Seen by many as the option which offers the most variety, Roku may not be the first name you think of when you are considering a media streaming kit in a world of Firesticks and Smart TVs, but it should be. A little bit of bonus info, too – Roku actually powers Sky-made NOW TV sticks, so they know what they’re doing.
An advanced wireless receiver will pick up the signal even if it is on the weak side, so streaming will never be patchy. Perfect if you want to watch telly in the back bedroom, nowhere near the router. You can also point the remote anywhere, and the stick will pick up your commands, which is ideal for those lazy Sundays where you don’t want to move too much.
This player is also available in a Box form for a lower price, but if you want the highest quality picture, then this 4K stick is the way forward. There are 150,000+ TV programmes and movies on offer, so you’ll never have another night in where you spend hours flicking through what to watch.
There are 2000 free and paid channels to enjoy, so whether you want to try and cut down on your monthly subscriptions and only pay for what you watch, or want an entirely cost-free experience, the choice is in your hands. Both Amazon Prime and Netflix are available, so whether you have a favourite or you love both, you aren’t restricted once you buy the subscriptions. You also get all of the main channel catch-up services, as well as YouTube, TuneIn radio and the TV Player app.
As a bonus, you can also get NOW TV on the Roku Stick. So if you have your eye on this rival, but are a little miffed at the limited selection of catch-up services, this is the solution. It may be more expensive but is relative to how much more it offers in our opinion.
Regarding what it doesn’t offer though; there is no internet browser option, but we think this is something you can probably do without in a world of smartphones. There’s also no UKTV Play app which may put a few people off who like channels such as Dave or Drama. There is no BT Sport, but it could come at a later date through NOW TV. It doesn’t have voice control either, but again not the end of the world. There are tablet and smartphone apps which will allow you to control the basics, too.
