Roku Streaming Stick Plus evaluation: Powered by the TV and excellent for journey

Roku’s streaming participant lineup is a bit simpler to know in 2025 than ever — but it surely’s nonetheless a bit complicated. With the discharge of the Roku Streaming Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, there are actually three streaming sticks and one set-top field within the firm’s streaming participant household. Categorical fashions and ones with the plus symbols are now not within the combine. The Roku Extremely set-top field is the most costly at $100. The 2021 Streaming Stick 4K goes for $50, whereas the Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick Plus value $30 and $40, respectively. After reviewing the Streaming Stick Plus and evaluating it to different streamers, I feel it packs an honest quantity of energy (and Roku’s handy interface) right into a small dongle.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus vs the Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Arguably the Streaming Stick Plus’ greatest competitors comes from inside its household. The Streaming Stick 4K and the Streaming Stick Plus each assist 4K picture high quality, regardless of the Plus not having the time period in its identify. The Stick 4K additionally helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient and has a longer-range Wi-Fi connection. Each join by the Wi-Fi 5 normal, however the “4K” mannequin has a built-in Wi-Fi extender inside its USB energy cable.

At this level, the Stick 4K is four years older than the Plus, and the brand new stick advantages from a number of technological upgrades. For one, the Plus streamier is smaller due to the dearth of Wi-Fi extender and energy adapter. Roku’s math claims the dongle itself is 35 % smaller than the competitors — however truthfully none of those sticks are notably giant. I discovered that it was certainly smaller than the Amazon Fireplace TV Stick I examined. However the dimension discount would not make an enormous distinction in on a regular basis use — particularly since they conceal behind most TVs.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K (left) with it is cable, Wi-Fi extender and dongle. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus (proper) with it is cable and dongle.

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

One other improve is a bit more important: higher energy effectivity. Now you should utilize your TV’s USB port to energy the machine as a substitute of a wall adapter. The Plus doesn’t even include an adapter within the field, making it a extra travel-ready package deal. Older Roku sticks allowed you to do that (and the 4K mannequin can use USB energy on some TVs) however that is the primary 4K-enabled machine that Roku truly recommends utilizing with no energy adapter. Because you don’t want an open wall outlet close by, the dongle will show extra versatile. It actually would have turn out to be useful throughout a latest journey wherein my resort room’s TV was about 12 ft from the closest accessible plug.

Each Sticks assist Apple AirPlay and are appropriate with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. They arrive with the identical distant, which packs options like voice enter and the power to regulate the facility and quantity of your TV. They each showcase the identical OS, with Roku’s playful, purple interface, which I notably like for reside and free programming — as I outlined in our streaming devices guide.

Efficiency

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus with the remote and dongle and USB cable

The Streaming Stick Plus is fairly quick for a $40 machine. I’ve a Roku Extremely hooked as much as one other TV in my home and, once I carried out the identical actions on each, the Streaming Stick Plus was solely a bit slower than the Extremely. As an illustration, Disney+ took a second or two to begin on the Extremely, and only a half second or so longer on the Plus. Sure, there was a time distinction, however the Streaming Stick Plus was by no means frustratingly sluggish.

I don’t assume anybody truthfully expects a streaming follow carry out on the similar stage as most up-to-date good TVs. My set is comparatively new and side-by-side comparisons confirmed a minor disparity between a dongle and an even bigger, built-in CPU. Take the Netflix menu, for instance. It’s clear and crisp and vibrant through my TV’s native Netflix app, however the identical web page was markedly fuzzier and extra pixelated once I opened it on the Roku machine.

That stated, I solely famous a slight distinction in high quality between the 2 when a present was truly enjoying. Sweeping pictures of the sumptuous-yet-blood-stained White Home interiors in The Residence have been solely the slightest bit grainier on the Roku. True video connoisseurs could word the disparity, however those that are simply right here to see Detective Cupp unnerve all of the suspects received’t possible discover.

Must you get the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus on a wooden table with knick knacks nearby

One thing the scale of a tube of squashed lipstick can’t rival a great good TV. However in case you have an older display or a less expensive set with a tedious interface, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus might make TV time extra pleasurable. Comparable streaming sticks embody Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K, which is $10 extra at full worth (although it’s usually on sale). Between the 2, I’d go along with Roku’s Streaming Stick Plus, as Roku’s interface is way extra useful. That is additionally the stick I wish to take with me on my subsequent journey. I can plug it in on the Airbnb and, as a substitute of logging in to no matter random apps the TV occurs to have, I can watch extra Doctor Who. I received’t have to fret about the place the closest outlet is and I’ll be spared the hassle of typing in my stupidly lengthy Disney+ password.

As for whether or not it’s best to get this or Roku’s different 4K-enabled streaming stick, I’d go along with this one. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is $10 cheaper and 4 years newer. The truth that it’s powered by the TV means the dongle and the USB energy cable match out of sight so in the event you, like me, are against the look of snaking wires in all places, you’ll be happy. After all, in case you have a TV that supports Dolby Imaginative and prescient or your Wi-Fi router is admittedly far-off out of your TV, then you’ll be able to go along with the Streaming Stick 4K — that’s actually the one main benefit that mannequin has. In any other case, the Streaming Stick Plus is an efficient choose for an inexpensive however trendy streaming participant.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dwelling/home-theater/roku-streaming-stick-plus-review-powered-by-the-tv-and-perfect-for-travel-130047601.html?src=rss

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