Roku is famous for tech that makes accessing your favorite streaming networks simple, but is lesser known for its collection of smart products and accessories.
The Roku brand is well known for its streaming products. These consist of Roku Streaming Sticks, Roku TVs, and television sets with Roku built in. However, Roku didn’t put all its eggs into this streaming entertainment basket, as the company also sells plenty of other products.
While most of Roku’s catalog consists of entertainment-related products, including peripherals such as soundbars and remotes, the company has also branched into smart home devices. Roku doesn’t sell smart appliances, but it does offer a curated selection of devices, including doorbell cameras, smart plugs, and energy-efficient lights. However, you might be wondering which ones are worth investing in and which aren’t. We reviewed the entire catalog, gathered feedback on these smart home devices, and consolidated it into this article. Read on if you are interested in joining the Roku ecosystem, and want to know which gadgets are right for you.Roku Battery Camera (Regular and Plus)
When talking about products, the word « worse » implies that some are genuinely bad. That preconceived notion is a failure of the English language. Saying a gadget is worse than others doesn’t mean it’s bad, just not as good by comparison. The arguably worst Roku smart home product is the Roku Battery Camera. That means it does not have as high an overall review score as the other Roku smart home products, but that does not necessarily mean the Roku Battery Camera is objectively bad.
The Battery Camera comes in two varieties: Standard and Roku Battery Camera Plus. The only difference between the two is that while the standard camera lasts six months on a single charge, the Camera Plus’ charge lasts two full years (according to the Roku website). Otherwise, the products are virtually identical: They both record anything that enters their detection zones in 1080p, provide notifications, and let you communicate with whomever they detect via two-way audio. And you can stream the videos live to your Roku TV, computer, or mobile app.
Based on user reviews, the Roku Battery Camera appears to be an excellent product. Buyers on Amazon claim it is easy to install and highly weather resistant, but reviews from professional critics are a little more, well, critical. Consumer Reports, for instance, notes that while the camera’s data security and response time are top-notch, the device suffers from mediocre video quality and lackluster data privacy (data security prevents hacks, but data privacy determines what information Roku collects). The standard and Plus versions of the Roku Battery Camera are $59.99 and $79.99, respectively.Roku Floodlight Camera
When most people want to add an extra layer of security to their homes, smart doorbell cameras such as the Ring Video Doorbell are a good first step, but they are only really useful for the doors. If you want to add additional security to, say, your backyard or garage, you need a different product, doubly so if you want it to automatically illuminate the area.
Technically speaking, the Roku Battery Cameras have built-in floodlights, but the Roku Floodlight Camera has two big honking motion-activated floodlights attached to the chassis. And speaking of honking, each floodlight device comes with a siren meant to scare away intruders, be they burglars trying to steal your belongings or raccoons trying to steal your trash. The Roku Floodlight Camera also shares many features with the Battery Camera, including customizable activation zones, two-way audio, and live feeds that stream to other Roku devices and apps.
In terms of reviews, the Roku Floodlight Camera ranks slightly higher than the Battery Camera. Customers on Amazon love its video quality and ease of installation, and you can even customize when and why the device sends you notifications. However, the Floodlight camera loses points among Amazon users due to its convoluted setup process. Moreover, Consumer Reports notes that data privacy is still a concern, and you must pay additional money to unlock certain features, such as recognizing when packages are dropped off. Still, the Roku Floodlight by all accounts can help make your home more secure, and help you see your pets during nighttime potty runs. The Roku Floodlight Camera currently retails for $79.99 on Amazon.Roku Video Doorbell & Chime (Wired and Wire-free)
Video doorbells come with numerous bells and whistles, and we’re not just talking about customizable chimes. However, they primarily boil down to two varieties: wired and wireless. One might assume wired versions are better due to their constant power supply, but that isn’t always true.
Roku offers two Video Doorbell & Chime products. These include the standard wired version and the Roku Wire-free Video Doorbell & Chime. Both devices notify you when someone approaches or rings the doorbell and provide two-way audio so you can chat with visitors. The major differences are the price and installation difficulty. While the Roku website claims installation is very easy, the wired doorbell is comparatively harder to set up since it requires your current doorbell’s wiring.
While the standard Roku Video Doorbell & Chime is hardwired into each house’s electrical grid, thereby eliminating the need to recharge batteries, reviews of the device are somewhat mixed. When PC Mag tested the device, the outlet praised the camera’s color night vision and its ability to integrate with other Roku products, but noted that while setup was easy, it still requires interaction with low-voltage wires, which isn’t without risk. Meanwhile, reviews of the wireless doorbell are a bit more generous, as sites such as Lifewire state the device has a six-month battery life and can be installed without any drilling.
