![]() ![]() And now the Roku 4 is on the scene with 4K Ultra HD support. The choice here isn't as simple as it seems. The Roku 2 and Roku 3 boxes now have identical internals - the only difference is the type of remote control these Rokus come with. So it boils down to your budget, TV setup, and personal preferences.Update: The Roku scene has changed a little bit, so check out our most recent Roku buying guide here for the most up-to-date info. They are better suited if your TV is being supported by TV stands rather than being wall mounted. The streaming box on the other hand requires a power supply and a flat surface for support. If you have a wall-mounted TV like me, then I would prefer a stick since it fits perfectly well in the hard-to-reach back of my TV. But streaming boxes still offer more connectivity options and sport better performance at a more premium price.įorm factor and size is another factor. Fire Stick 4K and Roku premiere are both streaming sticks with 4K support. You can get a streaming stick that supports 4K HDR for instance. Streaming sticks are becoming as powerful as streaming boxes. So what shall it be streaming stick or streaming box? The fact is that those two categories are increasingly becoming blurred. Streaming Stick vs Streaming Box: Make a choice. The Google Chromecast for instance can be powered through one of your TV’s USB ports instead of through the wall socket. Streaming media players required dedicated AC Power supply to work, unlike streaming sticks that can either be powered through AC power adapter or the TV’s USB port. The Roku Express goes for $24 on Amazon while the Ultra costs $89.99 on Amazon. As a result streaming boxes are more powerful and therefore cost more than their counterparts. ![]() Take the Roku Express for instance which comes with 512MB of RAM, WiFi 4, and HD support while the Roku Ultra doubles that RAM to 1GB, WiFi 5, and 4K HDR video streaming support. Streaming boxes generally tend to pack bigger specs than streaming sticks. Internet connectivity to the device is usually through WiFi while USB Port is most certainly almost none existent. Most have only an HDMI port that connects the stick to your TV for video display. Streaming sticks on the other hand have limited physical interfaces. Related: Roku TV OS Review: Smart TV and Online Streaming for Everyone Other streaming boxes might have extra ports for an SD card and another for AUX audio out. The HDMI port connects to your TV for video display, Ethernet is optionally used to connect for faster internet connection and USB port can be used to side-load unsupported Apps or play local media connect from a portable Hard drive. Most have Ethernet, HDMI, USB 3.0 Ports, and WiFi 5. Streaming media players have more ports or connectivity options than streaming sticks. The devices support Full HD 1080 or 2160p (4K) video depending on the version. Some are voice-controlled through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or the vendor’s own solution. The streaming media players, with the exception of the Google Chromecast, all come with dedicated remote control used to power on/off the device, help with navigation and control media on the screen. The most popular streaming boxes are the Amazon Fire Stick, the Roku Express, and Google Chromecast. The most popular streaming boxes are the Apple TV by Apple, the Shield Android TV from Nvidia, Roku Ultra by Roku, the Fire TV Cube from Amazon, and the Mi Box S from Xiaomi. As a result, media boxes have more ports and sport more powerful hardware specs than streaming sticks. The media boxes are bigger in dimensions and weight than streaming sticks. The most immediate difference is in their physical dimensions. Streaming boxes and sticks have more in common than they are different. Read more: Streaming Sticks vs Smart TV: Should you get both? ![]() How cheap? Starting at as low as $35 with a Google Chromecast, you can start watching online content from over 100+ streaming service to any HDTV with an HDMI port. The best and cheapest alternative for those with a non-Smart TV is through a Streaming box or stick. The best way is through a Smart TV specifically the latest models LG or Samsung TVs as they are widely supported. The easiest way to stream online content is through your smartphone, but you’ll be limited by the screen display. ![]()
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