While the Roku Ultra is more than just a 4K streaming device, $100 is a mighty high price for UHD streaming these days. Image 14 of 19 There are so many steaming app options to use it is great. Roku has a few extras not found elsewhere, including My Feed and headphone private listening via the Roku app (if you want it on the remote, you'll need to get an Ultra), but the most important is the Roku Channel. ue boom pairing. The Bad The menus can seem dated compared to rivals, it lags behind Fire TV for voice support and it doesn't stream in Dolby Vision. The Good The Roku Streaming Stick Plus delivers 4K and HDR video in a compact package for an affordable price. © For comparison, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is regularly priced at $49.99 / £49.99, but can often be found for $34.99 / £39.99. The benefit here is a faster and more stable streaming experience which translates to faster load times and less time buffering. It’s not a deal breaker and it’s not something that happened all the time, but the time spent waiting for the My Feed section to populate could’ve been spent streaming content. The Good The Roku Streaming Stick Plus delivers 4K and HDR video in a compact package for an affordable price. 11) Best-functioning app on Roku: The Roku Channel You might be surprised to learn that Roku has gotten into the streaming game itself, offering a mix of news and movies for free to all users. The Streaming Stick+ ($45.99 at Amazon) is the sleekest Roku stick yet. More recently, Roku announced a big update to its free, ad-supported platform, the Roku Channel, bringing the experience of watching linear TV to its popular streaming devices. It's a hub for on-demand movies and TV shows and also includes live news feeds, a Kids section and even subscriptions to services like HBO.Â, Featured Free is another Roku-only extra. Roku Streaming Stick features The Streaming Stick is arguably Roku’s best non-4K device. In more words, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is an excellent device - jumping in between apps is a quick and painless affair, and videos start up quickly, even if they’re in 4K HDR. You will receive a verification email shortly. Roku's responses are lightning fast, its video quality as good as any streamer, and its remote can control your TV's volume and power. Roku doesn’t talk much about the hardware specs inside the Streaming Stick+, but we do know the device is noticeably quicker than the 2016 Roku Streaming Stick … Not only does the new Roku Streaming Stick+ competently play 4K UHD content, it can play it from a decent range, too. The Plus lacks Dolby Vision HDR, so all HDR is delivered as HDR10. Here are some of the best Netflix has to offer. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus starts at $49 on Amazon, where it’s currently on sale for $45. That sits outside the chassis which, according to Roku, offers a faster and more stable streaming experience. [Update: Since October 2019, the Roku Streaming Stick+ had a permanent price drop from $59.99 to $49.99. CNET may get a commission from these offers. While the Roku Streaming Stick+ is perfect for the here and now, we’re definitely worried about how it will hold up - especially against the increasingly fierce competition from Google and Amazon. Surprisingly, the Roku Streaming Stick+ only costs a mere $49.99/£59.99, after a $10 price drop in October 2019. This is a huge boon for those of us who keep our entertainment far away from our router, and will likely improve the experience for anyone who suffers from slow buffering times or frequent stutters. Don't overspend! It streams 4K and HDR video from Netflix, Amazon, Disney Plus, Vudu, Apple TV and others, comes with worthwhile features like a voice remote with buttons that can control your TV and runs Roku's best-in-class streaming system. Roku’s streaming sticks have always been deceptively simple devices, but the new Roku Streaming Stick+ takes that design philosophy to a new level: It’s just as petite as its predecessors (a mere 3.7 x 0.8 x 0.47 inches and 0.9 ounces) but stuffs even more power into the flash drive-sized form factor. We love that results are sorted by price, especially since Movies Anywhere allows you to consolidate your Vudu, Amazon, Google Play and Apple libraries. Its strong spec sheet sets it apart. These are truly simple to use that my 6yr old kid and 65yr old parents can use them. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, More than three billion emails and passwords were just leaked online, Nvidia RTX 3060 goes on sale as retailer apparently jumps the gun, One of the best Legend of Zelda games could get a Nintendo Switch port, Where to buy PS5: all the latest restock updates, PS5 and Xbox Series X shortages could last until the end of 2021, says new report, Star Trek: Discovery season 4: release date, cast, plot and more, Microsoft drops fresh details about upcoming Windows 10 PC-as-a-Service, Need a new Ultra-HD TV to go along with the Roku Streaming Stick+? While the Streaming Stick’s remote doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the Roku Ultra has, it still feels fairly premium. I have Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. Just be aware that there are a few generations and models on the market. Despite the additional hardware, however, it will still neatly fit behind your TV, and draw power from either your TV’s USB port or from the wall. Finding the perfect streaming device for a 4K HDR TV isn't easy. Roku Streaming Stick+ review Roku’s streaming stick goes full-on 4K with exciting results By Nick Pino 02 June 2020. The Apple TV similarly supports all major apps, while Google's Chromecast with Google TV will join them in 2021 when it adds Apple TV. The interface doesn't surface individual shows and movies on the home page, like Fire TV, but it's visually simpler and less intrusive; there's just one big ad to the right of the app list. It provides the Roku Streaming Stick+ with four times the range as the old Roku Streaming Sticks and helps reduce interference. Its remote adds two voice shortcut buttons, a headphone jack for private listening, and a remote finder so you don't lose it among the couch cushions. It allows iPhones and other Apple devices to connect to your TV wirelessly, to mirror screens, show photos, control apps and more. There's no reason to spend more than $1 per foot, even for the most expensive... No more excuses; start using Bitwarden or LastPass today. Streaming device leader Roku has a whopping seven streamers in its 2020 lineup from the $30 Roku Express and all-new $100 Roku Ultra. All said, if you’re looking for a streaming stick with exceptional range and power - and don’t mind a few minor drawbacks - the Roku Streaming Stick+ is a competent addition to your audiovisual arsenal. As of today's Roku review, the Roku Streaming Stick / Streaming Stick+ and the Roku Ultra are the only models with a voice remote, but you can also control other Roku … Lose it, and you can’t just replace it with any old mini-USB cable you have lying around. Roku's compact Streaming Stick has some performance issues, but it offers a ton of … As a Roku streamer, the Express can access all of the various streaming apps and services available on any other Roku media hub or Roku … While the Roku Streaming Stick+ has better range than its predecessors, and the power to process 4K HDR video, a few niggling issues like slow pop-in time on the home screen and lack of Dolby support keep it from reaching its full potential. In a word: Great. Setup is easy. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Roku Streaming Stick + High-performance and portability Brilliant picture quality Smoother streaming with a long-range wireless receiver Stream free TV, live news, sports, music, movies, and more Voice remote with TV controls A test unit was provided to Rapid Reviews for the purposes of review Find out why the Streaming Stick+ is so good in our full review. It's a glossy black plastic tube measuring 3.4 by 0.8 by 0.5 inches (HWD), with a male HDMI connector on one end. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You can't use the Plus without the Receiver cable. It has a microphone built-in for voice search, dedicated media buttons for Netflix, Sling, Hulu and PlayStation Vue, and thanks to its IR Blaster/HDMI CEC connection, it can control the volume on your TV and some external devices. My one issue is that it never shuts off. Pop it out and take it with you when traveling to keep using your favorite apps wherever you go. But start talking about future-facing technology and things become a bit murkier. If you’d like to stream some audio, Roku offers both music mainstays, Pandora and Spotify, but also Deezer, VEVO, SiriusXM, Amazon Music and TuneIn, too. To give you a idea it takes usually 20-30 seconds for lets say BBCi Player to load via my Virgin box and almost just as long if I used the already installed app on my TV - It sometimes lags badly or jumps back to normal TV - With Roku its pretty much instant! Roku Streaming Stick Plus Review Conclusion. Of course, what’s hardware without software to go along with it? And for the most part, we agree. Roku Streaming Stick Review Disclosure. Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV 2017 caused a big stir upon release (especially Amazon's budget friendly number). The appearance of the Streaming Stick is appealing, to say the least. If you don't have … Bath The Stick+ is powered via your TV’s USB socket, making i… Still the best 4K HDR streamer for the money. The films range in quality and swap from time-to-time, but considering it’s all free content, it’s hard to complain too much. Its remote can control the volume and power of your TV. Pros: The Roku streaming stick streams Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and the rest in an ultra-compact design for an affordable price. All apps get equal footing, from Netflix to Toon Goggles, scrolling through them is smooth and fast, they launch quickly and responses within every app we tried were lightning fast. With its simple design and focus on features you'll actually use, Roku's most affordable 4K HDR streamer is one you should get. Searching for a great show to watch? All rights reserved. Don’t let its size fool you. New for the Streaming Stick+ is that strange, proprietary power cable that houses the external antenna. But despite the growing competition, the Roku Streaming Stick+ remains relatively unmatched in terms of its specs. On the downside, though, the Roku Streaming Stick+ does use a proprietary power cable now. The Streaming Stick Plus' closest competitors are the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K from 2018 and the brand-new Chromecast with Google TV, both of which also cost $50. The latest version, Roku Streaming Stick (3800), was released in 2017. For everyone else, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is the best streaming device, as it’s hard to imagine a better marriage of functionality and affordability. The downside is that, should the cable break or go MIA for any reason, you can’t just replace it with any old mini-USB cable. Roku's responses are lightning fast, its video quality as good as any streamer, and its remote can control your TV's volume and power. Roku Streaming Stick Plus 3810R - 4K Streaming Media Player with Voice Remote with TV Power and Volume - Black 4.8 out of 5 stars 898 product … I get a great signal, even though it is a great distance away from both my gateway and access point. It has all of the stuff you need and none of the fluff. The only streamer missing an app is Amazon's Fire TV, which still lacks Peacock.Â, To take full advantage of 4K apps on the Streaming Stick Plus you'll need a new 4K HDR TV, but even if you don't have one, it's worth considering the Plus over cheaper, non-4K streamers like the Roku Express. If space is tight you can use a male-to-female HDMI cable or "port saver," and Roku will evenÂ. The menus can seem dated compared to rivals, it lags behind Fire TV for voice support and it doesn't stream in Dolby Vision. Roku's home page is fully customizable, allowing you to move app tiles to taste. Read more: http://www.TechGadgetsCanada.com Streaming Video players are everywhere these days. Last but not least Google's 4K streamer, the Chromecast Ultra, goes for $69 / £69 and it doesn't come with a traditional remote. Our Verdict. AirPlay makes the Streaming Stick Plus a strong play for people knee-deep in Apple's ecosystem who don't want to pony up for an Apple TV 4K.Â, App support between the three is very similar, though thanks to a new deal between HBO Max and Roku the Streaming Stick Plus now has access to all major apps. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is playing to its strengths – it’s small, it’s powerful and, thanks to its new external Wi-Fi antenna, has an extended range. And that’s because, as a standard 4K HDR10 streamer, Roku’s latest iteration of the streaming stick is an all-around great device. Roku® Streaming Stick®+ is super-charged with a long-range wireless receiver for up to 4x the wireless range and smooth streaming anywhere in the house. 8.5. great. You can order one free from Roku’s website, but that’s not ideal. The Roku Streaming Stick's biggest competition is the $40 Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote. So it can be at times easy to forget that it was Roku who kickstarted the streaming revolution 10 or so years back. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus debuted in 2017, but three years later it maintains its spot as our favorite Roku device -- and our favorite media streamer overall.