Professional’s Score
Execs
- Easy interface
- Intuitive distant
- Wide selection of apps
- Cheaper than another 4K media bins
Cons
- No Dolby Imaginative and prescient or Atmos
- Restricted good house integration
- No HDMI extender
Our Verdict
If all you need is a media field that may give you 4K content material, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus will meet your wants – and it plugs immediately into the again of your TV. Nonetheless, if you would like a wider vary of options, you’ll want to purchase one thing pricier.
Worth When Reviewed
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Greatest Pricing Immediately
Worth When Reviewed
$39.99
Greatest Costs Immediately: Roku Streaming Stick Plus
$34.99
$39
$39.99
$39.99
$39.99
Whereas most good TVs provide streaming apps equivalent to Netflix and BBC iPlayer out of the field, not each producer has every part you need on provide at launch. Plus, when you’ve got an older telly, you might be lacking out on some key choices. That’s the place a streaming stick is available in helpful.
Roku is without doubt one of the extra reasonably priced manufacturers in the marketplace, nevertheless it nonetheless boasts a variety of apps, a easy consumer interface and a helpful distant.
If 4K streaming with HDR assist is crucial, it’s best to think about the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, one in all two new fashions launched in 2025 (alongside the cheaper Streaming Stick, which caps the standard at 1080p). I’ve spent a while testing the extra premium media field – right here’s why it’s best to think about it as a worthy rival to the Google TV Streamer and the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K.
Design & Construct
- Stick design that plugs immediately into the TV
- Can use the TV’s USB port for energy
- Roku distant stays an excellent choice
Roku has made a design change to its newest 4K system, choosing a streaming stick construct somewhat than a field that attaches to your TV through an HDMI cable. That primarily means it may possibly plug into the again of your TV and makes the issue of getting a tool awkwardly hanging down out of date.
The design is an improve from the Roku Specific 4K, which this system primarily replaces.
With my TV, it was a squeeze to get the Stick to suit securely, however I think about not many individuals will mix a Sky Glass and a Roku stick. In case your TV is flush to the wall (equivalent to mounted), simply preserve this in thoughts in case your HDMI ports are on the again, and no extender is included within the field (one thing Amazon presents) – although you may request one free of charge on Roku’s web site.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
It’s extraordinarily gentle and moveable – very best to take with you if you happen to’re travelling and wish to use this on different TVs. There’s a USB-C port on the aspect so you may join it to an exterior energy supply, whereas a standing gentle signifies whether or not the stick is correctly linked.
Observe that no energy brick is included, although. Because the Streaming Stick makes use of low energy consumption, the cable can plug immediately into your TV’s USB port to keep away from the necessity for an outlet close by. You’ll be able to nonetheless use your individual brick if you happen to want – my cable nearly reached the socket on the ground throughout testing.
Whereas the design is sort of a Hearth TV Stick, it’s lacking some key components that you simply’ll discover on the Google TV Streamer, equivalent to an ethernet port, however that’s mirrored within the worth, with this system being accessible at a way more accessible price. There’s additionally no HDMI cable within the field, however that’s fairly commonplace.
It’s extraordinarily gentle and moveable – very best to take with you if you happen to’re travelling and wish to use this on different TVs
Alongside the Stick Plus is the Roku distant, which is similar to previous iterations from the model. It’s pill-shaped, with vibrant, massive protruding buttons, helpful for these with visible impairments. There’s a energy button on the highest and quantity controls on the aspect, which may be synced as much as your TV to show it on and off and alter primary audio ranges.
The purple route pad is for navigation, with shortcut buttons for the Residence menu and to go backwards. On the underside, there are 4 fast entry buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix, and playback may be managed with the play/pause and ahead/rewind buttons.
The star (*) button offers you fast entry to settings, whereas the microphone button prompts voice management, with the microphone positioned discreetly on the highest of the distant. AAA batteries are included as commonplace, and you may as well use the Roku app as a distant management if you happen to want.
Specs & Set-Up
- 4K, HDR assist
- No Dolby Imaginative and prescient or Atmos
- Easy set-up
Roku doesn’t disclose the processor fitted contained in the Streaming Stick Plus, nevertheless it’s zippy sufficient when booting it up and clicking across the homepage. Wi-Fi 5 assist is included, which is a little bit outdated by in the present day’s requirements.
As talked about above, this system can stream in 4K, with assist for HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. You’ll discover that Dolby Imaginative and prescient is lacking from that record. In order for you that, you’ll must improve to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Atmos audio assist additionally doesn’t come as commonplace.
This received’t be a lot of a difficulty if you happen to don’t use content material that’s playable on this format – for Netflix and Disney+, solely sure movies and TV reveals have it, and also you’ll want a Premium streaming subscription to entry these options. For those who don’t have that, then you definitely shouldn’t miss out an excessive amount of on the dearth of Atmos assist.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
For those who’ve by no means used a Roku earlier than, then relaxation assured that setting one up may be very simple to do.
When you’ve unboxed it and plugged it into your TV, be sure that the standing gentle is on and open the HDMI supply your system is plugged into (usually referred to as ‘Supply’). Some TVs might even recognise it instantly and ship you straight there.
For those who’ve by no means used a Roku earlier than, then relaxation assured that setting one up may be very simple to do
The Roku will then information you thru a collection of directions to pair your distant. As soon as that’s carried out, hook up with your Wi-Fi community and await any software program updates.
You’ll then have the choice to sync energy and quantity controls. If this doesn’t work instantly, don’t fear – you are able to do additional testing when you’re all arrange. Lastly, the TV will immediate you to both check in or create a Roku account. For those who owned an older system, signing in with this electronic mail will permit your system to recollect a few of your logins and watch historical past (although not all).
Software program, Compatibility & Efficiency
- Giant tiles for apps
- Not overloaded with advertisements
- ‘What to Watch’ wants refining
- Not many good house controls
Roku retains issues easy and stripped again for its interface. The homepage is decked out within the signature Roku purple theme (although that is customisable), whereas the right-hand aspect has six classes within the menu.
On the homepage are all of your apps, that are in huge tiles which can be simple to view. And advertisements on the homepage are approach much less oppressive than what you’ll discover on the Hearth TV sticks.
For brand new content material suggestions, ‘What to Watch’ suggests new TV reveals and flicks primarily based on each your distinctive algorithm and trending content material. I’d say in comparison with streaming apps, these choices don’t appear fairly as tailor-made to my tastes, however I not often use this part past the Proceed Watching rail.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
I’d say this rail may do with some refining, as not each present and movie I’ve on the go syncs on the rail. For instance, I began watching Guardians of the Galaxy on ITVX, and this didn’t then seem in that part.
‘Save Listing’ consists of any content material you’ve marked to look at later, whereas the search bar does what it says on the tin: providing you with a spot to search for one thing immediately. In fact, it’s a lot simpler to make use of voice management for this. Roku remotes are fairly intuitive at choosing up my instructions, and you’ll even search by phrases equivalent to actors’ names, like ‘Robert Downey Jr’.
The ‘Streaming Retailer’ consists of apps you might not have put in, plus premium films to purchase on VOD, equivalent to A Minecraft Film and Depraved. Lastly, the Settings menu means that you can check the settings in your distant, configure your show and audio, arrange accessibility options and add cost strategies.
Advertisements on the homepage are approach much less oppressive than what you’ll discover on the Hearth TV sticks
There’s additionally assist for Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and the units work with Google Residence and Alexa. Nonetheless, these controls are restricted to Roku units solely. The Google TV Streamer (and even Chromecast) has a wise house bar that can be utilized to regulate lights, thermostats and extra.
American customers do have some integration with Roku-branded merchandise, however these aren’t accessible within the UK. Plus even then, it may possibly’t assist third-party merchandise equivalent to Nanoleaf lights just like the Google TV Streamer can.
The app choice on Roku is respectable. Alongside world platforms equivalent to Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, UK viewers get BBC iPlayer, Now, ITVX and Channel 4, whereas US house owners have entry to Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock. There’s additionally loads of free content material to browse through The Roku Channel and Pluto TV.
Twitch has even been added now, and there’s nothing main that’s lacking, as was the case when the Google TV Streamer first launched with out BBC iPlayer. There are even a number of video games, equivalent to Tic Tac Toe, and ‘Pacmouse’ – guess which fashionable sport the latter is a dupe of.
There are even a number of video games, equivalent to Tic Tac Toe, and ‘Pacmouse’ – guess which fashionable sport the latter is a dupe of
Worth & Availability
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus prices £39.99/$39.99, making it an reasonably priced media field to get 4K content material on. Roku units additionally usually obtain respectable reductions throughout sale seasons equivalent to Black Friday, in my expertise working the gross sales hell for practically six years.
UK readers should buy it from Roku and Amazon, whereas these within the US can get their palms on one from Roku, Amazon, Goal and Walmart.
That worth is cheaper than the Amazon Hearth TV Stick 4K by £10/$10 and dramatically undercuts the Google TV Streamer by greater than half, however there are a number of caveats to pay attention to.
For one, there’s no Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Amazon’s media stick does embrace this as commonplace, together with Dolby Atmos audio, as does the Google TV Streamer.
Each these units have a bigger vary of good house controls, so if you happen to like to regulate your lights, thermostats or get picture-in-picture doorbell feeds in your TV, one in all these units might swimsuit you higher (except you’re within the US and pleased to be in Roku’s ecosystem solely).
If Dolby Imaginative and prescient is a precedence however you wish to stick to Roku’s interface, you may as a substitute go for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K (£49.99/$49.99), which is similar worth because the Hearth TV Stick 4K, however does nonetheless lack Dolby Atmos assist.
You’ll be able to see additional choices in our information to the perfect streaming sticks and media bins.
Must you purchase the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?
For easy 4K streaming, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is a powerful alternative. It undercuts key rivals, but nonetheless presents a user-friendly interface and a variety of apps besides. The buttons and voice controls are additionally among the most accessible in the marketplace.
The important thing omission right here is Dolby Imaginative and prescient, however if you happen to aren’t streaming content material accessible on this format, this received’t make a lot of a distinction. If that’s necessary, you may as a substitute improve to Roku’s extra premium streaming stick, or go for ones from Amazon and Google, which boast higher good house integration and controls.
It will have been good if Roku included an HDMI extender within the field, however for many individuals, this new Streaming Stick Plus might be every part you want for watching your favorite reveals and movies in crystal-clear 4K.
Specs
- Roku TV OS
- HDMI output as much as 4K @60fps
- HDR, HDR10+
- USB-C for energy
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz/5 GHz)
- Distant management with voice assistant
- Distant dimensions: 3.7 x 0.80 x .45 inches
