The Roku Streaming Stick saved my TV’s life

I have never had a Roku Ultra for lengthy, however throughout my time, I rapidly realized the Roku UI was my favourite of all of the streaming gadgets. I’ve tried the Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, nevertheless it’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 concentrating on the high-end market, Roku sells this stick for $30, and at that value, I do not see how one can go mistaken. There are some limitations to concentrate on, primarily that it solely streams in 1080p, so do not plug this into your 4K TV hoping to get the very best image high quality. What I did was plug it into my 10+ year-old Samsung TV to offer it a brand new life. This TV was purchased lengthy earlier than good TVs turned commonplace, however with this Roku Streaming Stick, you’d suppose it was a brand-new TV. In terms of price range streaming sticks, it is tough 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 exhibits and films out of your favourite streaming providers. It comes with a Roku Voice Distant.

Execs & Cons

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

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Value, availability, and specs

Some actually good worth right here

The primary factor that works within the Roku Streaming Stick’s favor, no less than in my eyes, is its value. For $30, you get a tool you may 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 gadget. If you do not have one, that 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 You in all probability have one thing like this already mendacity round, whether or not it is a energy strip or an outdated telephone charger, so do not fret in case your TV would not have a port.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 this can be a stick with keep away from for those who’re in search of higher image high quality. When you can set up apps like Max, Peacock, and lots of extra, the distant solely has fast launch buttons for Disney+, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Prime Video. You probably have one other Roku gadget, you may 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 an enormous problem for me, so it was good that I might simply load up Disney+ and see my profile already there.

You probably have any good house gadgets, this stick in all probability works with them. The Roku Streaming Stick helps Roku Sensible Dwelling, Apple AirPlay, Apple Dwelling, Alexa, and Google Dwelling. That is considered one of my favourite issues concerning the Roku ecosystem, since you’re not punished for proudly owning issues from different corporations. I want all my streaming gadgets might 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 exhibits up once you click on on Roku Streaming Stick, however you will must double-check what you are shopping for at different shops. You do not wish 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 concerning the Roku Streaming Stick

Straight to the purpose

Roku

I can not discover a lot to be upset with concerning the Roku Streaming Stick. It really works simply as I anticipated it to, and it is house to many apps and even some reside TV channels. The gadget itself is fairly small, concerning the measurement of my palm, and when it is plugged away behind the TV, I can not even see it. Because it’s powered by the TV, I haven’t got to see a wire jutting out of the facet and going to my wall. When you’re touring, it is also straightforward sufficient to pack up the Roku and take it with you.

The distant’s voice controls work simply effective, though I usually do not use them. I knew all concerning the preliminary setup course of since I already personal a 2024 Roku Extremely, however even newcomers should have no problem getting their stick up and going. One other bonus is that you could ditch your outdated 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 capable of 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, nevertheless it’s not meant to be. The streaming stick is arguably the very best worth you will get for a no-frills streaming gadget. It is excellent for abandoning your good TV UI or giving new life to an outdated TV with no web capabilities. When you do not want 4K decision, I can not consider something that does the job higher. You may just like the look or really feel of the Fireplace Stick greater than the Roku, however that is not the case for me.

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

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What I do not like concerning 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 assist 4K, however I feel that is unfair. The gadget would not set out to try this, and there are different Roku merchandise accessible 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 for those who plan to maneuver to 4K ultimately. There isn’t any draw back to utilizing the 4K stick on a 1080p TV, so you may 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 lots like a toy, and it is heavier than I would count on it to be. It additionally takes a pair of AAA batteries to energy on, so you will must 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, nevertheless it has a charging port on the backside as a substitute of taking batteries.

That is actually all I’ve to say that is unfavourable concerning the gadget. 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 gadget since I will by no means want one for this TV. There have been a couple of instances after I was advised I had inadequate energy to my stick, however the pop-up went away by itself inside seconds and did not influence something. It is likely to be one thing I’ve to organize for down the road, nevertheless it appears all good as of proper now. My TV may be very outdated, in order that might be the wrongdoer, and I can at all times 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 Fireplace Stick and the Onn. sticks you will discover 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 tough to cross 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 quite a lot of worth in for the low value. So long as your expectations are in test, I can not discover a motive why you’d not just like the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick. It integrates properly into good 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 achieved 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 exhibits and films out of your favourite streaming providers. It comes with a Roku Voice Distant.