Roku Streaming Stick Plus Review: 4K Made Easy

Value When Reviewed

$39.99

Finest Costs As we speak: Roku Streaming Stick Plus

$34.99

$39

$39.99

$39.99

$39.99

Whereas most sensible TVs supply streaming apps resembling Netflix and BBC iPlayer out of the field, not each producer has all the things you need on supply at launch. Plus, when you’ve got an older telly, it’s possible you’ll be lacking out on some key choices. That’s the place a streaming stick is available in helpful.  

Roku is among the extra reasonably priced manufacturers available on the market, however it nonetheless boasts a variety of apps, a easy consumer interface and a helpful distant.

If 4K streaming with HDR help is crucial, you need to think about the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, certainly one of 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 need to 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 immediately into the TV
• Can use the TV’s USB port for energy
• Roku distant stays a terrific choice

Roku has made a design change to its newest 4K system, choosing a streaming stick construct slightly than a field that attaches to your TV through an HDMI cable. That basically means it could actually plug into the again of your TV and makes the issue of getting a tool awkwardly hanging down out of date.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 Specific 4K, which this system basically 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 (resembling mounted), simply preserve this in thoughts in case your HDMI ports are on the again, and no extender is included within the field (one thing Amazon presents) – although you may request one free of charge on Roku’s web site.

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

It’s extraordinarily mild and transportable – superb to take with you in the event you’re travelling and wish to use this on different TVs. There’s a USB-C port on the facet so you may join it to an exterior energy supply, whereas a standing mild signifies whether or not the stick is correctly related.  

Notice that no energy brick is included, although. Because the Streaming Stick makes use of low energy consumption, the cable can plug immediately into your TV’s USB port to keep away from the necessity for an outlet close by. You may nonetheless use your personal brick in the event you want – 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 components that you simply’ll discover on the Google TV Streamer, resembling an ethernet port, however that’s mirrored within the value, with this system being out there at a way more accessible value. There may be additionally no HDMI cable within the field, however that’s fairly customary.

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, helpful for these with visible impairments. There’s a energy button on the highest and quantity controls on the facet, which might be synced as much as your TV to show it on and off and regulate primary audio ranges.  

The purple path pad is for navigation, with shortcut buttons for the Residence 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 might 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 customary, and you may as well use the Roku app as a distant management in the event you want. 

Specs & Set-Up  

• 4K, HDR help
• 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 help is included, which is just a little outdated by at present’s requirements.  

As talked about above, this system can stream in 4K, with help for HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. You’ll discover that Dolby Imaginative and prescient is lacking from that record. If you’d like that, you’ll must improve to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Atmos audio help additionally doesn’t come as customary.  

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

Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry

In the event you’ve by no means used a Roku earlier than, then relaxation assured that setting one up may be very straightforward to do. 

When you’ve unboxed it and plugged it into your TV, be sure that the standing mild is on and open the HDMI supply your system is plugged into (typically often known as ‘Supply’). Some TVs might even recognise it instantly and ship you straight there.

The Roku will then information you thru a sequence of directions to pair your distant. As soon as that’s achieved, connect with your Wi-Fi community and look forward to 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 register or create a Roku account. In the event you owned an older system, signing in with this e mail will enable your system to recollect a few of your logins and watch historical past (although not all). 

Software program, Compatibility & Efficiency  

• Massive tiles for apps
• Not overloaded with advertisements
• ‘What to Watch’ wants refining
• Not many sensible house 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 facet has six classes within the menu.  

On the homepage are all of your apps, that are in huge tiles which are straightforward to view. And advertisements on the homepage are approach 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 reveals and flicks based mostly 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 not often 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 Listing’ consists of any content material you’ve marked to look at later, whereas the search bar does what it says on the tin: providing you with a spot to search for one thing immediately. In fact, 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 may even search by phrases resembling actors’ names, like ‘Robert Downey Jr’. 

The ‘Streaming Retailer’ consists of apps it’s possible you’ll not have put in, plus premium motion pictures to purchase on VOD, resembling A Minecraft Film and Depraved. Lastly, the Settings menu permits you to take a look at the settings in your distant, configure your show and audio, arrange accessibility options and add cost strategies. 

There’s additionally help for Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and the gadgets work with Google Residence and Alexa. Nonetheless, these controls are restricted to Roku gadgets solely. The Google TV Streamer (and even Chromecast) has a wise house 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 out there within the UK. Plus even then, it could actually’t help third-party merchandise resembling Nanoleaf lights just like the Google TV Streamer can.

The app choice on Roku is first rate. Alongside international platforms resembling Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, UK viewers get BBC iPlayer, Now, ITVX and Channel 4, whereas US house owners have entry to Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock. There’s additionally loads of free content material to browse through 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, resembling Tic Tac Toe, and ‘Pacmouse’ – guess which fashionable sport the latter is a dupe of.

Value & 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 typically obtain first rate reductions throughout sale seasons resembling Black Friday, in my expertise working the gross sales hell for almost six years.  

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

That value 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 pay attention to.  

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

Each these gadgets have a bigger vary of sensible house controls, so in the event you like to regulate your lights, thermostats or get picture-in-picture doorbell feeds in your TV, certainly one of these gadgets might swimsuit 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 wish to keep on with Roku’s interface, you may as a substitute go for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K (£49.99/$49.99), which is similar value because the Hearth TV Stick 4K, however does nonetheless lack Dolby Atmos help. 

You may see additional choices in our information to the most effective streaming sticks and media containers. 

Do you have to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

For easy 4K streaming, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a robust selection. It undercuts key rivals, but nonetheless presents a user-friendly interface and a variety of apps in addition. The buttons and voice controls are additionally among the most accessible available on the market.  

The important thing omission right here is Dolby Imaginative and prescient, however in the event you aren’t streaming content material out there on this format, this gained’t make a lot of a distinction. If that’s essential, you may as a substitute improve to Roku’s extra premium streaming stick, or go for ones from Amazon and Google, which boast higher sensible house 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 will likely be all the things you want for watching your favorite reveals 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