What is the difference between roku premiere and roku express

How to Pick the Right Roku for Your TV

The company has a dizzying array of streaming sticks, boxes, and soundbars to choose from, but don’t worry—these are the ones to buy.

Rokus continue to remain our favorite TV streaming devices. They're super easy to use and offer a wide array of streaming channels. Their displays aren't fancy, but they offer just want someone needs: quick, direct access to their favorite streaming services. However, figuring out which one to buy is not so easy.

There are five different Roku streaming devices available now (not including TVs and soundbars), and you'll find a ton of older models floating around on Amazon and other sellers. Rokus also tend to have similar names and look nearly identical, with small changes happening every year or so, and it's not that simple to suss out the differences. We're here to help. If you’re like us, you want the best Roku for the least amount of money. We've broken down the features on the ones we think you'll actually want to own, starting with the most basic model.

Updated September 2022: We've added the newest Ultra and the TCL 6-Series Roku TV. We've also updated prices and links throughout.

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• Photograph: Roku

  A Bare-Bones Roku

  Roku Express HD

  Think of the Roku Express like the express checkout lane at the grocery store—easy, but somewhat limited if you've got a big order. It's for people with a standard HDTV (not 4K Ultra HD). It has the same Roku menus and channels as the other boxes, but it lacks extras like voice search and the ability to control your TV's volume from the remote. The remote control uses infrared (IR) to communicate (instead of another wireless standard), so it must be in the visual sight of the Roku box to work.

  The Express+ has composite cables if you have an old tube TV, but if you don’t have HDMI ports on your TV, you may want to start saving up for a new TV.

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  This Roku Adds 4K and HDR

  Roku Express 4K Plus

  The Express 4K Plus—which replaces the older Premiere in Roku's lineup—costs $10 more than the base version and allows you to play high-resolution 4K content in HDR10 (if your TV supports it). There are power and volume controls on the remote, and a pretty decent voice search. You can even use your voice to spell out long email addresses that are frustrating to type with a remote. There are better and more capable Rokus you can buy for modern 4K TVs, but get this one if you want to spend as little as possible.

  If you bought your TV in the past couple of years and it cost more than $300, there’s a good chance it’s 4K ("Ultra HD") and has HDR ("High Dynamic Range"). That just means it has four times more pixels on its screen than a standard HD television. HDR means that scenes like sunsets look brighter, while shadows are darker—in other words, you get better, more realistic contrast.

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  Best for Most

  Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus

  Roku's Streaming Stick Plus has consistently been our favorite of the lineup, and now this 4K Plus version, which allows you to stream in Dolby Vision, is just a little bit better. Like the other sticks, it plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port, and another cable plugs into a USB port for power, or into the wall. Roku says it's 30 percent faster with a longer-range wireless receiver. I've never found a Roku device to be slow, but this one reacts without delay.

  The most obvious difference is the new voice remote. Others have a mic button you can press and hold for speech, but this has a hands-free option. So while lounging on the couch, just say “Hey Roku, play You on Netflix.” You can even ask where a lost remote is to activate a beep. If you don't want Roku listening, there's a slider button on the side. There are also two buttons that you can program to whatever shortcuts work best for you.

  ★ More Streaming Sticks: The Streaming Stick 4K is a little cheaper, and its remote doesn't have hands-free voice control, if you aren't interested in that. You can also still buy the older Streaming Stick Plus.

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  Faster Wi-Fi and Earbuds

  Roku Ultra (2022)

  Roku's posh Ultra has the strongest dual-band Wi-Fi of the bunch plus an Ethernet port for wired connections if necessary. It can stream in Dolby Vision, and this 2022 version supports HDR10+, a feature we noted was lacking in its predecessor. 

  The voice remote is the same as the newest Streaming Stick above, with hands-free voice that works for finding lost remotes as well as searching for a specific TV show to binge. There's also a headphone jack so you can watch TV shows in private while other folks sleep—the Roku-branded headphones are surprisingly decent and come with a few eartips. This remote has a Paramount+ button, which feels like an unnecessary addition to me, but there are still two programmable favorites buttons.

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  This Roku Is Also a Soundbar

  Roku Streambar

  If you’re looking to upgrade the streaming capability and audio quality of your TV in one fell swoop, either of Roku's Streambars are great all-in-one solutions. This one is just 14 inches long, so it's ideal for smaller rooms and TVs, or if you simply want something better than your TV's speakers.

  I (Medea) had never used a soundbar before, and the Streambar impresses. The Dolby audio on this little device upped the volume from my TV and made conversations clearer. There's also the same Night Listening mode from the Roku Ultra, quieting explosive sounds so you won't wake up the whole house. The remote includes volume and power buttons plus voice control. Need something bigger? See the Streambar Pro below.

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  A Bigger Roku Soundbar

  Roku Streambar Pro

  If you have a larger living room or TV, go with the Streambar Pro. It's 32 inches long and is equipped with four 2.5-inch full-range drivers. (The smaller Streambar has four 1.9-inch drivers.) This one also has a remote with two programmable buttons and a headphone jack for private listening, so you don't have to sacrifice sound quality when the rest of the house is asleep.

  The Streambar Pro has bigger, bolder sound for folks who have medium-to-large living rooms, and it sounds good playing music, too. Either soundbar is good for those who want to upgrade their system but aren't necessarily looking for the best sound quality around. (If you are, see our full guide on soundbars.) Those who want extra bass can add a Roku wireless subwoofer, though that low-end addition will set you back another $180.

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  A TV With Built-In Roku

  TCL 6-Series (2020)

  If you’re in the market for a new TV, you could kill two birds with one stone by opting for a TCL with a built-in Roku. The 6-Series is our overall favorite, with image quality we'd expect from LG and Samsung models that cost nearly double the price. It even has Dolby Vision support and Micro-LED backlighting that gives exceptional contrast.

  For a few hundred dollars less, you can go with the older 5-Series. It's still a great TV with Dolby Vision and impressive image quality. Be aware: Newer TCL models also have Android TV options, so make sure you're getting a Roku-blessed model before you buy.

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  How Roku Differs From Other Streaming Services

  What is Roku?

  Even the sleekest smart TVs benefit from a separate streaming device to accommodate all the apps you want in an easy-to-navigate interface. Roku devices are our favorite because they're simple to set up and use, plus Roku also connects to all the major streaming services, including new ones like Peacock and HBO Max.

  We break down the best streaming devices in this guide, but you do have some options if for whatever reason Roku isn't for you. Amazon's Fire TV works well, but as you could probably guess, its menus are heavily geared toward Amazon Prime content. It also doesn't include access to Vudu. Apple TV is best if you already buy movies and shows from Apple's library or subscribe to Apple TV+. Google Chromecast with Google TV is a nice addition to the steaming lineup—it includes an actual remote with voice search and has an interface for you to peruse through (you can still cast from your phone if you want). It's quickly becoming one of our favorites.

Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times.... Read more

Jeffrey Van Camp is a director and editor for WIRED, specializing in personal technology reviews and coverage. Previously he was the deputy editor of Digital Trends, helping to oversee the site’s editorial operations, and before that, its mobile editor. He’s covered tech, video games, and entertainment for more than a... Read more