Stream
on.
Test
Pit Towers is no stranger to the Roku, the set-top box you plug into
your TV to stream services such as Netflix, Now TV, and BBC iPlayer,
and in fact this review will be of the fourth device from them that
we've tested. We don't mean to jump the gun here, but we've clearly
saved the best for last. We review the Roku 3.
In
a nutshell, you plug this into your telly and it essentially turns it
smart. You can connect to the internet to stream shows from different
providers (many are free such as those offered by the BBC, Channel 4,
and YouTube, while offers require a subscription such as Netflix and
Now TV) bringing what you might have only watched on your computer,
tablet or phone to the big screen of you living room... and much
more.
Physically
the Roku 3 looks very much like the Roku 2 with those rounded edges
and dark plastic. The remote is also very similar with the
distinctive Roku purple keys and buttons. However, underneath all
that the 3 is far more powerful and faster, while coming stacked with
extra features that really enhanced our viewing. The unit can play
1080p HD content, includes a far faster processor, and features both
a USB and Micro SD card port to play saved media in MP4 and MKV
formats.
And
games! The remote can be turned on its side and used like a gamer
controller, NES-style. There are A and B buttons on one side to allow
you to play games which are available, just like channels, in the
main menu. The great thing here is that as well as working like a
conventional video game controller, the remote is packed with motion
sensors so it can act in a similar way to a Wii controller. Even if
you have no interest in gaming, and might buy one of these purely for
films and TV, it is great to have this available for kids; especially
those who might be too young to play console games.
Sticking
with the remote, on the side you'll find a headphone port to plug in
the included pair from the box. Doing so allows one person to watch
the Roku without disturbing other people in the room, acting like
wireless headphones. This actually works very well, and we were
pleased to see that there is no lag and loss of lip sync while doing
so. The remote conveniently doesn't require line of sight with either
your TV or the Roku 3, and can even be used from quite a great
distance, and through walls. Still, if this is your first Roku, we
guarantee it will take you about three months to get out of the habit
of pointing the remote at the screen.
If
you think that all sounds just a bit too futuristic, your mind will
be blown by the ability to search for stuff using your voice. Yes,
you are living aboard the starship Enterprise, and no you don't have
to get felt up by William Shatner. Voice search is unique to the Roku
3 and extremely handy for finding things across all the various
channels and services you're subscribed to. Can't find something in
Netflix? Just speak the title and the Roku will find it for you.
And
it will do all of that extremely quickly. We've never had any
complaints about the speed at which Roku players perform, but the
Roku 3 works at hyperspeed. Obviously the rate at which you can
stream content from the internet depends entirely on your broadband
speed, but even clicking through the menu screen and loading content
is acheived very fast and reassuringly smooth. The Roku 3's dual-band
Wifi is made for making the most out of your internet connection, and
in the couple of weeks that we have been testing it, there has never
once been an issue with lag or buffering mid show. Everything just
happens, as it should, every time.
Big
fans of Roku, we're super glad to have now reviewed every member of
the (current) gadget family. Although twice as much as the Roku
Streaming Stick, those extra pennies are buying you a lot more. Even
without the added benefits of the games, the voice search, and the
USB/SD ports, the Roku 3's faster more reliable performance shifts it
straight to the top of our living room entertainment list.
£99.99
Visit www.roku.com/en-gb