Major mistake in the Hardware section. The Roku Stick is a “dual band Wi-Fi”, also operating at 5 GHz. That is a major differentiator and puts the Stick in a different league. Reply
I have both Stick and Express. Speed of UI is noticeably different with the Stick winning out. Also, the Express has trouble remaining on and even with the provided power supply keeps requiring a reboot when it thinks it’s not getting enough power. Reply
I just purchased a Roku Express and the remote doesn’t have a headphone jack. I knew that when I bought it, the Roku website states that on it’s product comparison table. I had a question about your experience with the Express vs the Streaming Stick. Did you have any problems with the Express networking? It was stubborn in connecting to my network, it seems like my Wi-Fi password was too complex for it. I had to change the password to not include symbols for it to finally connect. Also, I’m having trouble finding it with my Android using the Roku app. I haven’t been able to get it working yet. Another thing, sort of annoying, is that the home button on the remote turns my fan off and on. It was sort of funny at first but it got annoying pretty fast. Did you have any problems with the Express networking that you didn’t have with the Streaming Stick? I’m considering exchanging the Express for a Streaming Stick, if it would solve the problem I have with the Express. I know it would solve the problem of operating my fan at least since the Stick remote is RF instead of IR like the Express. I was wondering if you noticed any difference in speed between the two devices when using the OS, like when navigating the streaming channel menu? Reply
I have two Roku express. I had no trouble with set up or ongoing use. I did buy an inexpensive Wi-Fi repeater and everything is great. Reply
I have the Roku Express and have had no problems whatsoever. I haven’t tried the streaming stick yet to compare the two but the Express works just fine. Reply
How, I have the Roku Express and I have been at it for 5 days and it is on my phone and it has not even shown up on my TV, but if I push a button on the controller I can see the lil blue light go on and off, yet I am able to watch Roku on my phone, all I want is to watch ESPN PLUS, and UFC Fight Pass on my TV, which I have accounts for, as well as Hulu Live, and they are on the controller. Reply
The Roku Streaming Stick remote also supports voice commands which is one of my favorite options for the remote. Much easier than using the remote to select each character with the arrows. The Express remote does not support voice commands. Reply
I have a question…Just bought the Roku Express to take on a trip to Mexico with me, so we can watch english programs. Any suggestions? Thxxx Reply
Works well in Mexico. Have taken one with for 5 years. Some channels will be absent. Netlix will have different choices. Never was able to get Amazon Prime to work in Mexico. New networks seem to work fine. Reply
I have had two of the Streaming Firesticks and both have overheated. Both times the Streaming sticks got so hot ,I got a warning that I had to shut off the Roku and I couldn’t touch the firestick because it was to got to handle. I was so shocked. Sue Reply
Roku offers a solution to the over heating. They sent me an adapter. I would look on their website or call them. Reply
Stupid question but… Do you have to plug the streaming stick into power source? (i.e. is there a cord that you have to plug into an outlet?). Looks like you do have to plug in the Express to power source. Reply
I think you can plug the stick directly into the USB port on the back of your TV for the power source. Reply
I just ordered two Roku Express because they were cheaper than the sticks. I already have two of the sticks and love them. My main problem with the sticks is on some TVs, if the HDMI port is facing the wall instead of coming out the side, the unit conflicts with the wall. So you need an extension cable to get around this. Or modify the wall mount to space it out against the wall. Some TVs don’t have a USB port for power. I don’t know about the express but if the stick is connected to the USB port on the back of the TV, it kills power and has to reboot. I tried to “trick” my Roku stick by using a longer power cable and connecting it to a phone charger so it would stay on all the time but this still doesn’t work. This is not a big deal with YouTube but when using the Charter Spectrum app which has to connect and reboot to the WI-Fi. Reply
I’m debating whether to buy either the Roku STREAMING STICK or the Roku EXPRESS. The comments posted here only makes my decision MORE confusing! While most “sing the praises” of the Roku STREAMING STICK over the Roku EXPRESS, there were some rather negative postings as well, (IE. Whether certain televisions’ power is affected by using the STICK in the HDMI port, etc. I probably didn’t/might not have recite(d) that 100% correctly, but I’m hoping you know what I mean. That’s just one of the “inconsistencies” that has me not knowing any/much better which way to go/WHAT THE, (TRUE/HONEST), ADVANTAGES ARE OF/FOR THE ROKU STREAMING STICK VERSUS THE ROKU EXPRESS! PLEASE!! Help me by shedding the “right light” on this/these issues/questions for me so I can decide whether or not it’s truly worth the extra cost to go for the Roku STREAMING STICK over the Roku EXPRESS. Thank you in advance for your time, help, & consideration in helping me to understand/realize the truth/facts about this choice between Roku products. Reply
Hi Daniel, thanks for reading! Personally, I think it’s worth the cost to upgrade to the Streaming Stick+. Reply
I have the Roku Express Plus. It is great and controls the On and Off of my older TV which I lost the remote to. It also has voice command, which is so worth it! $39.00 at Walmart. Absolutely no problems with it. I recommend the Roku Express + (Plus) For older non 4K TV’s. Reply
@Daniel I design these type of products and I’d say buy the Express. Stick is has a lot of issues. If you can buy one on sale, 1 Stick = 2 Express. If you don’t need 4K, Express is the best deal to get very good experience. In fact, if you can get the Walmart SE version or similar, it’s better you upgrade the cheapest model every few years, then buy an expensive one upfront. Reply
My Roku express is not supported by Xfinity anymore. It would buffer every 10-15 minutes and sometimes disconnect from wifi. Roku offered 50% off one Roku Express+ to replace one unit. Not sure if Express+ solves my problem yet. Either way I’m out two Roku’s. Reply
I have both …..both work fine and are support the xfinity streaming app – which is a bit buggy but ok considering comcast does everything a bit worse than everyone else. main diff is the remote – streaming stick comes with volume and mute on the remote, express does not – difference in price right now on amazon is $13. pain in the neck to use 2 remotes…i am returning my express for a streaming stick due to the remote issue Reply
I am surprised I don’t see more comments on the lack of volume control on the Express remote. This is a pain in the a$$! Reply
I totally agree about the volume thing. I usually use the remote on my phone so I can control the volume but don’t think this would work watching with other people! LOL Reply
I just bought 2 roku express devices. I couldn’t get it to work with my older handspree tv…(it is full HD 1080 P)I connected the power cord from the Roku into the USB & then plugged in the HDMI into the 2nd slot.. there is a 3rd slot as well. When I hit the input on my TV remote the screen said “no signal” then I switched to HDMI 3… same problem.. tried over & over again & gave up. Was thinking the Roku Express did not work.. but decided to try to connect it to my husbands small insigna tv in his office & it worked! I have not opened the 2nd Roku Express and am concerned that it will not work with my Handspree TV … any suggestions? Reply
If you plugged the USB cable into the TV, try plugging it into the wall with the adapter instead. Your TV may not put out enough to power it from the USB port. Reply
Can anyone tell me why Roku no longer makes the MHL streaming stick? Its so awesome, just a little slow loading, other than that it can stream all day and not miss a beat. It doesn’t need a USB port or a power supply. It would be nice if Roku upgraded them. Don’t they sell MHL (Roku Ready) TV’s anymore? Reply
I have 2 streaming sticks, Both less than 2 years old. One stick no longer works, I think it got to hot behind the TV, But that is just a guess. Second one works great, as I bought a HDMI extension cord, to keep it away from the TV. My problem is both remotes no longer work, I now use my phone as a remote. Anybody else with the remote problem? Reply
Yes, you can use a wall adapter to power it instead. But your TV will need an HDMI port to use either of these, so make sure it at least has that! If not, you could try the 2018 version of the Roku Express+, which is the same as the other Roku Express models in most ways but has the old VCR-style inputs instead of the HDMI one. Reply
No, the Roku Express is designed to plug into a TV. You can think of it as being a little computer itself — one specially designed to use streaming apps. If you just mean the computer’s *monitor,* then yes, you could probably do that — it would just need to have the right plug in the back for a Roku to go in. (You’d just be using the screen, though. The actual computer and Roku wouldn’t be connected, and you could only put one on the screen at a time.) Reply
This review’s opinions about portability and remote control are extremely misleading, and combines with a lot of assumptions instead of facts. 1) The Stick does not really create much benefit for portability or easy of installation for that matter! Depend on the location of the TV’s HDMI connectors, there is high probability you will need an HDMI extension cable to connect the stick to get around TV back chassis restrictions. If you end up having to use or carry an extra cable, then why not go with the standard HDMI cable of the Express. And in many cases, you can travel without even bring the standard HDMI cable because most hotel TVs already have one attached to the in-room setup box. Having designed a few TV PCBs, I can tell you most HDMI connectors these days ere not install perpendicular to the PCBs, so reduce the thickness of the TV. Therefore, plugging in the Stick is much much more of a hassle and struggle than plugging in a small connector of the standard HDMI cable, of the Express. 2) The claim of the need to aim the IR Remote of the Express is also greatly greatly exaggerated. Most people do tend to aim a remote towards the general vicinity of the TV as a matter of happy. The issue of with most other IR Remotes is how precise you have to aim. Roku did an AMAZING job with its IR Remote. It’s IR optical cover is very expansive and cover a wide range of directions, that you don’t even have to aim the remote directly at or into the Roku Express. Try it, hold the remote vertically towards the ceiling but facing the Express/TV and it will work perfectly. And the review ignore the key issue of the Wireless Remote of the Stick. The wireless protocol adds a notable handshake delay on how quickly Roku respond to the first button press after the Wireless Remote does into power savings mode. The random response sluggishness of the Stick’s Wireless Remote makes the user experience “less precise”… And the Wireless Remote is more power draining than the IR Remote, so you will need to replace your batteries more frequently. Take it from someone design AV products, this review is not reflective of actual real world scenarios. Reply