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Should You Buy the Roku Streaming Stick Plus? I Tested CNET’s Complaints!
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Jul 8, 2025
Should you buy the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus? I tested it to find out and responded to CNET’s big complaints. This $40 budget device replaces the Roku Express 4K Plus and supports 4K and HDR. In this review, I walk through setup, performance, app load times, and how it compares to Roku’s other devices including the Ultra and Streaming Stick 4K. 🚨 Get the latest deals and free trials: https://michaelsavesdeals.com/ 📺 Compare live TV services: https://michaelsaves.com/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming/ 💻 Find a better internet plan: https://michaelsaves.com/internet-plan-comparison-tool/ PRODUCT LINKS: Roku Streaming Stick Plus: https://amzn.to/4lLfh5b Roku Ultra: https://amzn.to/4lwTii3 ROKU BUYING GUIDE: https://michaelsaves.com/streaming/roku-buying-guide/ CNET REVIEW: https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/roku-streaming-stick-plus-hands-on-wonky-start-for-promising-streamer/ CHAPTERS: 0:00 Should You Buy Roku Streaming Stick Plus? 0:31 What CNET Said About Buffering and HDR 1:06 Testing HDR on Hulu and Disney Plus 1:39 Does Netflix Work on This Device? 2:22 Roku Speed Test Issue 3:24 Setup and USB Power (No Wall Outlet)
View Video Transcript
0:00
The device in my hands is the Roku
0:02
Streaming Stick Plus. It's Roku's new
0:04
budget option, and it replaces the
0:06
Express 4K Plus that I've recommended
0:09
for years. So, naturally, I thought this
0:12
little new device would be a good fit,
0:14
especially for firsttime Roku users or
0:17
anyone looking for an entry-level
0:18
option. Then, I read this. It's an
0:22
article from CNET, and the headline says
0:24
it all. A wonky start for a promising
0:27
streamer. But to see if that's true, I
0:29
bought one and tested it out. Let's get
0:31
right into it. And as soon as I set up
0:33
this device, I wanted to know, would I
0:35
run into the same problems as the CNET
0:38
reviewer? And there were several of
0:39
them. All right, so the reviewer's
0:41
biggest complaint, it was about
0:42
buffering when streaming HDR content.
0:45
HDR is all about better color and
0:48
contrast, and this device does support
0:50
it. But to actually see the benefits of
0:52
HDR, your TV has to be compatible, too.
0:56
So to test it out, I went into the
0:58
settings on my TCL TV and set the
1:01
picture mode to smart HDR. And now I
1:04
could get on with the testing. So would
1:06
I encounter the same issues with
1:08
buffering? Let's find out together. For
1:11
my testing, I opened up apps like Hulu
1:13
and Disney Plus, and I looked for shows
1:15
and movies available in HDR. Not all
1:18
content is in HDR, but you'll see an HDR
1:22
logo on the details page when it is like
1:25
this. CNET's reviewer said HDR playback
1:28
repeatedly stalled and within one
1:30
minute. But after hours and hours of
1:32
testing this week, you can see my
1:34
continue watching lists here, that just
1:36
didn't happen for me, not even once. Now
1:40
to probably the most shocking claim. The
1:42
CNET review said Netflix, it didn't work
1:45
at all with this device. Now, I've been
1:48
on a pause from Netflix, but I felt this
1:50
claim was so important that I had to
1:52
test it myself. I signed up for a plan
1:54
that includes HDR content and with
1:57
Netflix that is only with the premium
1:59
plan. Let's see what happened. I
2:01
launched the app, went straight to the
2:03
continue watching section, and then I
2:06
played a show in HDR. No crashes, no
2:09
buffering, and the streaming quality
2:11
looked really good in HDR. In person,
2:14
you can really see the difference. And
2:16
now I've got the rest of the month to
2:18
binge watch Netflix and get my $25
2:22
worth. The CNET reviewer did have
2:24
problems at first, buffering and Netflix
2:26
crashes, but after a few resets, he said
2:29
the device stabilized. And there's
2:31
something else I found in his review
2:34
that probably explains why our
2:36
experiences have been so different up to
2:38
this point. It's here. The reviewer says
2:41
Roku's speed test showed only 25
2:43
megabits per second, typically the
2:46
minimum requirement for 4K HDR. And
2:50
that's even though the reviewer said he
2:52
has gige internet. I ran the same Roku
2:55
speed test and you might want to try
2:57
this too. Go to settings, network, and
3:00
then check connection. Here's a
3:02
screenshot of my results. You see it
3:04
shows excellent signal strength and a
3:06
good internet download speed, 143
3:10
megabits per second, fine for streaming,
3:12
but also much slower than my internet
3:15
speed. According to speedtest.net, net.
3:18
My Roku Ultra showed higher speeds, but
3:20
there was still a gap compared to
3:22
speedtest.net. I didn't experience any
3:25
buffering, and that's a relief because
3:27
it would have been a dealbreaker. But
3:29
like any budget device, there are some
3:31
pros and cons with this one that are
3:33
worth calling out. Let's talk about
3:35
them. First, take a look at the size of
3:37
this thing. It's a very compact device,
3:39
and I just spun around a TV in my
3:41
bedroom to give you a closer look. The
3:44
setup, very simple. One end goes into
3:47
the HDMI port, the other into a USB
3:50
port. No wall outlet required. Now, I
3:53
know some people worry USB power isn't
3:56
enough. Not a problem for my testing.
3:59
This device is great for travel and
4:01
great if you want to reduce cord
4:03
clutter. One thing I did run into, a
4:06
couple of my TVs only have a single USB
4:08
port, and I use that for LED backlights.
4:12
So, I had to choose either the Roku or
4:14
the Lights, or I guess I could pick up a
4:17
USB splitter to support both. Let's keep
4:20
it moving. I'm on Roku's website for
4:22
this next point. In the middle of the
4:24
screen, you see the Roku streaming stick
4:26
plus. That is the device that I've been
4:28
testing. A big pro here, support for 4K
4:32
and HDR at an affordable price point.
4:35
Now, look just to the left of that. It's
4:37
the regular Roku streaming stick, the
4:40
base model. This one only supports HD,
4:43
and that's why I don't recommend it.
4:45
Now, to the right is the Roku Streaming
4:48
Stick 4K. And I know these names are all
4:51
starting to sound the same. This version
4:53
does include Dolby Vision, which the
4:55
Plus model doesn't. But really, if
4:58
you're after a more premium streaming
5:00
experience, I would probably skip all of
5:02
the sticks and go with the Roku Ultra.
5:05
It's the best player Roku offers, and
5:08
it's been going on sale a lot lately.
5:10
Nobody wants a laggy streaming
5:12
experience. So, let's talk more about
5:14
the performance and the responsiveness.
5:17
For my testing, the Roku Streaming Stick
5:19
Plus performs about the same as the
5:22
Express 4K Plus that it replaces in
5:25
Roku's lineup. Smooth enough for
5:27
everyday use. Navigating menus,
5:30
launching apps, and streaming shows all
5:33
felt solid. But there is something I
5:35
want to call out. Here's my editing
5:37
timeline, and I'm going to press play.
5:39
show you what happened when I launched
5:41
certain apps like Prime Video. This is
5:43
with no edits, so you can see the slight
5:46
delay. It's not buffering, more like the
5:49
loading wheel just hangs on the screen a
5:51
little bit longer before the app fully
5:54
launches. It's something you might
5:56
notice, especially if you're used to a
5:58
faster device like the Roku Ultra. You
6:01
are also going to want to manage your
6:03
expectations when it comes to the
6:05
remote. First, the good. The remote that
6:08
comes with the Roku streaming stick
6:10
plus. It supports voice commands and you
6:12
can pair it with your TV to control the
6:15
power and the volume. No need to juggle
6:17
multiple remotes. It is a clear
6:20
downgrade compared to the Voice Remote
6:22
Pro 2 that comes with the Roku Ultra.
6:25
That one is back lit, rechargeable, and
6:28
has extra controls that you can
6:30
personalize. If you end up getting the
6:32
streaming stick plus, you can always
6:35
upgrade the remote later. The Voice
6:37
Remote Pro 2 is also sold separately.
6:40
Now, no matter which Roku device you
6:42
choose, you are getting the same user
6:44
interface, and that includes ads on the
6:47
home screen. No way around it. This is
6:50
one of Roku's biggest drawbacks,
6:52
especially as the company continues
6:54
testing more ad placements and sponsored
6:57
content. While you can't remove the ads
7:00
entirely, Roku does give you some
7:02
control over the home screen layout.
7:05
Watch here. see the recommendations row
7:07
above the apps. I can actually hide that
7:10
from the settings. And if you prefer to
7:12
see more app tiles on your screen,
7:15
there's an option to change that, too.
7:17
Here's how I break it down. If you're
7:19
shopping for a new Roku, the streaming
7:21
stick plus is a top value pick,
7:24
typically selling for around 40 bucks.
7:26
Affordable, portable, supports 4K and
7:29
HDR, and delivers a solid streaming
7:32
experience. But if you already have a
7:35
Roku Express 4K Plus, I would not rush
7:38
to upgrade. For those with a bigger
7:40
budget, the Roku Ultra is worth it. That
7:43
is my top overall pick. And outside of
7:46
Roku, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
7:50
and on Google TV 4K Plus, they are both
7:54
great budget friendly alternatives. If
7:57
you're looking for a more premium
7:59
experience, I really like the Apple TV
8:01
4K. There's a lot of competition for
8:04
your streaming dollar. So, if you are
8:06
not in a rush, waiting a few weeks could
8:08
really pay off. For Roku devices, a
8:11
discount of 20 to 30%, that's a good
8:14
deal. And if you found this review
8:16
helpful, please give it a like and find
8:18
the latest streaming deals on
8:20
michaels.com.