TV has the best experience IMO and supports all major streaming services.

I've been waiting for Apple to update the AppleTV (I gave mine to a deserving friend), so I replaced my aging Roku with a FireTV (for HBO Max). Works great.

It has been a long time since the Apple TV was updated, but it performs well for 4k content so I’m not sure what the average user would want from an upgrade. Personally the only item on my wish list is very niche - allow it to concurrently connect to more than 3 Bluetooth devices, so I can use more sensors with Zwift.

> I’m not sure what the average user would want from an upgrade

I'd like to see a new revision with an HDMI 2.1 port -- support for 8K60 game streaming (the nVidia 3090s support running at that resolution) and 4K120 support.

Except for the bonkers remote control I agree. I have a few Roku's and one Apple TV HD. I love the picture quality on the AppleTV but the remote is too weird for my wife's liking.

You can program any remote to work with AppleTV.

https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/use-other-remotes-atvb041...

I've seen a lot of people mentioning the lack of Roku support. I have no idea how HBO hasn't developed an app for it yet; it seems like an easy market to support. But like you mentioned, Firesticks and Chromecasts are stupid cheap. It sucks having to get a new device for a single app, but it's either that or don't use the service I guess.

There are thousands of Roku apps; creating one is not a high-tech challenge. This is just HBO [edit, thanks sibling comment by 'whatok [0]:] refusing to pay Roku's toll.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25294181

Not having a roku app is a deliberate choice. It's not like this is some engineering failure. Hbo and roku got in some sort of fight, I assume hbo wants to be paid by roku.

HBO isn't paying WB, HBO is WB.

Whoops, that's a good point. I guess the accounting works a bit differently in that case?

it doesn’t have anything to do with developing an app and everything to do with HBO insisting on how their content is distributed. they recently reached a deal with amazon and i believe part of the deal was pulling the legacy HBO Now app and only allowing HBO Max. they want Max to be the front facing brand

https://www.vox.com/recode/21686514/hbo-max-roku-amazon-peac...

A movie and tv app by HBO that came out 6 months ago has no 4k, HDR, Dolby digital or anything of the sort. It’s ridiculous.

They’ve only in the last day or so announced some movies will be available in quality formats soon.

Lack of an app is not the problem. They haven't been able to come to terms on rev share yet. I suspect this news will break the impasse.

It's a Roku problem, not an HBO problem.

no HBO Max for LG TVs either. I can watch HBO (on Amazon), along most of the rest of the usual suspects, but not HBO Max, without additional hardware. Luckily my wife has a Kindle Fire that I think will do the trick.