The Roku Streaming Stick saved my TV’s life

I have not had a Roku Ultra for lengthy, however throughout my time, I rapidly 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 value, I do not see how one can go unsuitable. 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 perfect 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 good TVs grew to become commonplace, however with this Roku Streaming Stick, you’d suppose it was a brand-new TV. On the subject of finances streaming sticks, it is tough to beat the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick.

Editor’s Selection

Roku Streaming Stick (2025)

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

Professionals & Cons

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

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Value, availability, and specs

Some actually good worth right here

The principle 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’ll be able to plug into the again of your TV and stand up and working in a matter of minutes. All of your TV wants is a USB port to energy the machine. If you do not have one, it’s worthwhile to 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 working, the Roku Streaming Stick outputs at 1080p, so this can be a keep on with keep away from in case you’re on the lookout for 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. In case you have one other Roku machine, you’ll be able to skip the sign-in course of for all of the apps simply by linking your account to the brand new Roku. Signing into every thing is an enormous problem for me, so it was good that I may simply load up Disney+ and see my profile already there.

In case you have any good dwelling 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 among my favourite issues concerning the Roku ecosystem, since you’re not punished for proudly owning issues from different firms. 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 whenever 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 am unable to discover a lot to be upset with concerning the Roku Streaming Stick. It really works simply as I anticipated it to, and it is dwelling to many apps and even some stay TV channels. The machine itself is relatively small, concerning the dimension 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. For those who’re touring, it is also simple sufficient to pack up the Roku and take it with you.

The distant’s voice controls work simply positive, 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 challenge getting their stick up and going. One other bonus is you can ditch your previous distant and management every thing 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, but it surely’s not meant to be. The streaming stick is arguably the perfect worth you may get for a no-frills streaming machine. It is excellent for abandoning your good TV UI or giving new life to an previous TV with no web capabilities. For those who do not want 4K decision, I am unable to consider something that does the job higher. You would possibly 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 superb contact as effectively, as a result of that is one thing my Apple TV 4K would not even assist. For an entry-level machine, I am impressed with how a lot it offers. Nonetheless, that does not imply it is not 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 believe that is unfair. The machine would not set out to try this, and there are different Roku merchandise out there for individuals who want a bit extra. Nonetheless, the Roku Streaming Stick positions itself as a stick that is for folks with no plans of upgrading sooner or later. A 4K streaming stick prices simply $10 extra, so it may be a good selection to splurge on that in case you plan to maneuver to 4K ultimately. There is not any draw back to utilizing the 4K stick on a 1080p TV, so you’ll be able to cowl your bases and primarily future-proof your self.

The distant, regardless of its strong 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 might anticipate it to be. It additionally takes a pair of AAA batteries to energy on, so you will must swap these out as an alternative 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 an alternative of taking batteries.

That is actually all I’ve to say that is adverse concerning the machine. In my case, I’ve a 1080p that I preserve in my basement, so there is not any sense spending the additional cash for a 4K machine since I will by no means want one for this TV. There have been just a few occasions once I was informed I had inadequate energy to my stick, however the pop-up went away by itself inside seconds and did not influence something. It may be one thing I’ve to organize for down the road, but it surely appears all good as of proper now. My TV could be very previous, in order that could possibly be the wrongdoer, 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 could 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.

Accessing each streaming app I can consider with a stick that is powered by the TV is difficult to go up. Whereas the stick is noticeably slower than my devoted streaming packing containers just like the Apple TV 4K and Roku Extremely, it is not something I will ding the Streaming Stick for because it packs a whole lot of worth in for the low value. So long as your expectations are in verify, I am unable to discover a cause why you’d not just like the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick. It integrates properly into good properties no matter what ecosystem you are in, and the automatic updates imply you by no means miss out on new options. It is not 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 instantly into your TV and allows you to begin watching your reveals and flicks out of your favourite streaming companies. It comes with a Roku Voice Distant.