It was approximately a year ago that we reviewed the Roku Express, and we were very impressed with it (you can read our review here, as a refresher). Since then, 4K has entered the mainstream in a big way; these days, you can get a big 4K TV for less than $500, something unheard of a few years ago. But then again, that’s the price of progress.
So you were on Santa’s good list, and you found yourself with a brand new 4K TV. Unfortunately, it was one of the more price-conscious models, which usually means that its software is severely lacking. Of course Santa is not to blame here (I never had him for the gadget-enthusiast type anyway), but still, a 4K TV is a 4K TV, and there must be a way to get more bang for your buck. For a mere $59 CAD, enter the Roku Streaming Stick+.
Roku has been a household name in the industry for many years, and their offerings have always been solid and well regarded. The Streaming Stick+ is no different; and the supporting features are impressive:
- Supports HD, 4K @ 60fps and HDR
- Access to free channels, 150,000+ movies and TV episodes
- Voice remote with TV controls
- Dolby Audio and DTS pass through via HDMI
Inside the box, we found everything to get us started; the actual Roku stick (which is discrete enough to fit behind most TVs without being seen), the remote, a quick start guide, the cable that connects the Roku to power (in case your TV doesn’t provide enough power for the stick to operate) and an extension to that cable (which, in my case, was most welcome since the power outlet was further away).
Installation is pretty straight forward – you plug your Roku Streaming Stick+ to an empty HDMI port of your TV (or projector, whatever you have available) and using your device’s controls, you switch the output to that HDMI port. After prompting you to put the batteries in the remote, it will set it up for you and let you choose the language, preferred WiFi and will do an update to the latest software version, if one is available. The whole process is painless and relatively quick – in our case, it auto detected everything out of the box on the first try, which was impressive. After that, you will be prompted to go to Roku’s website, enter a code, and make an account, so that your Roku stick can finish setting up.
There is a multitude of both free channels and channels that allow you to access your favourite paid content; Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and all the heavy hitters are here. And of course, there’s a separate section with dedicated 4K content to enjoy.
Roku Streaming Stick+ really shines even if you have your own media collection; with support for Plex and even popular NAS solutions like Synology, you will be able to stream your movies from anywhere in the house using its fast 802.11ac WiFi connection. This makes the Roku Streaming Stick+ your one-stop way to access all your digital entertainment options, without having to rely on different solutions for every platform you want to support.
Are there caveats? Not really. The stick worked really well while we tested it, the remote was snappy, voice commands worked as advertised and the movies we watched were crisp and without any noticeable buffering. So for those of you that either have a 4K TV that lacks in the software department, or are just eager to cut the cord and get 4K support, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is a very good choice for you and you’ll be enjoying all this 4K goodness in no time.
Verdict: 4.5 out of 5 – An absolute must for all cord-cutters in this new 4K age.
Review – Pete Vagiakos
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