The Review
This post has been updated to include information about the Roku 4 announced in October 2015.
What is the Roku?
Here are some other features that are common to all the models:
Full 1080p HD support
Shortcut buttons on the remote for popular channels, e.g. Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, etc.
Search across multiple content providers
Mobile app available for casting personal media to your TV and providing remote capabilities
Ability to use the app in locations where you need to log into Wi-Fi like hotels and dorm rooms
And here are features that are common to all the models except the Roku 1:
Screen mirroring for compatible Windows and Android devices
Updated Netflix app with support for profiles
Faster loading of Netflix and YouTube content
Roku Models
This section explains what the main differences are between the various Roku models. Also, if you click through to any of the product pages on Amazon listed below, they have a nice comparison chart of what each model offers.
Roku 4: List Price $129.99
Probably the biggest feature differentiating the Roku 4 is that it now supports 4K Ultra HD. Note, however, that this feature will only be of value to people who have 4K TVs and who are streaming content that is available in 4K. The most recent upgrade of the Amazon Fire TV also supports 4K but, notably, the upgraded Apple TV does not (even though one of the big advertised features of the new iPhone 6S is shooting videos in 4K). So I think that is a good indication that this is not a technology that is widely used today, but will become more commonplace before too long. I suspect the 2015 holiday retail sales will see a big push on 4K TVs to try to jump start this trend.
The other main benefits of the Roku 4 over the other models are:
It has a quad-core processor, which is one of the reasons it can support 4K streaming. The Roku 2 and 3 have dual-core and the Roku 1 and stick have single-core.
It supports the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard, which allows faster speeds especially when multiple devices are using the connection.
It includes an Optical Out audio port for connecting to home theater systems.
It has a remote finder because apparently the developers have seen my living room.
Learn more about the Roku 4 and read customer reviews at Amazon. >>
The Roku 4 also includes all the features of the Roku 3, which are listed in the next section.
Roku 3: List Price $99.99
Roku has a history of naming their products really badly. A perfect example is the Roku 3, because there have actually been two different models named the Roku 3. The information here relates to the model that was released in 2015 that added a Voice Search capability. If you’re not interested in Voice Search, you can still purchase the previous version of the Roku 3 at Amazon potentially for less money.
Here are the main benefits of the Roku 3 over the Roku 2, 1, and stick.
The Voice Search feature lets you search for content across some of the most popular Roku channels, including Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO. You can search based on title, actor, or director.
It comes with a more sophisticated remote control:
It includes a headphone jack, so you can watch your streaming content without disturbing other people.
It can be used as a motion controller for games (like a Wii).
You don’t need to point it at the Roku player to work. (The streaming stick’s remote has this feature as well.)
Learn more about the Roku 3 and read customer reviews at Amazon. >>
The Roku 4 and Roku 3 also include all the features of the Roku 2, which are listed in the next section.
Roku 2: List Price $69.99
There are also two versions of the Roku 2 (why, Roku, why???). Even worse, the most recent one, while having some improvements, took away a couple of valuable features—the in-remote headphone jack and support for non-HDTVs. If you’re interested in the older version, it is also still available at Amazon.
Here are the main benefits of the current Roku 2 over the Roku 1 and the streaming stick.
It has a faster processor.
It includes additional ports:
An Ethernet port so you can connect it to your Internet router with a cable in addition to wirelessly.
A USB port, so if you have photos or music or videos on a thumb drive or other hardware with a USB connector, you can play that content on your TV.
A slot for a MicroSD card that you can store content on. This is often used for storing games that require more memory.
Learn more about the Roku 2 and read customer reviews at Amazon. >>
Roku 1: List Price $49.99
The Roku 1 is the lowest-end model, so it’s a slower and doesn’t have most of the advanced features of the others. However, it does have one very important benefit in that it is the only model now that can be used with non-HDTVs (as well as HDTVs). It has A/V ports (yellow, red, white connectors) so it is a great option for a lot of perfectly good TVs out there that just don’t happen to be HDTV. It’s also a major benefit over the other three streaming player competitors—Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast—which all require HDTVs.
Learn more about the Roku 1 and read customer reviews at Amazon. >>
Roku Streaming Stick: List Price $49.99
Unlike the other 4 models, the Roku streaming stick is not a box. It’s a small stick that you plug directly into an HDMI port on your TV, which makes it a great option for wall-mounted TVs or if your TV is on a stand that doesn’t have a lot of space for a box.
In terms of features, the streaming stick is most like the Roku 2, but is missing the faster processor and additional Ethernet, USB, and microSD ports. And as mentioned previously, it comes with a “point anywhere” remote, meaning you don’t need to point it to the stick to make it work.
Learn more about the Roku streaming stick and read customer reviews at Amazon. >>
What can you do with a Roku?
Watch Streaming Videos
Roku’s biggest differentiator is the sheer number of channels it offers. (“Channels” is the term Roku uses for what some other streaming players call “apps.”) They have more than 2,500 channels in their public directory, including the top ones for movies and TV programming: Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, Google Play, HBO GO/NOW, PBS, Lifetime, YouTube, WatchESPN, WWE Network, etc. They also have channels for popular children’s, news, educational, comedy, fitness, food and other categories of videos as well as niche content providers like ACORN TV (British series), JW Broadcasting (Christian), Crunchyroll (anime), and Pokémon TV (umm… do I really need to spell this one out?
Note: Buying a Roku does not give you access to the content you can watch on it, just like buying a TV does not give you access to cable TV shows. You need to have accounts with each service that provides the content (some free, some paid) and/or subscribe to a cable/satellite package that gives you permission to access specific networks.
Listen to Streaming Audio
The Roku supports lots of music services as well, including Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and Sirius XM.
Play Games
There are many free and paid games available to play on the Roku, including highly popular ones like Angry Birds Toons, Sudoku, and Jeopardy. Note that if you want to play a lot of games, you may need the extra storage capacity that comes with the Roku 2, 3, and 4 models that have a slot for a MicroSD card.
Additional Notes about Roku Channels
I’ve mentioned the various premium channels a lot because that’s probably the number one reason people buy a Roku. But there are also many free channels available to use with the player. Some of them are highly popular services like Pandora for music and Facebook to view your photos and videos on your TV. Some are specialty channels, like Allrecipes.com and TEDTalks. There are also some channels associated with broadcast and cable networks that make portions of their programming available through the Roku, such as CNN, PBS and SyFy. There are also lots of non-video, audio or games apps available including ones for social media, photo sharing, personal media serving, shopping, and weather info.
Browse through the channels and you may be surprised at all the additional services you can get. It took me a couple of years before I discovered that there’s an Amazon Music channel where I can play all the music I have uploaded there!
And if all those public channels aren’t enough for you, there’s a whole slew of private channels available that provide access to even more content, including iTunes Podcasts, CNN International, and NASA TV. You can find more info in this T4L post about Roku private channels.
Mirror a Mobile Device’s Screen
If you have a compatible Windows PC, Android device, or Kindle Fire tablet, you can mirror its screen on your TV (not available with the Roku 1). This has a couple of benefits:
Any streaming media you can access via your compatible device you can now watch on your TV—for example, you can watch shows from broadcast and cable networks this way if there’s not a Roku-specific channel for them but they stream them on their websites or with mobile apps.
You can also see any non-streaming content from your device on your TV. Maybe you want to scroll through your Facebook or Twitter accounts on a large screen or access your email or browse match.com profiles—anything you’re doing on your device will display on your TV.
Learn more about mirroring to a Roku. >>
So is there anything NOT to love about the Roku?
Well, since nobody’s perfect, there are a few things:
There is no iTunes channel, so the only way to access iTunes content, if you have it, is via mirroring if you have a compatible device. There’s also a private Roku channel for iTunes podcasts.
While the Roku 3 and 4 have voice search capabilities, there is no voice assistant like Siri for the Apple TV or Alexa for the Amazon Fire TV.
There’s no full-fledged game console so you have fewer games options than with the new Fire TV or new Apple TV.
My Two Cents
The Roku was my introduction to streaming media players. I bought it without really understanding what it did and even after setting it up I was confused about a few things, which is why I ended up writing my original post about it, which led me to eventually create an entire special section on streaming media players.
Once I had it figured out, though, I loved it. While I have all the Big Four players, my Roku is one of the two I use the most (the ohter one is the Fire TV Stick). Even with such a huge library of channels, I find the on-screen menus pretty easy to navigate in general and the streaming is smooth and reliable.
I think the most difficult thing with the Roku is deciding between all the models, so here is what I would do if I were looking to buy one for the first time now.
I would only go for the Roku 4 if I was a super audio and video enthusiast, which I am not. It will provide the highest quality experience and, of course, if you want to stream 4K video or use an optical digital connection for your audio, then this is the only option that offers those features.
For a regular HDTV, I would get either the Roku 3, Roku 2 or the streaming stick. I’d go with the Roku 3 if I wanted the voice search capability, the headphone jack in the remote or if I wanted to play games that require a motion control remote. I’d get the Roku 2 if I didn’t need those extras, but I wanted the faster performance or the additional ports, especially if I wanted to connect to the Internect with an Ethernet cable instead of over Wi-Fi. If cost was more important to me than any of those additional features, then I’d get the streaming stick.
If I didn’t have an HDTV, but my TV had A/V ports, then I would get the Roku 1, which is the only one that could connect to it directly. There are HDMI-to-A/V adapters, but the quality isn’t as good.
The How-To
The process for setting up the Roku is basically the same as it is for any streaming media player, with one addition:
Connect the Roku to your TV and plug it in. Switch the input on your TV for the port you’re using.
Connect the Roku to the Internet. The Roku has an on-screen wizard to walk you through the steps to get connected.
Sign up for a Roku account. This is the added step, because Amazon Fire TVs and Apple TVs come pre-registered to your existing accounts with those companies.
Connect to the content providers you want to watch/use.
NOTE: All images below come from setting up a previous Roku model. So there may be differences in the specific steps and screens, but the general process should be very similar.
Connect the Roku to the Television and Plug It In
To connect any of the box models to the TV, you’ll need an HDMI cable with full-sized plugs on each end or A/V cables for the Roku 1. These don’t come with the devices; you’ll need to provide your own. Plug one end of the cable into the box and the other end into one of the appropriate port on your TV. The stick just plugs directly into the port; no cable needed.
Note the number of the port (e.g. HDMI 1, HDMI 2, Video 1…) and use your television remote (NOT your Roku remote) to switch to that input. You’ll know you’re on the right channel when you see the Roku logo on the screen.
Note: If you don’t have your television’s remote, your cable/satellite/universal remote probably has an Input button but if it doesn’t your TV should have a button on it to switch inputs. When you want to go back to watching regular TV, use the Input button to switch back to the port where your TV signal goes into the TV.
Then connect the power cord to the box/stick and plug it in. Note that there is no on or off switch for the Roku; it’s always on (but uses very little energy when it’s not actually in use).
Connect the Roku to the Internet
With the Roku 2, 3, or 4, you can connect to your Internet router using an Ethernet cable (also not included) or wirelessly. If you use a cable, it will automatically detect the Internet signal. If you connect wirelessly, the messages on the TV screen will walk you through the steps to connect.
The Roku 1 and stick are Wi-Fi only.
To enter your router password, use the Roku remote to move through the characters on the screen to select them one at a time.
Sign Up for a Roku Account
After you’ve connected the Roku to your TV and the Internet, you’ll receive on-screen prompts to set up an account at roku.com. You will receive a unique code that you use to match the online account to your physical device.
Note: When setting up your account, you will need to provide a credit card number but you won’t be charged anything at this time. The number is just kept on file for purchasing content directly from Roku. For example, you can get a Jeopardy game for $1.99 (for HD displays only) and Roku has partnered with a movie/TV provider called M-GO that you pay for with your Roku account.
Now you can…
Connect to the Content Providers You Want to Watch/Use
This is the part I struggled with when I first set up my Roku. I didn’t really understand what a “channel” was or how to watch things through them.
Once you’ve got the player set up, you’ll see some of the most popular channels listed on your home screen—for example Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, and HBO GO. These channels have already been installed on your Roku. But to watch content from any of the hundreds of other channels, you have to first install them from the Channel store. You can either do this from the Roku menu on your TV or from the Roku website.
I generally find it easier to browse them from the website although the one downside is that you can’t tell if a channel is free or not unless you click the Details button. (If it says “Service May Require Additional Fees,” then it’s not free.) In the on-screen menu, there’s a category for Top Free, which is convenient.
Once you’ve picked the channels you want, you just click the Add Channel link and it will be installed on your box. You’ll then see that channel on your Home screen (you may have to wait a few minutes for it to appear).
NOTE: Roku has a special partnership with a content provider called M-GO. This doesn’t show up as a channel on your Roku. Instead, there are separate Movies and TV Shows menu items where you can rent or purchase their videos. You’ll have to create an account with M-GO but, if you order one of their videos, it will be charged through the credit card you have on file with Roku. I haven’t used M-GO myself so I can’t say whether it has much more to offer beyond the other premium providers.
The other part that confused me when I first got my Roku was that I thought that once a channel was installed—for example, Amazon Instant Video—I would be able to immediately start watching content from that service. That’s only true for the free channels.
For the premium channels like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, Pandora, etc. you need to already have an account with those services to be able to watch their content through the Roku.
The following is an example of what you would do if you wanted to see content from one of those services. I’ll use Amazon Instant Video for my example.
Click the Home button on the Roku remote and use the arrow keys to go to Streaming Channels, which opens the Roku Channel Store.
Use the arrow keys to select the channel you want to watch (in this example, Amazon Instant Video.
Click Sign In.
At this point, the Roku will give you the option to sign in with your Amazon credentials on the screen or via computer. The interface on screen is a bit unwieldy, so select the option to sign in on Amazon.
A screen will pop up with a URL where you need to go to activate the service and the code you need to enter. In this case, the URL is www.amazon.com/mytv.
Note: Every content provider will have its own interface and instructions for how to proceed at this point so the instructions below will not be identical for other services. But the basic steps will be the same. Also, if you don’t already have an account with the provider, you’ll be given the opportunity to sign up now.
Click the Register a Device button.
You may be prompted to enter your Amazon username and password and then will be taken to a screen where you can enter the Roku code provided. After you enter the code, your TV screen will show a Success message and you can click Continue to finish that part of the process.
Finish the registration process on Amazon.
You’ll need to set up payment options and set a PIN that you will use when ordering content through the Roku.
Now when you go to the Amazon Instant Video channel on your Roku, you’ll be able to search for titles and browse your watchlist.
When you find something you want to watch, you simply select it and you will be given whatever options you would have if you ordered it on your computer or tablet. In the case of Amazon, you usually have an option to rent it for 24 hours in standard or high-definition formats or purchase it for a higher price. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, the same titles available for free to you on your computer are now available on your TV.
Tip: Trying to search using the remote control and the on-screen keyboard is not the easiest process. My recommendation is you find the titles you want to watch on the Amazon website and add them to your Watchlist. You can then browse the list quickly using the Roku remote and start enjoying your show!
Mirroring Your Compatible Windows PC, Android Device, or Amazon Fire Tablet
If you have a device that supports Miracast mirroring, you may be able to mirror its screen to your TV using these steps.
On the Roku, go to Settings > System > Screen Mirroring (Beta). You’ll see a checkmark beside Enable Screen Mirroring. You need to leave this screen up while you’re mirroring your other device.
Depending on what you’re trying to mirror, there will be different steps to do so.
On a Windows 8 or Windows 10 PC, go to Settings > Connect. You will see a list of devices you can mirror your screen to, including your Roku. Select that and after a few seconds, your computer screen will now appear on your TV.
On your Android mobile device, go into Settings and find the option for Display Mirroring or a similar name. (On a Kindle Fire HDX, go to Settings > Display & Sounds > Display Mirroring). Select your Roku from the list of devices showing. Again, once the connection is made, your TV will start displaying whatever’s on your device’s screen.
Note: Once you’re mirroring your device, anything you do on it will be done on your TV. So if you switch apps on your PC, phon,e or tablet, they’ll switch on your TV as well.
Installing and Using Roku Mobile Apps
As I mentioned above, trying to order products through the Roku remote and on-screen interface is not very easy. You can often find an easier process via each content provider’s individual website. However, if you have an iOS, Android, or Fire phone or tablet or a Windows 8 or 10 PC, you can download a free Roku app that makes it easy to search through all of your channels in one place. You can also use the device as the remote control, add new channels, purchase apps and games and play music and view photos and videos that are stored on your device through your Roku.
Congratulations. You’re now ready to enjoy your Roku!
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You may also be interested in:
Roku Private Channels: What Are They and How Do You Get Them?
Which Streaming Media Player Is Right for You?
Comparing Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Streaming Content Providers
Streaming Media Players: A T4L Special Section
Cutting the Cable Cord: A T4L Special Section
