Roku Streaming Stick 4K Review- Everything you need to know!

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If you are planning to buy the Roku Streaming Stick 4k, you should check out all its features. Here is a complete Roku Streaming Stick 4K Review for you to decide if it is worth spending the money on this.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K Review

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+. It also has faster startup times and navigates between apps faster than its predecessors. Although it does not come with radical changes, it has minor upgrades and a new processor. This new processor helps apps to load quicker and swap between them more easily. The updated Roku mobile app will be more practical if you are not standing directly next to your streaming device. The best part is the more extended Wi-Fi range that makes the product more popular. The user interface is almost unchanged, so you must start each app separately to view series and films.

Price

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K was released in October 2021. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ was also launched with it. The only difference was that the latter came with the Roku Voice Remote Pro. You can buy the Roku Streaming Stick 4K at $49.99. However, for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, you need to pay $20 more, which is $69.99.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K
4.0
$39.00

Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an excellent value for first-time purchasers or if you want to upgrade your Roku device. Roku is a cheap and easy method to stream 4K content from Netflix, Amazon Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and more. With new improvements, it now supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats. The 4x resolution of HD will give you a lifelike experience as colour pops off your screen. The new processor helps apps to load quicker and swap between them more easily. You can access a vast variety of apps and services, and it also allows you to stream from iOS devices using Apple AirPlay.


There is a new long-range Wi-Fi module that will help you with getting a good connection. iOS users will enjoy the support for AirPlay. The new design lets Roku plug directly into your TV with a simple setup and hides the wires. You won't need separate remotes for different functions as all functions are included in a single remote. You can use the voice search feature to quickly find your favourite TV shows, movies, actors and more.

Pros:
  • Supports 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision streaming
  • Affordable
  • Easy to use
  • Improved Wi-Fi performance
Cons:
  • No Dolby Atmos support
  • No IR control for external sound systems
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01/31/2024 04:35 pm GMT

Design

It measures 3.4 x 0.6 x 0.4 inches, which is far smaller than Amazon‘s Fire TV sticks. It has rounded sides also give it a smoother appearance. On the sides, you will find a micro USB connector, a reset button, and an HDMI plug protruding from one end. Although you won’t see much of the stick, its design is quite nice. In terms of design, the new Roku Streaming Stick is similar to the older model. It fits directly into the HDMI connection on your TV and is almost the size of a USB flash drive. You can plug it in with the power adapter that comes with it or use the USB port on the TV.

The Roku Voice Remote is a short, black plastic wand with rounded sides and a purple, plus-shaped direction pad. There is a pinhole microphone for voice search above the pad, along with the Home, Back, and Power buttons. The Streaming Stick has a matte finish instead than the glossy plastic of the Streaming Stick Plus. The bundled power/Wi-Fi cable is a little bit longer and blockier. Also, it is significant that the new Roku doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6. Unlike Fire TV, Roku doesn’t come with an HDMI extender in the box. However, it does offer a free version on its website.

Remote

Below are the menu, playback controls, and buttons for Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix. The volume and mute buttons are on the right side. The long-range Wi-Fi antenna is a solid plastic bar sandwiched between the streaming stick’s head and tail. It is advised to keep it away from the TV’s HDMI ports and ensure it doesn’t tangle up with other cords. This will help you to get the maximum range. You also get a Roku voice control remote and two AAA batteries. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and AirPlay 2 streaming from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The Roku app gives you access to private listening. You can even operate the streaming stick through the app without the remote. It works with the help of the latest 10.5 software. Although it doesn’t always feel as speedy, apps load swiftly.

Performance

The new SoC boosts the speed by around 30% and gives faster navigation. It has a new quad-core processor that helps in faster app startup speeds. Apps load almost instantly and nearly without any load time. With HDR format support, you can watch your favourite shows on any high-end HDR TV. Although there hasn’t been much change in the user interface, Roku stays updated with the most recent streaming services. You can watch HBO Max, Disney Plus, Peacock, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, and more. The Roku app lets you watch videos from the Roku Channel anywhere. According to the company, it will soon enable up to four devices for private listening. Overall, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is quick and fast enough.

RokuOS 10.5

The user interface on Roku devices is one the best in the market. You see a grid of the apps and a search feature to identify apps. There are several voice-related enhancements in RokuOS 10.5. With its always-listening Voice Remote Pro, you can use these features if you purchase the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus. The interface allows you to spell out email addresses, passwords, and PINs while signing in. You will also find this feature in Apple’s tvOS. The Roku Channel’s Live TV area gives you the option to alter the grid. However, this section only permits The Roku Channel’s free linear TV content, which consists of ad-supported programming. You don’t need to buy specific headphones to use with the Roku mobile app. Also, Roku improved its wireless headphone functionality to lessen latency.

With the new update, you won’t be able to see any specific TV shows or movies appear until you click through to the app. The interface is the easiest and most straightforward. The less crowded interface is what differentiates Roku from others. Moreover, some other updates include the inclusion of Spotify podcasts and music results in voice searches. Although you get all the major apps and streaming services, game streaming providers are still missing.

Voice Remote

Similar to the predecessors, you get the company’s voice remote. It contains a power button, volume control, and microphone for the voice assistant. You get a directional pad and Back, Home, and Options buttons to navigate the Roku OS. Moreover, there is replay, play/pause, fast forward, and rewind buttons. There is a headphone connector for private headphones-only listening. You also get programmable shortcut buttons and a USB port for charging. There are also app buttons for Hulu, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, and Netflix on the remote. You can easily search for your favourite shows or even actors with the help of the voice remote.

Roku’s Zones can aggregate content from a variety of services around topics. Although, as compared to its competitors, voice capability is still lacking. Even some entertainment-focused features are restricted. This includes the inability to operate smart home appliances. Moreover, the voice functionality doesn’t work well with live TV streaming.

Audio and Video

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K will stream all of your TV and movies even without Dolby Atmos. The HDR10 and HDR10+ formats provide deep blacks and high contrast to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. The sharp UHD image quality will persist throughout the show you are watching. The spatially focused Dolby Atmos sound technology is absent from the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. This results in a deficiency in audio standards. Both the Chromecast with Google TV and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K support Dolby Atmos.

Apps and Apple AirPlay

You can access a huge variety of apps and services through the Streaming Stick 4K. Most major video streaming services like Crunchyroll, Shudder, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video are available. Although, you don’t get Twitch on Roku yet. Music streaming services include Amazon Music, SiriusXM, Spotify, and Tidal. There are many free services on Roku, like apps for specific networks, Pluto TV, RetroCrush, and Roku’s own Roku Channel. Apple AirPlay 2 is also supported, allowing you to stream directly from your iPad, iPhone, or Mac. For connecting headphones, Bluetooth connectivity is offered. It even supports smart speakers like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. Roku is good for streaming media but cannot serve as your hub for your smart home.

Additionally, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K allows screen mirroring. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not support other types of streaming. So, you cannot view live smart home camera feeds or access Nest cam streams. Moreover, it offers services like Plex, Criterion Channel, Spotify, Vimeo, Movies Anywhere, and more.

What would you like?

  • First Roku device– Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an excellent value for first-time purchasers. Also, if you want to update your Roku devices, you get an affordable deal with this model.
  • Distance between TV and router– Not everyone has their TV and router in the same place, which can cause issues with the WiFi connection. With a long-range antenna on your Streaming Stick, you will get better connections with your Wi-Fi.
  • Affordable– You get features like HDR format, Disney Plus, Netflix, and Dolby Vision invasion at a lower and affordable price.

What might you not like?

  • No updates in UI– Even though Roku keeps its user interface simple for everyone, it stops the company from improving and adding other key features.
  • Minor updates– The new Roku Streaming Stick 4K has some internal hardware improvements, but there aren’t many new features, to begin with. Dolby Vision support is fantastic if you pay for Netflix’s UHD tier. However, if you generally pay for the cheaper streaming tiers, you won’t find anything better than the previous model.

Conclusion- Roku Streaming Stick 4K Review

Since Roku was released in 2017, the original Roku Streaming Stick Plus has remained unchanged. It was still a cheap and simple method to stream 4K content from Netflix, Amazon Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and more. With new improvements, it now supports the Dolby Vision HDR format. You can access a huge variety of apps and services, and it also allows you to stream from iOS devices using Apple AirPlay. You also get Dolby Vision and HDR10+ features previously exclusive to the Roku Ultra and some Roku TVs. There is a new long-range Wi-Fi module that will help you with getting a good connection. Although Roku still lags behind in terms of non-media capabilities like voice assistants and smart home automation. However, iOS users will enjoy the support for AirPlay.

If you want to enjoy Dolby Atmos, you will have to go for Google TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. However, their interface sometimes interferes with your apps by suggesting material and selling ads. Roku Streaming Stick 4K is still better than its competitor mainly due to its easy-to-use apps-first user interface. Additionally, the Roku mobile app has improved a lot too. So, if you are looking for an affordable option for streaming with great features, Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a good option.

You can ask us in the comments section below if you have any doubts about the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Review.

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