Roku’s newest 4K streaming stick has nearly the whole lot you want

Within the more and more aggressive world of streaming working programs, it looks as if plenty of shopper selections come all the way down to model loyalty and private preferences. Contemplating Apple,

Google
and Roku, amongst others, there are plenty of similarities in terms of the audio and

video formats
supplied, in addition to search features and worth.

Roku’s newest replace to its streaming lineup consists of the Streaming Stick Plus, a well-priced and technically sound piece of package that goes all in on branding, personalization, and comfort. It sits above the

, which lacks 4K decision, however under the Streaming Stick 4K (despite the fact that this one additionally has 4K), and the

Roku Ultra
(which provides some additional codecs and options). I examined it out throughout per week to see the way it stacks up in terms of looking out, streaming, and organizing all of your leisure wants.

Really helpful

Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)

A slim plug and play streaming stick that features 4K/HDR assist and features a voice distant. 

Execs & Cons

• Fast and straightforward setup
• Personalization choices
• Low worth

• Lacks Dolby codecs
• Sponsored advertisements and promoted content material

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Value, availability, and specs

The Streaming Stick Plus is a small USB stick that connects to the again of your TV. It comes with a USB-C charging cable that additionally connects to your good TV, drawing what energy it wants out of your unit. Additionally included within the buy is the Roku voice distant.

The gadget options HDR10+ assist and 4K decision, though this budget-friendly model lacks Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist. It’s suitable with a variety of digital assistants and casting choices, together with Apple AirPlay and Google Dwelling. The Streaming Stick Plus retails for $40.

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What I like in regards to the Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Simple use with comfort and customization

Accurately, organising the Roku stick is quick and easy, getting it off to a great begin. You simply plug the stick into an HDMI port, join the ability cable to a USB port, and the Roku will activate and begin a speedy setup. When you get the system operating, you may start the typically prolonged strategy of downloading your related apps and providers after which logging into every one in every of them.

A variety of what I appreciated has extra to do with Roku’s interface than it does with what this particular stick presents. There are some personalization choices that make the Roku OS appear extra intimate and enjoyable. Not solely are you able to customise the display saver and the wallpaper, however the personalization choices prolong to how some menus look and are organized as properly. These are good and but kind of superfluous to the leisure expertise, however with so many working programs and firms vying to make you part of their ecosystem, it is these small touches that make a distinction.

The OS is pretty quick and straightforward to navigate, though undoubtedly not as speedy because the formidable Google TV Streamer. The Save Record is one other helpful, albeit flawed, characteristic, which is obtainable throughout all Roku gadgets. The distant does embody a voice search perform, though it isn’t hands-free: it’s a must to press a button to activate it.

The largest draw of the Streaming Stick Plus is the scale and comfort it presents for the worth. At lower than 4 inches in size, it is a nice streaming follow journey with or transfer round a home if wanted. It is much less cumbersome than the Extremely or Google TV Streamer, and the worth makes it extra interesting than these strong opponents as properly.

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What I did not like in regards to the Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Too many advertisements and too few options

The cheaper price ought to give a sign of a trade-off when having fun with the working system, and that, after all, comes within the type of sponsored advertisements and instructed content material. Roku’s interface finds refined methods to advertise titles to you that it desires you to observe, and I think about you’ll get used to it after some time. It is an issue for lots of providers, and one which some permit you to handle higher than others. For me personally, I’d fairly pay more cash to have a much less crowded OS that pushes much less promotional content material.

Roku, like a bunch of different interfaces, additionally has a bunch of free titles which are wielded as a promoting level, however I am having a tricky time imagining anybody actually desires to observe what’s accessible, as there’s a lot of previous, syndicated content material, actuality TV, and music.

For the devoted content material shopper, there are higher streamers accessible, each out and in of the Roku lineup. This model lacks Dolby Imaginative and prescient and Atmos, two frequent, high-end codecs featured on a bunch of streaming providers. It lacks the newest Wi-Fi iteration and would not embody an Ethernet port, so it’s possible you’ll discover lag an issue at occasions relying on the place you are positioned.

I do not take care of the distant both. Whereas the Extremely incorporates a distant that features hands-free voice management, backlit buttons, and a location finder, this model is less complicated and feels cheaper. The plastic building is way inferior to the distant that comes with Samsung, Apple, or Google merchandise. Whereas the format and measurement are sensible, it requires batteries and can’t be charged by way of USB. A minimum of it would not embody a button to get you to the free content material straight like different streamers do.

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From format to design, Samsung bests the competitors, together with LG, in terms of making an intuitive distant.

Do you have to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

For informal enjoyment and comfort, the worth is true

The market is inundated with streaming sticks of all totally different flavors, and whether or not the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is price it to you comes all the way down to your enjoyment of the Roku OS and your exact wants. This actually is not strong sufficient to fulfill somebody who watches plenty of titles on the highest potential high quality; the dearth of Dolby assist and mediocre energy means you are leaving some options on the desk.

Nonetheless, this compact and transportable streaming stick, which nonetheless gives 4K decision and HDR10+, means you may take pleasure in plenty of content material at a excessive stage at residence or on the go. When you really feel snug with Roku’s interface, and all the lovable colours and screensavers it presents, then that is seemingly a worthy funding to assist your leisure wants.

Really helpful

Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)

A slim plug and play streaming stick that features 4K/HDR assist and features a voice distant.