Roku Streaming Stick 4k Adds Dolby Vision, Better Connectivity
If you’ve used one before, there are no major changes to the Roku Voice Remote. This remote came with quick-action buttons for Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and Disney+. The previous model came with a USB extender, but isn’t needed anymore because the cable has that length built-in.
This is important since Roku OS still doesn’t have a “continue watching” home screen like on Apple TV and Google TV. I asked Roku about this contradiction between its specs page and what the device is actually doing. In order to print the Atmos logo on the box, Roku would need to pay Dolby a fee and perform the Atmos decoding process on the streaming device. However, Roku does not need to pay licensing fees if it simply passes through the encoded Atmos data to your AV system to do the decoding on that end.
I use my Ultra's wired connection even though it's right next to my router and should get great signal, since it provides a better experience and it's one less thing clogging up my network. It's easy to search content with your voice, though the more specific your target, the better the results. If you want the absolute best streaming remote, though, you'll want to upgrade.
If you want to hook up your box to an Ethernet network, check out the more expensive Roku Ultra set-top box. If you don’t have a Dolby Vision-compatible TV, the Streaming Stick 4K isn’t a huge upgrade. But if you do, it’s worth considering the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for your living room streaming.
With the device, you’ll find a user guide, as well as the Roku Voice Remote which supports TV controls. The Streaming Stick 4K can deliver Dolby Atmos audio, but only pass it through from services that send Dolby Atmos. It cannot do any processing of Dolby Atmos audio itself, so there is no Dolby Atmos logo on the box, but from services with Atmos support like Netflix and Disney+ it will pass that Atmos audio to your TV. At this writing, Google TV doesn’t have apps to replace your cable TV box from companies like Xfinity, roku streaming stick 4k 4k+ 2021 so you need to cast such content from your smartphone or computer instead.
The Stick’s as long as a credit card and just a little wider and thicker than the HDMI port it’ll plug into — it’s not a streaming box so much as a dongle. The one thing you’ll want to note is the USB power cord, which is also the Wi-Fi antenna (tricky to replace, so don’t break it). It’s about five feet long, so you’ll want to think about where you want the cord to go.
Just know that a big part of the Roku strategy going forward is based in advertising, both in traditional display ads on the home screens as well as ads sold on The Roku Channel. In fact, in the second quarter of 2021, Roku made about $532 million in the “platform” category — basically everything but hardware — and $113 million in the “player” category. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert, reviewing TVs, media hubs, speakers, headphones, and gaming accessories. Will is also a THX Level I home theater expert and ISF Level III-certified TV calibrator, which ensures the thoroughness and accuracy of all PCMag TV reviews.
When you first open the box, you’ll see Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which is a little bit longer than a thumb drive, but shorter than a pencil. The device has a nice black matte finish, which has been a shift away from the glossy exterior of previous models. One of the challenges for Roku is that their devices hold up for so long, that it’s often a challenge to justify upgrading to the latest model.