![]() ![]() It’s designed to be placed in front of your TV, and a two-sided adhesive strip is included for attaching it to your media center. It’s a 0.6-by-3.4-by-1.5-inch (HWD) black plastic bar with a glossy front and matte sides and back. The Express 4K+ is a tiny media streamer, but still slightly larger than the 1080p Roku Express, as well as dongle-like models such as the Roku Streaming Stick+ and the Chromecast With Google TV. It’s affordable and easy to use, even if it lags a bit behind other media streamers with its lack of Dolby Vision support and underdeveloped voice features. This $39.99 media hub is effectively the same device as the $49.99 Roku Premiere+ it replaces, able to stream 4K HDR content and accept commands through a wireless voice remote. In an effort to simplify its lineup, the company is rolling the Premiere into the Express line, and that brings us the Roku Express 4K+. ![]() Save yourself the hassle of the Express and pick up one of these instead.Roku has long separated its 1080p and entry-level 4K media streamers into two product lines: Express (1080p) and Premiere (4K). Both devices tend to be on sale throughout the year - especially around the holidays - and are often priced at $30 or less. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is similar to the Express 4K Plus, but offers a slightly different design along with Dolby Vision support and is $20 more than the Express. The Express 4K Plus is only $10 more than the entry-level Express, but streams in 4K and includes a full-fledged remote. That said, our Editors' Choice picks of the Roku Express 4K Plus and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K cost only a little bit more than the regular Express, but offer many more features. If you really can't pay more than $30 and want an HD streamer, the Chromecast with Google TV HD is the one to get. ![]() Its missing power brick and inferior remote make it a non-starter in 20. In fact, you should absolutely avoid this device at all costs. I might prefer the Roku system, but that doesn't mean I recommend the basic Express. This might look like the regular Roku Express, but it's actually the far superior Roku Express 4K Plus. Thankfully, Roku keeps it tucked neatly away on that left-hand menu, so you never have to look at it if you don't want to. I didn't find anything that seemed relevant to my interests, but perhaps someone else might. Clicking on the Buzz leads to a seemingly endless hodge-podge of useless information and uninteresting clips. In its press release, Roku described it as "a collection of posts featuring trailers, interviews, and video clips from your favorite streaming channels." If you think this sounds like a cluttered mess, you would be right. In September, Roku launched a new category called "The Buzz," which is available on the left-hand menu. The home layout consists of a large list of your downloaded apps that appears on the right, with a menu for settings, search, and other items on the left. I found that navigating around Roku menus, loading and opening apps and using the system to be fast and responsive. Roku also tends to have the most streaming app options, and the best search functions, without favoring one content provider over another. I've always found navigating the Roku interface to be simple and intuitive. The highlight of the Roku Express is the Roku software. ![]()
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