Roku’s streaming video product lineup has never been as robust as it is right now. From the super-affordable Roku Express to the Streambar Pro that combines a best-in-class streaming experience with a high-quality soundbar, Roku has a wide array of streaming sticks, boxes and speakers to choose from.
Whether you’re bingeing a new series on Netflix or watching “Harry Potter” for the umpteenth time, we break down all of the different options in Roku’s lineup to help you decide which streaming product is best for you.
$50 gets most people everything they need in a Roku, thanks to this streaming stick's improved wireless connectivity and Dolby Vision support.
The Roku Ultra is one of the best Roku players and overall streaming devices because of its speedy performance, excellent remote and Ethernet connectivity.
For less than $200, Roku’s Streambar Pro is the best streaming soundbar, with?clear, rich audio. It can effortlessly fill a sizable room with sound and is fully integrated with the Roku platform. Just connect it to your TV via HDMI, and you’re set.
The best overall Roku streaming device: Roku Streaming Stick 4K
$50 $47 at Amazon
There are many great Rokus, but the Streaming Stick 4K is the best for most people because of its value. For half the price of the excellent Roku Ultra, you get a 4K stick with Dolby Vision and Atmos, so your picture and audio are great.
But the latest Roku Streaming Stick is also improved for the increasingly congested home, with a long-range Wi-Fi receiver built into its power cord. That way, not only do you get all of the streaming services (Roku has all of the apps), but you get a more-stable stream.
Plus, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K gives you enough snappy performance so that you don’t have idle time wondering if you should have spent more.
Want to add an upgraded remote to the package? For $20 more you can get the Streaming Stick 4K+, which offers an identical experience, plus the Voice Remote Pro (also sold separately to pair with any Roku device for $20). Not only can you recharge this remote via USB instead of AA batteries, but it includes a remote locator function. Just say, “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” and it will start beeping for easy retrieval.
The best splurge pick: Roku Ultra
$99 at Amazon
The Ultra set-top box is Roku’s most powerful and capable streaming product, and it’s one of our top picks for a streaming device. It offers 4K HDR and Cinematic Dolby Vision streaming, along with Dolby Atmos for any compatible sound system — essentially, the latest standards for the best picture.
But it’s the performance where the Ultra ultimately shines brightest, quickly loading channels, switching between shows and, most importantly, streaming your video.
Included in the box is everything you need to get started: an HDMI cable, a Voice Remote with wired headphones, batteries and a power adapter. This Voice Remote in conjunction with the Ultra itself enables a handy locator function in case you misplace it.
The best soundbar and streamer: Roku Streambar Pro
$180 at Amazon
Roku’s Streambar Pro is a full-size soundbar and advanced streaming player combination. That means you get full 4K streaming of your favorite shows or movies, plus an easy-to-install soundbar. It’s our top pick for a soundbar, thanks to its performance in the audio space.
We appreciate that it sounds better than most TV speakers and for under $200 does an excellent job creating virtual surround sound, easily mimicking directional audio without the extra home theater speakers. Its four 2.5-inch full-range drivers produce a full range of sound, fit for taking in action flicks like “Captain America: Winter Soldier” or listening to clear dialogue on the evening news.
Since the Streambar Pro is also a streaming player, it supports all major visual standards (think HDR and Dolby Vision), and you get everything you need in the box, including a voice remote with TV controls, a power cable, an HDMI cable, wired headphones and an optical cable. Those headphones can be plugged into the remote for a private listening experience.
What you need to know about Roku streaming devices
Roku’s device lineup is expansive, so you’ll want to consider what TV you’ll be using it with and how much you want to spend. Devices range from $30 to $180, with the more expensive Roku products better suited for higher-end 4K TVs with features like Dolby Vision.
Once you decide whether you want a streamer that works with more basic HD or higher-quality 4K, it’s good to know that every Roku device runs Roku OS, giving you access to thousands of streaming services. We’re fans of the interface for its easy navigation, support for popular industry standards and agnostic approach with smart home services — and each device comes bundled with a remote and works with the mobile app for ease of control.
Roku’s entire lineup also features smart home integration, allowing the streaming device to use Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple’s HomeKit for all your home automation needs.
Other Roku products to consider
Roku Express
$30 at Amazon
The Roku Express is the cheapest and simplest streaming device in Roku’s lineup. It’s best for older TVs without 4K and for those on a tight budget. The small box is capable of streaming 1080p HD content from your favorite services, including Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
At this price point, you can’t expect the best performance, but although the Express shows some occasional slowdowns as sections of apps load, you won’t notice a thing once you’re streaming a show. Like with all Roku devices, you’ll get software updates for the Express, so even at this price, you’ll still get access to future features and capabilities.
The Express comes with an HDMI cable, USB power cable, basic Roku remote and batteries. We really wish they included a power adapter. To fix its flaws, you can step up one tier to Roku’s $40 offering.
Roku Express 4K+
$40 at Amazon
The Roku Express 4K+ almost looks like a doorstop, but you plug this wedge into your TV’s HDMI sport to give your 4K set all the apps you could ask for. It’s Roku’s most affordable Ultra HD streaming device, and it works pretty well.
You might think that buying the bare minimum of 4K streaming would equal lag, but we didn’t encounter any in our testing. So, if your 4K TV’s interface and apps are either paltry or just plain poorly organized, the Roku Express 4K+ is the most affordable way to fix that.
Its 4K streaming isn’t the only reason why it’s the next step up from the regular Express. The Express 4K+ also includes that power adapter that you don’t get with the regular Express, so you’re not relying on your TV’s USB ports for power.
Unfortunately, it does lack some higher-end perks such as Dolby Atmos for immersive audio and Dolby Vision for premium color contrast.
