Roku Streaming Stick Plus review: 4K made easy

Finest Costs In the present day: Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Whereas most sensible TVs provide streaming apps equivalent to Netflix and BBC iPlayer out of the field, not each producer has all the pieces you need on provide at launch. Plus, in case you have an older telly, chances are you’ll be lacking out on some key choices. That’s the place a streaming stick is available in helpful.  

Roku is without doubt one of the extra reasonably priced manufacturers in the marketplace, however it nonetheless boasts a variety of apps, a easy consumer interface and a useful distant.

If 4K streaming with HDR assist is crucial, you must think about the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, one in all two new fashions launched in 2025 (alongside the cheaper Streaming Stick, which caps the standard at 1080p). I’ve spent a while testing the extra premium media field – right here’s why you must think about it as a worthy rival to the Google TV Streamer and the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K.  

Design & Construct  

• Stick design that plugs straight into the TV
• Can use the TV’s USB port for energy
• Roku distant stays an incredible possibility

Roku has made a design change to its newest 4K gadget, choosing a streaming stick construct reasonably than a field that attaches to your TV by way of an HDMI cable. That primarily means it will possibly plug into the again of your TV and makes the issue of getting a tool awkwardly hanging down out of date.

The design is an improve from the Roku Categorical 4K, which this gadget primarily replaces.

With my TV, it was a squeeze to get the Stick to suit securely, however I think about not many individuals will mix a Sky Glass and a Roku stick. In case your TV is flush to the wall (equivalent to mounted), simply hold this in thoughts in case your HDMI ports are on the again, and no extender is included within the field (one thing Amazon gives) – although you possibly can request one without spending a dime on Roku’s web site.

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It’s extraordinarily gentle and transportable – splendid to take with you in case you’re travelling and need to use this on different TVs. There’s a USB-C port on the aspect so you possibly can join it to an exterior energy supply, whereas a standing gentle signifies whether or not the stick is correctly linked.  

Be aware that no energy brick is included, although. Because the Streaming Stick makes use of low energy consumption, the cable can plug straight into your TV’s USB port to keep away from the necessity for an outlet close by. You’ll be able to nonetheless use your personal brick in case you favor – my cable nearly reached the socket on the ground throughout testing.  

Whereas the design is sort of a Hearth TV Stick, it’s lacking some key parts that you just’ll discover on the Google TV Streamer, equivalent to an ethernet port, however that’s mirrored within the worth, with this gadget being accessible at a way more accessible price. There’s additionally no HDMI cable within the field, however that’s fairly commonplace.

Alongside the Stick Plus is the Roku distant, which is similar to previous iterations from the model. It’s pill-shaped, with vibrant, massive protruding buttons, useful for these with visible impairments. There’s a energy button on the highest and quantity controls on the aspect, which will be synced as much as your TV to show it on and off and alter primary audio ranges.  

The purple route pad is for navigation, with shortcut buttons for the House menu and to go backwards. On the underside, there are 4 fast entry buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix, and playback will be managed with the play/pause and ahead/rewind buttons.  

The star (*) button offers you fast entry to settings, whereas the microphone button prompts voice management, with the microphone situated discreetly on the highest of the distant. AAA batteries are included as commonplace, and you can too use the Roku app as a distant management in case you favor. 

Specs & Set-Up  

• 4K, HDR assist
• No Dolby Imaginative and prescient or Atmos
• Easy set-up

Roku doesn’t disclose the processor fitted contained in the Streaming Stick Plus, however it’s zippy sufficient when booting it up and clicking across the homepage. Wi-Fi 5 assist is included, which is a bit of outdated by right now’s requirements.  

As talked about above, this gadget can stream in 4K, with assist for HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. You’ll discover that Dolby Imaginative and prescient is lacking from that checklist. If you would like that, you’ll should improve to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Atmos audio assist additionally doesn’t come as commonplace.  

This received’t be a lot of a difficulty in case you don’t use content material that’s playable on this format – for Netflix and Disney+, solely sure movies and TV exhibits have it, and also you’ll want a Premium streaming subscription to entry these options. In case you don’t have that, then you definitely shouldn’t miss out an excessive amount of on the shortage of Atmos assist.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

In case you’ve by no means used a Roku earlier than, then relaxation assured that setting one up could be very simple to do. 

When you’ve unboxed it and plugged it into your TV, make sure that the standing gentle is on and open the HDMI supply your gadget is plugged into (usually generally known as ‘Supply’). Some TVs might even recognise it instantly and ship you straight there.

The Roku will then information you thru a collection of directions to pair your distant. As soon as that’s achieved, connect with your Wi-Fi community and watch for any software program updates.

You’ll then have the choice to sync energy and quantity controls. If this doesn’t work instantly, don’t fear – you are able to do additional testing when you’re all arrange. Lastly, the TV will immediate you to both sign up or create a Roku account. In case you owned an older gadget, signing in with this e mail will enable your gadget to recollect a few of your logins and watch historical past (although not all). 

Software program, Compatibility & Efficiency  

• Giant tiles for apps
• Not overloaded with advertisements
• ‘What to Watch’ wants refining
• Not many sensible dwelling controls

Roku retains issues easy and stripped again for its interface. The homepage is decked out within the signature Roku purple theme (although that is customisable), whereas the right-hand aspect has six classes within the menu.  

On the homepage are all of your apps, that are in huge tiles which are simple to view. And advertisements on the homepage are method much less oppressive than what you’ll discover on the Hearth TV sticks.

For brand new content material suggestions, ‘What to Watch’ suggests new TV exhibits and films primarily based on each your distinctive algorithm and trending content material. I’d say in comparison with streaming apps, these choices don’t appear fairly as tailor-made to my tastes, however I hardly ever use this part past the Proceed Watching rail.  

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

I’d say this rail may do with some refining, as not each present and movie I’ve on the go syncs on the rail. For instance, I began watching Guardians of the Galaxy on ITVX, and this didn’t then seem in that part. 

‘Save Checklist’ contains any content material you’ve marked to observe later, whereas the search bar does what it says on the tin: supplying you with a spot to search for one thing straight. After all, it’s a lot simpler to make use of voice management for this. Roku remotes are fairly intuitive at selecting up my instructions, and you’ll even search by phrases equivalent to actors’ names, like ‘Robert Downey Jr’. 

The ‘Streaming Retailer’ contains apps chances are you’ll not have put in, plus premium films to purchase on VOD, equivalent to A Minecraft Film and Depraved. Lastly, the Settings menu lets you check the settings in your distant, configure your show and audio, arrange accessibility options and add fee strategies. 

There’s additionally assist for Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and the gadgets work with Google House and Alexa. Nonetheless, these controls are restricted to Roku gadgets solely. The Google TV Streamer (and even Chromecast) has a sensible dwelling bar that can be utilized to manage lights, thermostats and extra.  

American customers do have some integration with Roku-branded merchandise, however these aren’t accessible within the UK. Plus even then, it will possibly’t assist third-party merchandise equivalent to Nanoleaf lights just like the Google TV Streamer can.

The app choice on Roku is respectable. Alongside international platforms equivalent to Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, UK viewers get BBC iPlayer, Now, ITVX and Channel 4, whereas US homeowners have entry to Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock. There’s additionally loads of free content material to browse by way of The Roku Channel and Pluto TV.  

Twitch has even been added now, and there’s nothing main that’s lacking, as was the case when the Google TV Streamer first launched with out BBC iPlayer. There are even just a few video games, equivalent to Tic Tac Toe, and ‘Pacmouse’ – guess which well-liked sport the latter is a dupe of.

Worth & Availability  

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus prices £39.99/$39.99, making it an reasonably priced media field to get 4K content material on. Roku gadgets additionally usually obtain respectable reductions throughout sale seasons equivalent to Black Friday, in my expertise working the gross sales hell for practically six years.  

UK readers can purchase it from Roku and Amazon, whereas these within the US can get their palms on one from Roku, Amazon, Goal and Walmart.  

That worth is cheaper than the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K by £10/$10 and dramatically undercuts the Google TV Streamer by greater than half, however there are just a few caveats to concentrate on.  

For one, there’s no Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Amazon’s media stick does embrace this as commonplace, together with Dolby Atmos audio, as does the Google TV Streamer.

Each these gadgets have a bigger vary of sensible dwelling controls, so in case you like to regulate your lights, thermostats or get picture-in-picture doorbell feeds in your TV, one in all these gadgets might go well with you higher (until you’re within the US and comfortable to be in Roku’s ecosystem solely).

If Dolby Imaginative and prescient is a precedence however you need to keep on with Roku’s interface, you possibly can as an alternative go for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K (£49.99/$49.99), which is identical worth because the Hearth TV Stick 4K, however does nonetheless lack Dolby Atmos assist. 

You’ll be able to see additional choices in our information to one of the best streaming sticks and media containers. 

Must you purchase the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

For easy 4K streaming, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a powerful selection. It undercuts key rivals, but nonetheless gives a user-friendly interface and a variety of apps as well. The buttons and voice controls are additionally a few of the most accessible in the marketplace.  

The important thing omission right here is Dolby Imaginative and prescient, however in case you aren’t streaming content material accessible on this format, this received’t make a lot of a distinction. If that’s vital, you possibly can as an alternative improve to Roku’s extra premium streaming stick, or go for ones from Amazon and Google, which boast higher sensible dwelling integration and controls.   

It might have been good if Roku included an HDMI extender within the field, however for many individuals, this new Streaming Stick Plus can be all the pieces you want for watching your favorite exhibits and movies in crystal-clear 4K.

Specs

• Roku TV OS
• HDMI output as much as 4K @60fps
• HDR, HDR10+
• USB-C for energy
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)
• Distant management with voice assistant
• Distant dimensions: 3.7 x 0.80 x .45 inches