Review of Roku Streaming Stick 4K: the embodiment of Dolby Vision quality

Look at the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and you may have a hard time seeing the difference between the top-of-the-line Roku streaming stick introduced in 2021 and the older Streaming Stick+.

The previous version has been around since about 2017, but a lot has changed in streaming entertainment during that time—so do you need to upgrade your Roku?

Design and Build

• Dimensions: 94.5 x 21.1 x 11.5 mm / Weight: 26 g
• USB for power and long-range Wi-Fi receiver
• HDMI 2.0b

Roku Streaming Stick models are just what it says on the tin: a stick, not a box. Therefore, it connects directly to the HDMI port, usually on the back of the TV, with a power cable that includes a Wi-Fi signal amplifier.

Compared to previous generations of Roku Streaming Stick, there have been only minor changes: the original had a glossy case with a matte tip that housed a button, an LED, and a Mini-USB port; while the newer Streaming Stick 4K is uniformly matte along its length and now uses Micro-USB for the power port.

In principle, these devices have the same design with simple setup, as you just need to connect them to the HDMI port and plug them into a power source, and then you are all set.

These stick-shaped devices are designed to be hidden from view, they only have an LED indicator that allows you to see that they have power, and a button that you can use to turn the power on and off if it stops working for some reason — which, in our experience, is a rarity.

The Streaming Stick 4K comes with a power adapter, as well as a USB cable with a signal booster throughout its length to enhance Wi-Fi performance. This means that the small size of the flash drive does not potentially limit the reception of your Wi-Fi network.

Remote Control

• Included remote control with TV controls and quick access buttons (varies by region)
• Voice control: works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Hey Google, Alexa

Since Roku is hidden behind your TV, this is the remote you will spend most of your time interacting with. They have slowly evolved in Roku models, but all of them are quite simple, offering navigation controls in purple color and additional playback controls in black color.

The Roku remote also comes with quick access buttons to the main TV services you are likely to use, and they are somewhat region-specific to match the popular services in your country.

The remote also supports voice control, which means you can search for content you want to watch across apps or all your platforms. This is a useful feature that works well, allowing Roku to remain competitive with Alexa on Amazon’s Fire TV Stick or Google Assistant on Chromecast with Google TV, although Roku’s voice control does not extend to broader smart home controls.

The remote also includes some television controls, which means you can turn off the TV and adjust the volume. However, the volume adjustment is located on the side of the controller, which is a distinction from some lower-positioned Roku devices that do not have these television controls.

Setup and Connection

• Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MIMO

We mentioned that you just need to plug in the Stick to get started. But one of the first tasks is pairing the remote, which is quite simple. This is a Bluetooth remote, so you don’t need a direct line of sight—and that’s a good thing since the Roku will be hidden behind your TV.

Then you need to go through a couple of screens so Roku can check what it is connected to and ensure that you are using the best settings. This also gives you the opportunity to configure things like display and sound settings.

You will also have the opportunity to set up the remote to control the TV. There is a small limitation in that the Roku remote wants to control only connected TVs — if you are using an AV receiver or separate speakers, it cannot control them, so it is not as flexible as the Alexa remote that you get with, for example, the Fire TV Stick.

Then you will select which streaming services you want to access and quickly and easily launch the main services. Services such as Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Video, YouTube, and many others are offered. For those in the UK, there is also a full set of British catch-up services.

You must individually log into each of the different services in each app. Many now offer you to scan a code and log in on your phone, which is very simple, but some still require the old school method of username and password using an on-screen keyboard. Unfortunately, they are determined by each app, so the process is different for each, but hopefully, you only need to do this once.

If you need any parental controls, again, it must be set up for each individual application—there is no umbrella setting to cover all services.

One of the appealing features of Roku is that it supports other protocols, which means you can use AirPlay, Google Cast, or Spotify Connect to manage your content and stream it from your phone or tablet to your TV.

There is also a Roku mobile app. This will allow you to control your Roku device using your smartphone, including useful features like private listening, which directs the sound to your smartphone so you can listen through headphones. This is a great option for watching late at night when you don’t want to disturb others in the room or house.

Performance and Quality

• 4K, HDR 10+, HLG, Dolby Vision
• Dolby Atmos, DTS transmission

The main reason for choosing the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is that it supports Dolby Vision. While several other devices have supported other HDR formats for some time, Dolby Vision is new to Roku, and for those in the UK and Europe, this is the only Roku device that supports this HDR format.

In the US, customers had the option of the Roku Ultra, which also supports Dolby Vision, but for many, the Streaming Stick 4K will be more accessible as it is a more affordable product.

This update also brings Roku in line with Amazon, which has offered Dolby Vision support on the Fire TV Stick 4K and higher. Of course, you will need a TV or display that supports Dolby Vision to take advantage of this high-quality HDR format.

Equally, you will need an audio system that can play Dolby Atmos if you want to also stream audio in this object-oriented audio format, provided, of course, that the original content is also mixed in it.

What the Roku Streaming Stick 4K effectively does is fill the gap left by the old Streaming Stick + formats, so you know you can get the best that the services you use have to offer.

We have also seen how Roku has made updates in the past to support new features. For example, the ability to stream HDR content in HLG format from BBC iPlayer was added. Life with a Roku device often reveals these small differences, because it is a platform that we come across again and again.

With a basic user interface (UI) — essentially, it’s a grid of app icons — you can quickly enter the service you need and resume watching. We also found that the Wi-Fi connection is very good (as it is on the Streaming Stick+), so at lower bitrates, view counts are minimal since quality ramps up quickly, providing top-notch visuals.

But on the Roku platform, there are practically no discoveries. When you launch Chromecast with Google TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick, you are greeted by a stunning screen that shows you recommendations and then takes you back to watching from where you left off. Roku lacks that level of interaction.

However, some may prefer not to have it, and they will enjoy going straight into the app (or asking by voice), while others may want something with a home screen that is a bit more engaging.

Verdict

Roku Streaming Stick 4K fills the gap in the specifications of the older Roku Streaming Stick+, adding support for Dolby Vision and complementing the HDR format support that many will want.

Essentially, this is a great Roku that sits at the top of the offering range, meaning it is a bit faster, has a reliable wireless connection, and comes with a remote control that also offers TV controls.

Of course, one of the appealing things is that you can plug it in behind the TV and forget it’s there, without the need to see the box, like some of the lower-profile Roku players.

If we were to nitpick, it would be a nitpick, but the remote control could offer broader support for AV receivers and speakers (not just TVs), and perhaps it’s time for the Roku interface to become a bit more attractive.

But, essentially, we can’t fault the Roku Streaming Stick 4K in terms of performance. It has performed well across a wide range of content during the many months we used it and is our popular streamer.