Latest news with #StreamingStickPlus
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Roku now even CHEAPER than Fire Stick after rare UK price cut – exact models discounted with free TV channels built-in
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ROKU has slashed the price of its latest streaming stick, making the brand even cheaper than the fire stick. A slew of the brand's products have seen their prices reduced as the company looks to streamline viewers' experience. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Roku's streaming sticks have seen their prices slashed Credit: Roku 3 The device allows you to wirelessly connect with your TV Credit: Roku Previously, the only Roku boxes available in the UK were the large Express models. However, the brand has swapped the models for lighter streaming sticks, similar to the ones used by its streaming rivals. The boxes had to be plugged into your TV and balanced on a nearby flat surface and often meant you needed to have cables dangling between the device and your TV. However, Roku launched the Streaming Stick (HD) and Streaming Stick Plus in June. The Streaming Stick 4K was launched in 2021 and remains on the market. All three of these devices simply plug into your TV's HDMI and the two newest models can run off USB power. Now, Roku has slashed the price of the products and you could save a huge amount of money. The HD streaming stick was £29.99 and now costs just £24.99, though it has older WiFi standards and half the RAM of the other sticks. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus costs just £29.99, after previously costing £39.99 Meanwhile, Roku has reduced the cost of its Streaming Stick 4k to just £44.99. Roku reveals brand new streaming stick TV device packed with free channels The Amazon Fire TV Stick, costing £25.99, is now slightly more expensive than the cheapest Roku option. The news comes after Amazon Fire Stick users hit back after a major overhaul. A trial update saw viewers top apps moved to a dedicated row on the home screen. Also, users will be able to see their top 10 favourite selections instead of their top six. However, users have described the Fire Stick update as 'disappointing and unacceptable'. One raged: "I no longer trust Amazon on anything. "Therefore, I finally broke down and bought a Homatics box." A second weighed in: "With that layout it's not a streaming device anymore."
Engadget
28-07-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Roku streaming sticks are up to 37 percent off right now
Roku's latest streaming sticks are both on sale with steep discounts. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus , which supports 4K and HDR10+, is on sale for $29, a discount of 27 percent. If your television only supports HD, pick up the Roku Streaming Stick HD , which is on sale for $19. That's 37 percent off its retail price. Both the Plus and HD versions of the Roku Streaming Stick offer more than 500 free channels through Roku Live TV, which is why we called the Plus the best streaming device for free and live content. Both versions work with virtual assistants including Siri, Alexa and Hey Google, and both are Wi‑Fi only. The Roku interface is uncluttered and easy to use, with a simple remote that features shortcuts to various streaming services. Both sticks support Apple AirPlay for streaming from your Apple device. In our hands‑on review of the Streaming Stick Plus, we noted that this is Roku's first 4K streaming stick that doesn't require a wall adapter for power. Instead, the stick can be powered by your TV's USB port, adding flexibility for TV placement and neater cable management. While the Streaming Stick Plus has a shorter Wi‑Fi range and slightly slower performance than more expensive streaming devices , we still felt it offered a solid value and gave it a score of 85 out of 100. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
Digital Trends
15-07-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Upgrade your TV with this Roku streaming device — on sale at lowest price so far
If you bought an affordable TV for Prime Day, you can turn it into a smart TV or change its operating system into a more streamlined one with the Roku Streaming Stick. The good news is that the streaming device is currently on sale for its lowest-ever price of just $19, following a 37% discount from Amazon on its original price of $30. This is a limited-time deal though, so you need to hurry with your purchase if you want to get it with $11 in savings — especially if you're planning to buy it for more than one TV! Why you should buy the Roku Streaming Stick Two new Roku streaming sticks were introduced a few months ago — the Roku Streaming Stick Plus that supports 4K HDR, and the Roku Streaming Stick that supports HD resolution. They replace the brand's Express streaming devices, and the Roku Streaming Stick is the most affordable model in the current lineup. It's very easy to use — just plug it into your TV's HDMI port, follow the onscreen instructions to connect it to your home's Wi-Fi network, and you're done. The Roku Streaming Stick will let your non-smart TV access the Roku platform, from which you can launch all of the popular streaming services for a limitless library of shows and movies to watch. If you own a smart TV but you find its operating system a bit slow or cluttered, the Roku Streaming Stick will fix that as the Roku platform is quick and streamlined. The remote that comes with the device will allow you to control it and your TV, and it will also let you go hands-free because it accepts voice commands. The Roku Streaming Stick packs a lot of value at its sticker price of $30, which makes it even more attractive at its current price of just $19 from Amazon. The 37% discount brings the streaming device down to its lowest price so far, so don't miss this chance at savings of $11 when buying it. The offer may end at any moment, so you shouldn't be hesitating if you need the Roku Streaming Stick — complete your transaction immediately so that you can start using it with your purchases from streaming deals very soon!
Tom's Guide
10-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Roku Streaming Stick Plus vs Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: which streaming stick is right for you?
When it comes to the best streaming devices, the market is flooded with models to choose from. But two of the most popular — and cheapest — streaming sticks for 4K TVs remain the Roku Streaming Stick Plus and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Officially launched just a mere few days ago, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus comes in as a serious value pick. It's $10 cheaper than the Fire TV Stick 4K and offers HDR10/HDR10+ support with some extra smart home and screensaver features that make it stand out for the price. In the opposite corner is the Fire TV Stick 4K, which initially launched back in 2023. Unlike the Streaming Stick Plus, this Fire TV Stick comes equipped with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, with the addition of some of the best cloud gaming services. While these streaming devices might seem similar on the outside, there are several key differences that set them apart. Let's see which of these two models serves as the best pick to spend your valued dollar on. The new Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) sports an upgraded 1.7GHz quad-core processor that's 30% more powerful than the previous model. In our Amazon Fire TV stick 4K review, we praised its 4K video quality for a budget price. Features include Dolby Vision/HDR10/HDR10+/HLG support, Wi-Fi 6 support and a Live TV guide button on the remote. You also get Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos support to improve your streaming audio. Roku has refreshed its Streaming Stick Plus that originally launched back in 2021 with a sleek and slim new design. It's equipped with loads of features, like Backdrops, Roku smart home compatibility, and HDR10+ support. It also comes in as one of the cheapest options in the market for 4K streaming sticks, making it one steal of a pick built on one of the best platforms. Roku Streaming Stick Plus Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Resolution Up to 4K/60fps Up to 4K/60fps HDR HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 Wi-Fi 6 Smart TV software Roku OS Fire TV Price $39 $49 ($29 on sale) Right out of the gate, Roku's already labeled its new Streaming Stick Plus the smallest streaming device yet. It's 35% smaller than most of its rivals, and the extreme thinness shows, allowing it to fit in practically every crevice behind the TV. Still, this doesn't allow the Streaming Stick Plus to fit into every single HDMI input — it wouldn't fit into the bottom HDMI slots of my Samsung S90D OLED TV. That's where the Fire TV Stick 4K proves victorious; while it might be slightly bulkier than its rival, Amazon does provide an HDMI extension cord in the box. In terms of general size comparisons, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is 3.7 x 0.80 x 0.45 inches, whereas the Fire Stick is 3.8 x 1.18 x 0.55 inches. Clearly, the differences are minimal, but the Streaming Stick Plus is the winner here. It even weighs much less at just 26 grams versus the Fire TV Stick 4K's 43.5 grams. Another huge addition on both devices is power delivery. In addition to simply plugging them into an outlet, you can now easily just plug either stick into the USB port on the back of the TV. That's a huge win for those who might not like those annoying wires creating a fuss behind their display. Both devices also come equipped with a handy voice-compatible remote that runs on included AAA batteries. Roku's model is the dumbed-down version of its Voice Remote Pro, and it's about the same size of Amazon's remote. Both remotes are just slightly bigger than the streaming devices themselves, fitting perfectly in one's hand with extra quick access buttons to some of the best streaming services. The neat thing is that the included remotes can replace the ones that come with your TV, allowing you to turn on/off the display and change volume levels on a dime. You won't be able to change the input, unfortunately, so if you do have multiple connected devices you'll still need the TV remote on-hand. The Roku Streaming Stick Pus and Fire TV Stick 4K are essentially neck-and-neck in terms of performance. It will also entirely depend on the particular TV you're using, as both support displays of up to 4K at 60fps, and they can even upscale lower-resolution content. The primary aspect that separates the two is HDR compatibility. Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K casts a much wider net, supporting Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+, while the Roku device just has the latter two and HLG. And, the Fire TV Stick 4K even has Dolby Atmos for surround sound. This allows the Fire TV Stick 4K more leeway when it comes to the display you're using, specifically more premium models among the best TVs. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus, on the other hand, has the best compatibility with Samsung models, which only support HDR10 and HDR10+. Of course, most users aren't buying a streaming stick to upgrade something like the Samsung S90D OLED TV, but maybe you dislike Tizen OS? These will improve the experience you might have with the interface. On that notion, navigation has always proven king on Roku devices. Both models have their fair share of ads plaguing their individual systems, but Roku's are a lot less in-your-face. Plus, getting to the content you like and the streaming services you use the most — whether it be via search or simply scrolling through the interface — is much easier on Roku OS. Both devices shine in terms of free content. Roku's OS is packed with movies and shows, plus loads of free channels all at no extra cost. Amazon claims its Fire TV platform is home to more than 300,000 free movies and TV shows, making them pretty equal on this front. But the Fire TV Stick 4K is a treasure trove of added features, namely video game streaming. With Amazon's Luna, you have access to tons of games on the cloud, and Xbox Game Pass only amplifies the overall experience. It's not quite on the same level as Samsung's Gaming Hub, but it's still a huge get for the Fire TV Stick 4K — and puts to shame most other streaming sticks. In my review for the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, I raved about Backdrops being a phenomenal experience for those who don't want to deal with a blank TV screen all the time. Then again, Fire TV has its own version, called Ambient Experience, and it corrals a slew of photos and art pieces with the addition of AI-generated content. That's hard to beat. And, to make things even more appealing for the Fire TV model, it's also got Wi-Fi 6 capabilities versus the Roku's Wi-Fi 5, meaning 4K streams and game streaming will run flawlessly. The Fire TV Stick 4K also can do a lot more with your assorted smart home devices. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus falls flat in terms of its smart home capabilities, relegated to the Roku camera app, which means you can't even control lights or smart outlets using your streaming stick. That's a bit frustrating, and gives the Fire TV Stick 4K a leg up for smart home enthusiasts. There's a ton of competition in this market, but there's no question that Roku and Amazon are at the top of their game when it comes to streaming devices. Roku's platform still remains one of the most fluid and easy to navigate, but it lacks a lot of the broader features on offer with Fire TV. And, while both are certainly riddled with ads, Fire TV definitely is the one with the worse set of them. But even in the face of that, I still think the Fire TV Streamer 4K is the best choice for most users. Its Ambient Experience, which has loads of art and even AI-generated content for those who want it, puts Backgrounds to shame, not to mention its smart home capabilities. . At the time of writing, the Fire TV Stick 4K is also $10 cheaper than the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus. Typically, I'd say the Roku model is the better value, but it's already beaten on price at the moment. Add that to Fire TV Stick's access to some of the best cloud gaming services, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus the slew of free channels it offers, and it's simply the one to go with — even if you don't like the Fire TV interface.
CNET
06-05-2025
- CNET
Roku Streaming Stick Plus Hands-On: Wonky Start for Promising Streamer
Roku has a brand-new streamer -- the $40 Streaming Stick Plus -- and I've gone hands-on to see if it's worth the upgrade. I was intrigued by the announcement of the budget Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick Plus, as I feel they help streamline Roku's roster. The Roku Express 4K Plus, in particular, was an awkward product due to its confusing, lengthy name and the need to attach to the side of your TV like a barnacle. Yet, having spent some time with the company's new sticks, I admit for a while wanted the old ones back. After putting the new Streaming Stick Plus through its paces over the better part of a week, the biggest surprise I had was that it was buggy. Netflix crashed often, and HDR content spent a lot of time buffering. After a few resets I have managed to get the Stick Plus stable, but need to spend more time on it before I can give it a final score. My current advice: if you need a new Roku now stick with the older Streaming Stick 4K which also happens to be a couple of bucks cheaper than this new device. I'll update this take when I feel that Stick Plus is ready for prime time, but for now the old version is better. Read more: Best Streaming Devices of 2025 A long line of Rokus Roku's streaming devices have been at the top of our "best lists" for many years as they have traditionally offered simple operation at an affordable price. I have reviewed dozens of Roku streamers and their competitors over the years -- from Roku's weird, MHL-only Streaming Stick to the Google TV Streamer -- and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus has, so far, given me one of the bumpiest rides that I can recall. The Streaming Stick Plus is the middle child of three -- the Stick is HD, the Stick Plus I reviewed is 4K HDR and then, at the top of the line there's the Stick 4K. The main differences between the Streaming Stick Plus and CNET's current pick, the Streaming Stick 4K, is that the latter has Dolby Vision HDR and a Wi-Fi antenna built into the USB cable for boosted range. The Streaming Stick Plus has a little dimple with a light toward the back. Ty Pendlebury/CNET The new Streaming Stick Plus is the size of a USB thumb drive, about three inches long, and now includes a dimpled area with a light at one end. While this depression looks like a button it is not, though beside it there is a physical power button. The stick ships with a USB cable and Roku's Voice Remote. Roku told me you can plug this stick into any 5V/1A USB port, though my first choice of using my Marantz receiver didn't work. You can also plug it into a USB adapter if you want as well (not supplied) The included remote has the same friendly layout as other Roku clickers with shortcut buttons, a microphone and TV controls. The feel of the buttons was a little spongey compared to other Roku remotes I've used, such as the Voice Remote, which has a firmer action. Same familiar interface and ads Ty Pendlebury/CNET If you've ever used a Roku device you'll be completely at home with the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and the perks that have attracted millions of users in the past are here. You can still download hundreds of popular apps, and plenty of obscure ones, and the selection of free content is expanding all the time. The free Roku Channel remains front-and-center, and the included "live TV guide" still has dozens of live, linear channels. Interestingly, neither of them have their own shortcut buttons on the new remote. The interface has had some additional tweaks since we last reviewed a Roku, and yet they're also ones you'll see soon on any other Roku device. While the Roku home screen started out as a collection of apps, the amount of content on display continues to grow, and purists may not like that. For example, as I write this, Roku has unveiled an Andor Fan Preview which appears as a home screen option. Apart from special one-offs like this, though, there are other permanent, though removable, shortcuts like Daily Trivia and a What To Watch section. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus played a Benjamin Moore ad with audio without warning Ty Pendlebury/CNET What isn't deletable? Right now, the ads. When we used to complain about ads appearing on our streaming devices, it used to be ads for promoted programs. It was tolerable, but now Roku has ads for actual products and autoplay videos. When I was flipping through the home screen, as you do, an autoplay ad for paint suddenly appeared, audio and all. The ad reminded me why these things are so cheap, so that companies can sell you. Bugs, speed and other weirdness The main issue I had during testing with the Stick Plus was constant buffering with any kind of HDR material, and it also had particular problems with Netflix. The Streaming Stick Plus is specified for HDR 10 playback, but it couldn't go more than a minute without stalling. Netflix refused to work altogether -- on either the cheaper Stick (which doesn't support 4K or HDR) or the Stick Plus. I did a network speed test and found that when using the Roku's own speed test, it hit 25 Mbps which is right on the edge of the company's recommendation for streaming HDR. After a couple of false starts, Fandango even gave me a message to watch in lower non-HDR quality. It's worth mentioning that I have a 1Gb connection at home with the router less than 6 feet away. Similar playback tests with a wireless Nvidia Shield Pro and even a TCL Roku TV in another room performed fine. After speaking to Roku they advised a reboot of both devices -- even though I had been powering them down and connecting them to different TVs -- and this seems to have worked. Will continue using them in the meantime to see if the issues reappear. Roku advises that Ethernet adaptors will work with the USB-C connection so this may be a fix for you if you find you're having similar difficulties. Ty Pendlebury/CNET There was some other weirdness as I was using the Stick Plus -- for instance, a big update in the last few days knocked out the remote control completely. I had to connect a different remote (holding down the Back and Home button) to get the original to work again. Of course, there's a huge caveat here in all of this: this is a brand new device, and like most software-based gadgets they can continue improve over time. Outlook: Wait for now to buy Given there's only twenty dollars separating the three devices, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus needs to work hard to justify its place between the two other sticks. In my experience, the older Streaming Stick 4K offers a better experience, and the Streaming Stick has all of the "don't need anything but a tune on my lips and the freedom of an open sky" that travelers require. The vanilla Streaming Stick may be barebones, but it's seemingly where a device this size maxes out in terms of performance. While it also had issues loading Netflix, its lack of HDR meant that I had no buffering issues when watching shows or movies. As I said at the top, if you really want a Roku right now, get the Streaming Stick 4K, and meanwhile I'll sit by and see if the Stick Plus can continue its bug-free run. Watch this space..
