There are plenty of media streamers around but few offer as extensive range of apps and channels as Roku. Here are your choices explained.
Why you can trust Pocket-lint (Pocket-lint) – There are plenty of media streamers around but few offer as extensive range of apps and channels as Roku. The company has been manufacturing online streaming boxes for several years but which should you choose? The product offerings in the UK and the US are slightly different, with the US often getting Roku devices that never launch in the UK – as well as Roku TVs and speakers that don’t always travel internationally. Here we’re focusing on Roku’s streaming devices to help you choose which is the best for you – of course, remember that Black Friday throws up some great Roku deals, so now is a good time to buy. Which is the best Roku streamer to buy today? Roku Streaming Stick 4K squirrel_widget_6089431 Type: HDMI dongle Quality: 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision Remote: Voice The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the new top of the range for Roku’s compact streamers, building on the excellent Streaming Stick+. The big addition to the set of specs on offer is support for Dolby Vision, which is widely available on streaming services like Netflix now. If you have a Dolby Vision compatible TV, you’ll be able to get the most out of this stick. It comes with Roku’s voice remote, supports all the other services that Roku offers, with the advantage of long-range Wi-Fi for a better experience. It has the advantage over the Express devices that it remains hidden, as it doesn’t need line of sight to control it. Pocket-lint Roku Express 4K squirrel_widget_4460210 Type: Set-top box Quality: 4K, HDR10+ Remote: Simple The Roku Express 4K is an evolution of the Roku Express, adding in support for those higher 4K resolutions as well as HDR 10+ content, making it a viable alternative to the Roku Premiere. It still needs to be connected to the power and HDMI cable, so it’s not as compact as the Roku Streaming Stick+, but it’s just about as capable. In the US there’s also the Roku Express 4K+, which comes with the Voice Remote Pro with a rechargable battery. Roku Express 4K review: A cheaper route to Ultra HD streaming Roku Express squirrel_widget_168898 Type: Set-top box Quality: 1080p Remote: Simple The Roku Express is the smallest of the streamers, acting as a very small set-top box and coming with some tape to attach it to the underneath of your TV, with an HDMI cable connecting the two and a Micro-USB taking care of power. It was redesigned in late 2019 with a 10 per cent smaller footprint and curved top.
