Sticking it to the
competition
Over the years we've
reviewed pretty much all of the streaming gadgets Roku have released
in this country, and liked every one. But, with the release of the
Streaming Stick Plus, we'll have to start using the word 'love', as
this is definitely Roku's best yet. Clear a HDMI port on the back of
your telly, as you need to get one these things, pronto. Here's why:
For those unfamiliar
with the concept, this is small, flash drive-sized gadget that plus
directly into the back of your TV and connects to your home WiFi
network. You can then watch the likes of Netflix, Amazon Video, Now
TV, YouTube and the BBC iPlayer on the big screen, without a computer
or phone in sight. It comes with a remote, which despite being small,
is also the best Roku remote we've yet seen.
But, the
headline-grabbing feature of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is that it
can stream content in 4K – one of the first small-scale streaming
devices that can do that. If you have a 4K TV, forget about it, as
you'll quickly be enjoying ultra high def films and shows with
stunning visuals. Even on screens with lower resolutions (we also
tried it on this fairly standard 1080p Cello TV) the picture is still
great, so you won't be missing out on too much if you buy one for a
non-4K device.
In the box you get the
stick itself, which is slightly longer than the older model (reviewed here), the USB power cable, which can either be plugged into a spare
USB port on your TV, or into the included wall adaptor, and the new
style remote. The cable features a chunky dongle a short way along
the length, which is actually a WiFI range extender. This means that
the Roku Streaming Stick Plus will always hold a decent connection to
the network, even while at the edges of your router's range.
That extender also
means the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is perfect for taking with you on
holidays or business trips. Hotel WiFi is notoriously rubbish, and if
you find yourself in a room far from the router and suffering from
weak signal, the extender will help. Mind you, bear in mind how much
data you're using while streaming Vikings in 4K – just in case the
hotel charges you.
The remote is nice,
once again featuring Roku's 'point-anywhere' operation, but also with
an IR controller on the front. This is because, unlike previous
models, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus' remote can be used to control
the TV itself, as well as the stick. You can turn on and off the
telly, and also control the volume – basically everything you need.
The set-up process for this is very simple, and once you connect the
stick itself to the internet, you tell it what kind of TV you have
and the remote finds the correct frequency to be able to control it.
We were impressed, and it means fewer remotes cluttering up the
coffee table.
Roku have clearly
souped up the internals of the stick, as it connects and operates
lightning fast. Firing up Netflix, which on the older model
Streaming Stick would take a minute or so, now takes less than 15
seconds, and that is from the TV being completely switched off.
Searching for shows across all of your downloaded channels is also
very quick, and the Roku search feature will bring up results ultra
fast, telling you if a show is available, and where it is (and for how
much, if applicable).
So, thanks to the
strength of the WiFi, the quality of the picture, and useful
functionality of the new remote, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is, by
far, our favourite Roku product to date, and probably one of the best
media streamers we've ever seen.
£59.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk