Roku Streaming Stick 4k 2021 Streaming Device 4k

If you’ve used a Roku device before, you’ll easily be able to navigate the remote. It’s built from a black plastic, and it’s a little thinner than the Voice Remote Pro, which comes with the Streaming Stick 4K+. The device does away with the headphone jack and the microphone mute switch that you’ll get with the more expensive device, along with the two programmable buttons. Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan parlayed his time working as a musician and audio engineer into a career in digital media in 2013. Since then he's had extensive experience as a writer and editor, including everything from op-eds and features to reviews on TVs, audio gear, smart home devices, and more. If you want the absolute best streaming remote, though, you'll want the next step up.

But if you already have a streaming setup and you don’t notice any issues, I wouldn’t be too worried about this either. The 2021 model of the Roku Express 4K + is currently $ 30 and has the same apps and almost all of the same features. It’s slower and slimmer, but it also streams in 4K, even if it doesn’t support some of the same tech standards. The stick is as long as a credit card and just a little wider and thicker than the HDMI port it plugs into – it’s less of a streaming box than a dongle. The only thing to keep in mind is the USB power cord which is also the Wi-Fi antenna (difficult to replace so don’t break).

The Streaming Stick 4K doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6 since Roku believes better Wi-Fi 5 performance would benefit more people who don’t want to replace their router . One thing I did appreciate is the memory management of the Streaming Stick 4K. I was able to jump between multiple apps without having to reload them from scratch. You probably don’t watch TV by jumping between apps all the time, but it does equate to faster browsing when you’re looking for something to watch between apps.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K works with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and a new processor. Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Easily search across thousands of channels with your voice and control your TV, streaming, and sound—all with the included Roku voice remote. As this Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus review has shown, it is not so much faster or more powerful than the previous model that it demands you upgrade immediately.

On top of all that, the remote lacks the TV controls for power and volume that have become standard features over the past year. There’s now a vast selection of content using the HDR format across popular streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, Vudu (which is now Roku’s default rental store), and others. And the Streaming Stick 4K played it all back without any problems — not that I’d expect otherwise. During my time with the unit so far, I didn’t run into any overheating issues that the Streaming Stick Plus could occasionally be susceptible to.

Running the test records a series roku streaming stick 4k 4k+ 2021 of color flashes on your TV and sound to measure the delay. What’s better is that multiple people can participate in Bluetooth Private Listening. This is a great feature for partners who want to watch their favorite show at night without disturbing their children. I was able to stream content from Disney+, Apple TV+, and Netflix all in Atmos. I confirmed this from the Sonos app for my Arc soundbar, which always indicated the audio output format. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K isn’t going to change the way you use Roku if you’re a current Roku user.

HDR10 Plus is more of a factor if you have a Samsung TV and it’s still more limited in content selection. During my time with the device so far, I did not encounter any overheating issues that the Streaming Stick Plus could occasionally be prone to. Also keep in mind that Roku’s players now support Apple’s AirPlay 2, making it easy to play content on the device from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

If you want an even cheaper option for your 4K TV, the Roku Premiere is worth a look — it costs $39.99 and does nearly everything the stick does. If you’ve used a Roku device before, you’ll know exactly how it looks and feels. The operating system is laid out as a grid, with different apps, or “Channels.” It’s not the prettiest interface out there, but it works well and gets you to your apps as quickly as possible. Even if you haven’t used Roku before, you should find it relatively easy to use. The Roku Streaming Stick has long been a great way to get smart streaming without breaking the bank. So much so, that even if your TV does have built-in smart features, getting a Roku device can allow you to integrate it with the rest of your smart home.