1. **Convenience:** The Roku app turns your smartphone or tablet into a remote control, providing easy access to your Roku device without needing the physical remote.
2. **Private Listening:** The app allows you to use your phone's headphones for private listening, ensuring you can watch and listen to your favorite shows without disturbing others.
3. **Keyboard Input:** The app features a keyboard function, simplifying the process of searching and entering text, which is much faster and less cumbersome than using the on-screen keyboard with a traditional remote.
1. Dependent on Mobile Device: The app requires a smartphone or tablet, rendering it useless if your mobile device's battery is dead or the device is misplaced.
2. Connectivity Issues: The app relies on Wi-Fi to communicate with the Roku device, meaning if there are network problems, the remote function can become unresponsive or laggy.
3. Limited Functionality: Some features available on the physical Roku remote, such as private listening through a headphone jack, are not always supported or as seamlessly integrated in the mobile app version.