While I’m drawn to the likes of theRoku UltraandApple TV 4K, that doesn’t mean I don’t also see value in the cheaper streaming devices. I had the honor ofreviewing the 2025 Roku Streaming Stick, and I came away very impressed with what it had to offer. This stick costs just $30, and while it doesn’t come close to matching the likes of the Ultra or Apple TV 4K, it’s not trying to. If you know what you’re looking for, the Roku Streaming Stick is a great bargain.
There are many reasons to pick up a $30 Roku stick over its more expensive predecessors. Price is one of the reasons, no doubt, but just because it’s a fraction of the price doesn’t mean it can’t mostly do what its more expensive counterparts can do. You might actually be surprised by how well the Roku Streaming Stick works just as I was.
Roku Streaming Stick (2025)
The Roku Streaming Stick plugs directly into your TV and lets you start watching your shows and movies from your favorite streaming services. It comes with a Roku Voice Remote.
Roku proves streaming sticks don’t need the best features or UI, they just need to be cheap
There’s one obvious reason the most popular streamer is the most popular.
1You don’t have a 4K TV and don’t plan to upgrade
Save yourself some money
Although 4K TVs are getting more and more popular as the years go by, the reality is that not everybody has upgraded yet. Even if you do have a 4K TV in your living room, that might not be the case for your bedroom, basement, or garage. If you’re still rocking a 1080p TV, or even a 720p one, then the Roku Streaming Stick is perfect for you.
My basement has a 1080p TV that’s more than a decade old, but you may’t tell ever since I got the Roku stick plugged in. It gave my TV a new lease on life, and it could very easily do the same for yours. There’s no sense buying a more expensive 4K option if you don’t plan on using it, so save yourself some cash if you can. If you plan on upgrading to 4K down the line, you can spend the extra $10 for a 4K stick, so ensure you weigh your options before buying. A 4K stick still works on a 1080p TV, but you won’t reap any of the benefits that come with that.
Apple TV keeps losing ground in the streaming wars for the dumbest reason
The Apple TV 4K is great, but can it really be considered the best?
2It’s powered by the TV itself
This gives it more versatility
The 2025 model gets its power directly from the TV’s USB port, and I have to admit that it’s a game-changing feature. I use my stick in the basement where outlets aren’t in abundance, so freeing up a spot for something else because my TV can power the device is nice. This also makes the stick easier to take with you on trips where you’ll be staying in a hotel. It’s less to pack up and less to worry about while plugging it in, so it’s a win-win scenario, at least in my eyes.
If your TV has a USB port in it, it should be more than enough to get power. If it doesn’t work for whatever reason, you’re still able to get power from an external source, so there’s no harm, no foul – provided you have an additional way to get power, of course.
I replaced my Apple TV with a Roku Ultra, but I’m going back
The Roku Ultra wasn’t enough.
3You want a smart TV, but you don’t want to buy a new TV
A fine choice for that
This is typically something somebody with an older TV would run into, since all TVs today are smart TVs. If you have an old TV with no internet capabilities, adding a Roku Streaming Stick feels like magic. My basement TV doesn’t have smart TV capabilities, and without access to a cable box it’s just at the whim of what I plug into it. The Roku Streaming Stick gives it access to all the apps I can think of, and it’s snappy while doing it.
New TVs are expensive, even if you’re going for a bottom of the barrel one. If you’re perfectly happy with the way your TV looks, but you want to watch Netflix, then this is a perfect choice for you. It’s best if you use it for a 1080p TV, but you’re able to plug this into a 4K TV and still get some mileage, although you’re leaving 4K resolution on the table.
For the first time ever, streaming is more popular than traditional TV
In May, streaming surpassed cable and broadcast TV in overall TV viewership in the US.
4You’re a fan of the Roku interface
A simple, yet effective UI
Although Apple has the best user interface among streamers, in my opinion, that doesn’t mean Roku doesn’t have a good one itself. Apple TV is known for its total lack of ads, but that’s an outlier among the other platforms. Roku has ads, and depending on who you ask, those are highly invasive. I like the way Roku’s home screen is set up, and I’m a huge fan ofRoku Cityeven if it ultimately doesn’t mean anything.
Roku doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any means, but I never find it difficult to get right into what I’m looking for. On the other hand, that’s an issue I have with Amazon’s Fire TV interface, and Roku comes far ahead of its competition there. At the end of the day, it’s personal preference, but if you like the way Roku’s interface looks, I don’t see why you should enjoy a $30 streaming stick.
