The Roku Streaming Stick saved my TV’s life

I have not had a Roku Ultra for lengthy, however throughout my time, I shortly realized the Roku UI was my favourite of all of the streaming units. I’ve tried the Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, but it surely’s Roku with the love-it-or-hate-it Roku Metropolis that retains me coming again.

The brand new Roku Streaming Stick is not something just like the Roku Extremely. As an alternative of focusing on the high-end market, Roku sells this stick for $30, and at that worth, I do not see how one can go mistaken. There are some limitations to pay attention to, primarily that it solely streams in 1080p, so do not plug this into your 4K TV hoping to get the most effective image high quality. What I did was plug it into my 10+ year-old Samsung TV to provide it a brand new life. This TV was purchased lengthy earlier than sensible TVs turned commonplace, however with this Roku Streaming Stick, you’d suppose it was a brand-new TV. Relating to finances streaming sticks, it is troublesome to beat the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick.

Editor’s Selection

Roku Streaming Stick (2025)

The Roku Streaming Stick plugs immediately into your TV and allows you to begin watching your reveals and flicks out of your favourite streaming providers. It comes with a Roku Voice Distant.

Execs & Cons

• Help for all main streaming providers
• No exterior energy required
• Comes with a voice distant

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Worth, availability, and specs

Some actually good worth right here

The principle factor that works within the Roku Streaming Stick’s favor, a minimum of in my eyes, is its worth. For $30, you get a tool you possibly can plug into the again of your TV and rise up and operating in a matter of minutes. All of your TV wants is a USB port to energy the machine. If you do not have one, you must decide up an exterior energy supply to plug your cable into. You in all probability have one thing like this already mendacity round, whether or not it is a energy strip or an previous telephone charger, so do not fret in case your TV would not have a port.

As soon as it is operating, the Roku Streaming Stick outputs at 1080p, so it is a keep on with keep away from in the event you’re searching for higher image high quality. Whilst you can set up apps like Max, Peacock, and plenty of extra, the distant solely has fast launch buttons for Disney+, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Prime Video. If in case you have one other Roku machine, you possibly can skip the sign-in course of for all of the apps simply by linking your account to the brand new Roku. Signing into all the pieces is a giant problem for me, so it was good that I may simply load up Disney+ and see my profile already there.

If in case you have any sensible house units, this stick in all probability works with them. The Roku Streaming Stick helps Roku Sensible Residence, Apple AirPlay, Apple Residence, Alexa, and Google Residence. That is one in all my favourite issues in regards to the Roku ecosystem, since you’re not punished for proudly owning issues from different corporations. I want all my streaming units may say the identical factor, however that is not how the cookie crumbled.

This 2025 mannequin ought to part out the older ones over time, however inventory for the older ones will nonetheless be floating round on the market. On Roku’s web site, it is the mannequin that reveals up once you click on on Roku Streaming Stick, however you will have to double-check what you are shopping for at different shops. You do not need to miss out on the stick that does not want a wall outlet to energy on, so search for mannequin 3840R.

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What I like in regards to the Roku Streaming Stick

Straight to the purpose

Roku

I am unable to discover a lot to be upset with in regards to the Roku Streaming Stick. It really works simply as I anticipated it to, and it is house to many apps and even some stay TV channels. The machine itself is quite small, in regards to the measurement of my palm, and when it is plugged away behind the TV, I am unable to even see it. Because it’s powered by the TV, I haven’t got to see a twine jutting out of the facet and going to my wall. In case you’re touring, it is also simple sufficient to pack up the Roku and take it with you.

The distant’s voice controls work simply high-quality, though I sometimes do not use them. I knew all in regards to the preliminary setup course of since I already personal a 2024 Roku Extremely, however even newcomers should not have any concern getting their stick up and going. One other bonus is which you can ditch your previous distant and management all the pieces with the included Roku distant by following the steps throughout setup to make it management your TV. It was instantly in a position to acknowledge it was plugged right into a Samsung TV, and the setup was painless from there.

Roku’s new streaming stick shouldn’t be as quick as my Extremely, but it surely’s not meant to be. The streaming stick is arguably the most effective worth you will get for a no-frills streaming machine. It is excellent for forsaking your sensible TV UI or giving new life to an previous TV with no web capabilities. In case you do not want 4K decision, I am unable to consider something that does the job higher. You may just like the look or really feel of the Hearth Stick greater than the Roku, however that is not the case for me.

Having audio passthrough is a good contact as properly, as a result of that is one thing my Apple TV 4K would not even help. For an entry-level machine, I am impressed with how a lot it supplies. Nevertheless, that does not imply it isn’t with out its share of downsides.

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What I do not like in regards to the Roku Streaming Stick

Just a few nitpicks

It is easy to lament what the Roku Streaming Stick would not do, primarily the truth that it would not help 4K, however I feel that is unfair. The machine would not set out to try this, and there are different Roku merchandise obtainable for individuals who want a bit extra. Nevertheless, the Roku Streaming Stick positions itself as a stick that is for individuals with no plans of upgrading sooner or later. A 4K streaming stick prices simply $10 extra, so it is likely to be a good selection to splurge on that in the event you plan to maneuver to 4K finally. There is no draw back to utilizing the 4K stick on a 1080p TV, so you possibly can cowl your bases and primarily future-proof your self.

The distant, regardless of its stable voice controls, leaves a bit to be desired. The cumbersome plastic physique makes it really feel quite a bit like a toy, and it is heavier than I might anticipate it to be. It additionally takes a pair of AAA batteries to energy on, so you will have to swap these out as a substitute of merely charging the distant as soon as it dies. My Roku Extremely got here with a distant with the identical construct high quality, but it surely has a charging port on the backside as a substitute of taking batteries.

That is actually all I’ve to say that is unfavourable in regards to the machine. In my case, I’ve a 1080p that I maintain in my basement, so there is no sense spending the additional cash for a 4K machine since I will by no means want one for this TV. There have been a couple of occasions once I was instructed I had inadequate energy to my stick, however the pop-up went away by itself inside seconds and did not affect something. It is likely to be one thing I’ve to organize for down the road, but it surely appears all good as of proper now. My TV may be very previous, in order that might be the offender, and I can all the time swap to a wall outlet if wanted.

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Do you have to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick?

I do not see why not

Pocket-lint / Roku

For $30, the Roku Streaming Stick will not break the financial institution by any means, so I say go for it. I prefer it higher than comparable merchandise just like the Hearth Stick and the Onn. sticks you’ll find at Walmart. I am an enormous fan of the Roku UI, in order that’s why I am giving it the sting right here.

Getting access to each streaming app I can consider with a stick that is powered by the TV is difficult to move up. Whereas the stick is noticeably slower than my devoted streaming packing containers just like the Apple TV 4K and Roku Extremely, it isn’t something I will ding the Streaming Stick for because it packs plenty of worth in for the low worth. So long as your expectations are in examine, I am unable to discover a cause why you’d not just like the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick. It integrates properly into sensible houses no matter what ecosystem you are in, and the automatic updates imply you by no means miss out on new options. It isn’t going to supplant my Extremely or Apple TV, however the Roku Streaming Stick has accomplished greater than sufficient to show it deserves to be plugged right into a TV.

Editor’s Selection

Roku Streaming Stick (2025)

The Roku Streaming Stick plugs immediately into your TV and allows you to begin watching your reveals and flicks out of your favourite streaming providers. It comes with a Roku Voice Distant.