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Roku's streaming sticks and set-top boxes bring Netflix, YouTube, and more to your TV. But do you need the Roku Express, Premiere, Ultra, or Streaming Stick?
 In the
vast world of devices that can stream movies and shows to your TV, Roku is unique in that it's not owned by a major tech company. Google has Chromecast
($19.98 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) , Apple has Apple TV, and Amazon has Fire TV. Roku, however, supports every platform with no pesky
corporate wars getting in the way. This makes the Roku an attractive option for anyone shopping for a streaming device. You can watch YouTube(Opens in a new window), Amazon Prime Video(Opens in a new
window), and soon, Apple TV+ all on a single device. But which single device? The company offers several competing models, all with slight variations, and many of them look nearly identical. Here's how to pick. Sign up for Tips & Tricks newsletter for expert advice to get the most out of your technology. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. > Dig Deeper With Related StoriesPCMag Stories You’ll LikeAbout Eric RavenscraftEric Ravenscraft is a freelance writer and tech nerd working out of the geek capital of the world, Atlanta, Georgia. He watches way too many movies and definitely has one to recommend that you haven't seen. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Read Eric's full bio Read the latest from Eric Ravenscraft(Pocket-lint) - There are plenty of media streamers around but few offer as extensive a range of apps and channels as Roku. The company has been manufacturing online streaming boxes for over a decade but which should you choose? The product offerings in the UK and the US are slightly different, with the US often getting Roku devices that never launch in the UK - as well as Roku TVs and speakers that don't always travel internationally. Here we're focusing on Roku's streaming devices to help you choose which is the best for you. There are often discounts on sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday when you'll get the best prices. Which is the best Roku streamer to buy today?Roku  Roku Streaming Stick 4Ksquirrel_widget_6169091
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the top of the range for Roku's compact streamers, building on the excellent Streaming Stick+. The big addition to the set of specs on offer is support for Dolby Vision, which is widely available on streaming services like Netflix now. If you have a Dolby Vision compatible TV, you'll be able to get the most out of this stick. It comes with Roku's voice remote, supports all the other services that Roku offers, with the advantage of long-range Wi-Fi for a better experience. It has the advantage over the Express devices that it remains hidden, as it doesn't need line of sight to control it.
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The Roku Express 4K is an evolution of the Roku Express, adding in support for those higher 4K resolutions as well as HDR 10+ content, making it a viable alternative to the Roku Premiere. It still needs to be connected to the power and HDMI cable, so it's not as compact as the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, but almost as capable. In the US there's also the Roku Express 4K+, which comes with the Voice Remote Pro with a rechargable battery.
Roku  Roku Expresssquirrel_widget_168898
The Roku Express is the smallest of the streamers, acting as a very small set-top box and coming with some tape to attach it to the underneath of your TV, with an HDMI cable connecting the two and a Micro-USB taking care of power. It was redesigned in late 2019 with a 10 per cent smaller footprint and curved top. It performs just like any other Roku player, serving up the same generous selection of channels and it comes with a remote control too, which some would say makes it more attractive than a Chromecast which relies on your smartphone to operate. There is a limitation however and that's resolution - it only supports up to full HD. But it does represent one of the cheapest smart upgrades for your TV, offering the biggest selection of streaming services and decent performance.
Pocket-lint  Roku Premieresquirrel_widget_168626
Roku Premiere is essentially the Roku Express but offering better performance. Rather than sticking to 1080p, it will run all the way up to 4K resolution and also supports HDR. Like the Roku Express, the Premiere is a small set-top box, drawing on Micro-USB for power and with an HDMI cable to connect to your TV - both included in the box. There's also a piece of double-sided sticky tape you can use to attach the Roku Premiere to the edge or bottom of your TV to keep things tidy.
Pocket-lint  Roku Streaming Stick+squirrel_widget_143466
The Roku Streaming Stick+ is the predecessor to the Streaming Stick 4K, offering much the same design, but now sitting on older hardware. So while you'll get the full experience from the Streaming Stick+ there's no support for Dolby Vision and it's a little slower than the newer replacement.
Pocket-lint  Roku Streambarsquirrel_widget_2694174
Roku Streambar combines Roku's streaming platform with a compact soundbar, making this a one-box upgrade for your TV. For those with a small or second TV, or for that TV in a study or dorm room, it could be the ideal solution. Streambar connects via HDMI to your TV, but also has an optical port so you can get all the audio from your TV, not just the content you stream. There's plenty of volume, giving a great boost over built-in speakers. All the normal Roku features are supported, so you can stream all those services - as well as take advantage of features like AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and Google Cast - it's a great solution both for TV and music.
Why buy a Roku streamer?Roku has always attempted to offer a broad offering of services and that's one of the reasons that people choose Roku devices. It's often amongst the first to offer access to services and have often embraced new technologies too. While there are credible rivals from the likes of Amazon with the Fire TV Stick and the Google Chromecast, both those platforms have a lot of their own content to push, while Roku, for many, offers a cleaner approach, letting you dive into the streaming service you want directly. Roku has for a long time offered affordablility, offering access to things like 4K and HDR streaming at low prices, and while the market is changing, there's still a big price difference between something like the Roku Streaming Stick and the Apple TV. Roku embraced new technologies too, working with platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant, while supporting Google Cast and on some recent models, Apple AirPlay 2, so there's wide connectivity with other devices too. With a broad portfolio of streamers available, you can choose the Roku device that matches your requirements, so you're not spending extra to get functions your TV doesn't support. Writing by Rik Henderson. Editing by Chris Hall. Which is better Roku Express 4K or Roku Streaming Stick Plus?We've reviewed all Roku's streaming devices, along with rivals from Google, Apple, and Amazon, and picked the Roku Express 4K Plus as our best overall streaming device. That said, the newer Roku Streaming Stick 4K offers Dolby Vision support and is often similarly priced.
What makes Roku Express different?This Roku Adds 4K and HDR
The Express 4K Plus—which replaces the older Premiere in Roku's lineup—costs $10 more than the base version and allows you to play high-resolution 4K content in HDR10 (if your TV supports it). There are power and volume controls on the remote, and a pretty decent voice search.
Is a Roku Express worth it?As for performance, it's as good as you're going to get from an HD system. Watching on a Samsung 4K TV (with the TV upscaling), it delivered sharp image quality, vibrant colours and minimal artefacting. Comparing 1080p Netflix on the Roku to 1080p Netflix on the TV's built-in app, there's virtually no difference.
Which Roku is better at streaming?The Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus is slightly faster and more powerful, is finally capable of playing high-quality Dolby Vision and comes with the excellent Voice Remote Pro. It has everything we loved about the previous model, the Streaming Stick Plus, with a bit more juice and features.
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