Roku’s newest 4K streaming stick has nearly all the things you want

Within the more and more aggressive world of streaming working techniques, it looks as if lots of client choices come all the way down to model loyalty and private preferences. Contemplating Apple,

Google
and Roku, amongst others, there are lots of similarities with regards to the audio and

video formats
provided, in addition to search capabilities and worth.

Roku’s newest replace to its streaming lineup consists of the Streaming Stick Plus, a well-priced and technically sound piece of package that goes all in on branding, personalization, and comfort. It sits above the

, which lacks 4K decision, however under the Streaming Stick 4K (despite the fact that this one additionally has 4K), and the

Roku Ultra
(which provides some additional codecs and options). I examined it out throughout per week to see the way it stacks up with regards to looking out, streaming, and organizing all of your leisure wants.

Really useful

Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)

A slim plug and play streaming stick that features 4K/HDR assist and features a voice distant. 

Professionals & Cons

• Fast and simple setup
• Personalization choices
• Low worth

• Lacks Dolby codecs
• Sponsored advertisements and promoted content material

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Value, availability, and specs

The Streaming Stick Plus is a small USB stick that connects to the again of your TV. It comes with a USB-C charging cable that additionally connects to your good TV, drawing what energy it wants out of your unit. Additionally included within the buy is the Roku voice distant.

The system options HDR10+ assist and 4K decision, though this budget-friendly model lacks Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist. It’s suitable with a variety of digital assistants and casting choices, together with Apple AirPlay and Google House. The Streaming Stick Plus retails for $40.

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What I like concerning the Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Straightforward use with comfort and customization

Accurately, organising the Roku stick is quick and easy, getting it off to a superb begin. You simply plug the stick into an HDMI port, join the ability cable to a USB port, and the Roku will activate and begin a speedy setup. When you get the system operating, you’ll be able to start the generally prolonged technique of downloading your related apps and companies after which logging into every one in all them.

A number of what I favored has extra to do with Roku’s interface than it does with what this particular stick provides. There are some personalization choices that make the Roku OS appear extra intimate and enjoyable. Not solely are you able to customise the display saver and the wallpaper, however the personalization choices prolong to how some menus look and are organized as nicely. These are good and but kind of superfluous to the leisure expertise, however with so many working techniques and corporations vying to make you part of their ecosystem, it is these small touches that make a distinction.

The OS is pretty quick and simple to navigate, though positively not as speedy because the formidable Google TV Streamer. The Save Checklist is one other helpful, albeit flawed, function, which is on the market throughout all Roku units. The distant does embody a voice search perform, though it’s not hands-free: you must press a button to activate it.

The most important draw of the Streaming Stick Plus is the dimensions and comfort it provides for the worth. At lower than 4 inches in size, this can be a nice streaming persist with journey with or transfer round a home if wanted. It is much less cumbersome than the Extremely or Google TV Streamer, and the worth makes it extra interesting than these sturdy rivals as nicely.

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What I did not like concerning the Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Too many advertisements and too few options

The lower cost ought to give a sign of a trade-off when having fun with the working system, and that, after all, comes within the type of sponsored advertisements and instructed content material. Roku’s interface finds delicate methods to advertise titles to you that it desires you to look at, and I think about you’ll get used to it after some time. It is an issue for lots of companies, and one which some let you handle higher than others. For me personally, I’d quite pay extra money to have a much less crowded OS that pushes much less promotional content material.

Roku, like a bunch of different interfaces, additionally has a bunch of free titles which might be wielded as a promoting level, however I am having a troublesome time imagining anybody actually desires to look at what’s out there, as there’s plenty of outdated, syndicated content material, actuality TV, and music.

For the devoted content material client, there are higher streamers out there, each out and in of the Roku lineup. This model lacks Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos, two widespread, high-end codecs featured on a bunch of streaming companies. It lacks the most recent Wi-Fi iteration and does not embody an Ethernet port, so chances are you’ll discover lag an issue at instances relying on the place you are positioned.

I do not take care of the distant both. Whereas the Extremely incorporates a distant that features hands-free voice management, backlit buttons, and a location finder, this model is less complicated and feels cheaper. The plastic development is much inferior to the distant that comes with Samsung, Apple, or Google merchandise. Whereas the format and measurement are sensible, it requires batteries and can’t be charged by way of USB. At the least it does not embody a button to get you to the free content material instantly like different streamers do.

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From format to design, Samsung bests the competitors, together with LG, with regards to making an intuitive distant.

Do you have to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

For informal enjoyment and comfort, the worth is true

The market is inundated with streaming sticks of all totally different flavors, and whether or not the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is value it to you comes all the way down to your enjoyment of the Roku OS and your exact wants. This actually is not sturdy sufficient to fulfill somebody who watches lots of titles on the highest attainable high quality; the shortage of Dolby assist and mediocre energy means you are leaving some options on the desk.

Nonetheless, this compact and transportable streaming stick, which nonetheless supplies 4K decision and HDR10+, means you’ll be able to take pleasure in lots of content material at a excessive degree at house or on the go. For those who really feel snug with Roku’s interface, and all the lovable colours and screensavers it provides, then that is possible a worthy funding to assist your leisure wants.

Really useful

Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)

A slim plug and play streaming stick that features 4K/HDR assist and features a voice distant.