The Roku Streaming Stick (2025) is Roku's least expensive player, a 1080p stick that plugs directly into an HDMI port and can run off a TV USB port. PCMag found it loaded apps and streamed video quickly and praised the simple interface and Apple AirPlay support. PCWorld highlighted that its voice remote controls TV volume and power, an upgrade over the old Roku Express remote. However, it does not support 4K or HDR, TechRadar noted a little lag when navigating the interface, and PCWorld measured weak Wi-Fi performance at long range.
Full review
A 1080p stick without HDR
PCMag described the Roku Streaming Stick as a 1080p media hub that does not support high dynamic range content, and suggested that anyone putting Roku on a 4K TV should consider the 4K Streaming Stick Plus instead. TechRadar listed the lack of 4K or HDR support among its reasons to avoid.
PCWorld noted that Roku had not sold an HD streaming dongle like this since 2018 and said the stick works for viewers who do not pay for 4K streaming services or who want something cheap to travel with.
Powered by the TV, with a better remote
PCMag measured the stick sipping electricity at just 2.2W, which means it can be plugged into a TV USB port without a wall adapter. PCWorld pointed out that no power adapter is included, only a five-foot USB-A to USB-C cable, and that very old TVs without USB power ports may need a separate adapter.
PCWorld called the remote a big upgrade over the old Roku Express remote because it can control the TV's volume and power directly and supports voice control. On the downside, the outlet noted that the stick does not accept IR input, so a basic universal remote cannot be programmed to control it.
Performance and Wi-Fi range
PCMag reported that the stick loaded apps, streamed video quickly, and stayed stable while powered from a TV USB 2.0 port, though testing it alongside the Streaming Stick Plus revealed a little choppiness when browsing menus. TechRadar likewise noted a little lag when navigating the Roku interface.
PCWorld found app load times occasionally a few seconds slower than the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. The outlet also reported that the stick uses a Wi-Fi 4 connection: it held around 50 Mbps about 30 feet from a mesh satellite, but averaged less than 10 Mbps at the far corner of the reviewer's backyard, where the Streaming Stick Plus maintained around 20 Mbps.
Roku software
PCMag called Roku one of the simplest and most accessible streaming platforms, built around large app icons rather than rows of recommendations, and noted that Twitch remains absent from the Roku Channel Store. Content that has no Roku app can be streamed from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Apple AirPlay.
PCWorld was more critical of recent interface changes, writing that the Home section feels cluttered and cramped between new content tiles and a large banner ad, although the software remains fairly simple to use as a whole.
Strengths
- +Voice remote controls TV power and volume, which PCWorld called a big upgrade over the old Roku Express remote
- +Can be powered from a TV USB port; PCMag measured power draw at just 2.2W
- +Simple, accessible Roku interface with Apple AirPlay support
- +PCMag found it loaded apps and streamed video quickly in testing
Watch-outs
- −Limited to 1080p with no HDR support
- −TechRadar noted a little lag when navigating the interface
- −No Twitch app on the Roku platform, according to PCMag
- −PCWorld found weak long-range Wi-Fi performance from its Wi-Fi 4 connection
How it compares
The Roku Streaming Stick (2025) tops out at 1080p without HDR, while the Roku Streaming Stick Plus adds 4K and HDR10+. Both sticks can be powered from a TV USB port.
Rating sources
Counts as 4.16/5 in our score — this publisher's 181 scores on the site average 4.00, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 3.92/5 in our score — this publisher's 195 scores on the site average 4.25, so its scores are adjusted down to compare fairly with other publishers.
Counts as 3.64/5 in our score — this publisher's 60 scores on the site average 4.02, so its scores are adjusted up to compare fairly with other publishers.
Our 3.9 score is the average of these published ratings, each adjusted for how strictly its publisher scores. More about methodology.
