A CHEAPER Fire Stick rival has been released in the UK today with a free TV channel that you can’t get anywhere else.
The fresh streaming sticks provide access to the biggest apps around, as well as some hidden gems packed with channels to watch instantly.
1
What is it called?
The Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus replace the existing Roku Express and Roku Express 4K gadgets, promising “more features at the same affordable price points”.
Cheapest of the bunch is the Roku Streaming Stick at £29.99 / $29.99, costing less than Amazon’s equivalent, the Fire TV Stick HD which currently retails for £39.99 / $34.99.
This entry-level HD model has some key changes, such as improved Wi-Fi connectivity so you’re less likely to have buffering issues that interrupt your favourite shows.
And for the first time at this price point for Roku you’ll get a voice-enabled remote control too so you can easily find content faster, as well as change the volume and power on the TV.
For those who want the best picture quality, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus brings you 4K and vivid HDR colour.
It costs £10 / $10 more, totalling £39.99 / $39.99.
The streaming gadget giant also claims that its sticks are among the most compact around, coming in at 35 per cent smaller than rivals “without compromising performance or speed”.
Both devices are powered directly by the TV so you will have less annoying cables hanging around too.
Because unlike Amazon’s dongles, which require plugging into the mains, the Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus get all the juice they need from the TV.
What is the free channel?
Both Amazon and Roku sticks offer instant access to a swathe of apps such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and BBC iPlayer, but the Roku has one major advantage.
Roku has its own offering called The Roku Channel, which includes a number of originals and “premium entertainment”.
The Roku channel features movies, shows, entertainment and content for kids.
Such as Ronin, Dracula, Swimming with Sharks and animations like Super Mario Odyssey and 100% Wolf.
It also includes Roku Originals like The Next Black Millionaire, The Charlie Puth Show, Die Hart and The Real Bros of Simi Valley.
You can buy both sticks from today at Amazon and in-store at Asda.
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