I was genuinely excited to test that Roku device. First off, it is praised by many review websites I came across. Second, I love Roku; they have one of the cleanest streaming experiences on the market. Their devices work flawlessly, the user interface is friendly, and the setup is easy. It’s not my go-to because they don’t do it all, but they are fantastic choices for users who just need a streaming device.
The Roku Streaming Stick has everything you need for less than $50. If you’re more demanding and want the absolute best and hands-free voice control, go with the Roku Ultra. But here comes the Roku Express, awkwardly positioned. It’s not a stick, really; it’s not a box. What is it, and who is it for?
First Impressions and Design
This is where my disappointment started; in my experience with Roku devices, it had excellent packaging. The Roku Express 4K+ comes in a thin cardboard box and molded transparent plastic, it feels cheaper.
Who cares if it works? Well, that’s true, and it doesn’t matter that much, but I noticed.
Then I noticed the striped band at the bottom. Do they really want me to tape the player to my TV? It starts making sense if you don’t; the device is so light it twirls along with the HDMI cable. It’s not the most elegant solution for your entertainment setup. This is when you start seriously questioning the device’s positioning, not being a stick or a box.
After some fidgeting to make it face the right direction, let’s turn it on and see what experience it truly offers.
Performance and Features
As usual with Roku devices, the setup is straightforward, and you can start streaming your show in 5 minutes if you decide to get a snack in between. I have to admit, before my testing, I had not read any reviews or checked the device’s technical specifications, so I was surprised to discover the Roku Express 4K+ does not support Dolby Vision. I had to double-check. HDR10 doesn’t look as good on my TCL 6-series (probably a bad setting), so I noticed it right away. The image was over-saturated, and the dark was too dark, the opposite of what you expect for HDR videos.
Still, it supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, making it a robust choice if you do not have many DV video sources or own a Samsung TV that doesn’t support DV either. It’s worth noting that it’s the only device I tested that doesn’t provide Dolby Vision.
For sound enthusiasts, the Express 4K+ doesn’t support Dolby Atmos either, but if you’re equipped for Atmos, I doubt you would be seriously interested in a $40 device. If so, you can look for other options.
Connectivity and User Interface
The user interface is Roku’s standard, very intuitive and user-friendly.
The remote is also the standard Roku you would find with any of the other devices, but the Roku Ultra and its fancy hands-free voice control remote.
Don’t expect much from the voice control; it works but feels very limited compared to what Amazon, Google, or Apple can offer. “Hey Roku, Launch Netflix / Pause” would work as expected.
The inclusion of Apple AirPlay 2 support is a nice touch for Apple device users.
Roku is a bit secretive about the Wi-Fi performance. If you use the comparison tool on Roku’s website, it will appear as the less performant i.e. “standard” vs. “long-range” for the streaming stick and “our best” for the Ultra.
You can always buy a USB ethernet adapter that connects to the micro USB.
Read Also: How to use USB to connect your Roku® streaming device to a wired network (Roku support)
Roku Express 4K+
The Roku Express 4K+ is the great option if you’re looking at the cheapest option out there and a premium experience with Roku, but it ultimately falls short compared to the Streaming stick, which offers much more for just $10 more.
If you’re absolutely sure you will never use any other TV for anything else than streaming, why not? But that’s too many “ifs” in my opinion.
Pros
Budget-friendly
Roku Experience
AirPlay 2 support
Cons
No Dolby Vision
No Dolby Atmos
I don't want to tape the device to my TV!
Other reviews of the Roku Express 4K+
CNET
PCMag
TomsGuide