Most TVs are ‘smart’ these days, but their interfaces can be clunky and don’t always offer access to the latest video streaming apps in the best possible quality. That’s where the pluggable transmission devices come in. These popular devices simply plug into your TV’s HDMI port and open up a vast world of entertainment that includes on-demand movies, TV shows, music, and games.
Two of the most important players in the game are Apple and Roku. If you’re on a budget, you’ll discover that Roku manufactures a variety of video streaming devices: Roku Express (HD), Roku Premiere (4K), and Roku Streaming Stick + (4K).
However, Roku has serious competition from Apple. The video streaming devices from the tech giant, Apple TV (HD) and Apple 4K TV (4K), come with cutting-edge features. But then, they are significantly more expensive than Rokus …
So what are the pros and cons of these streaming platforms? Which offers the best value for money? And which offers the biggest and best choice of video streaming apps?
Read on as we compare the best-value propositions from the line of streaming devices from two brands, Apple TV 4K and Roku Streaming Stick + …
Price
On a budget? The Roku Streaming Stick + costs £ 49.99 ($ 49.99, AU $ 130). That’s an excellent value for a streaming device that supports 4K and HDR10. (It should be noted that we prefer the Streaming Stick + to the slightly cheaper Roku Premiere with 4K capability.)
Apple TV 4K costs much more: prices start at £ 179 ($ 179, AU $ 210) for the 32GB model, or £ 199 ($ 199, AU $ 280) for the 64GB unit. It is much more expensive than the Roku, although the Apple box offers storage, better technology to improve the image and more sophisticated features, as we will see shortly.
Winner: Both offer good value for money, but the Roku Streaming Stick + is significantly more affordable
Characteristics
Apple TV 4K is a sophisticated video transmitter and a 2019 What high fidelity? Prize winner to boot. One of the Roku’s biggest selling points and differentiators is its impressive 4K HDR rental movie library. Best of all, most can be purchased for the same price as HD versions.
Unsurprisingly, Apple’s user interface is slick, sleek, and completely ad-free. Inside the iOS-style app store, you’ll find all the major video streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, Apple TV +, Now TV, and YouTube TV. Exclusive US apps include Vudu, Showtime, HBO, Sling TV, and AT&T TV.
The Roku Streaming Stick + may not be able to compete with Apple’s vast 4K HDR movie library, but it offers access to many more applications (of varying quality). In addition to all the main apps listed above, based on Apple TV 4K support, Roku adds a host of lesser-known streaming apps. There is also a free Roku TV broadcast channel with ads, promising 10,000 movies and TV episodes.
The Roku is a much more compact, stick-like device that plugs directly into the HDMI port on your TV. It’s also powered by USB, so you don’t have to plug it into an electrical outlet, making it possibly more convenient than Apple’s 4K TV box. Neither of these streamers has a USB port to connect an external hard drive, but the Apple TV 4K also comes with built-in storage (32GB or 64GB).
Both devices offer voice search that works well, but Apple TV 4K is distinguished by a very nice Siri remote with a glass touch pad. You can choose to charge it via the Lightning cable, while the Roku remote requires AAA batteries. Also, you can ask Siri any questions, while his voice only works to search the content in Roku.
A smart feature offered by Roku is the private listening mode, which allows you to play sound through the Roku smartphone app – useful if you have roommates or want to keep noise low.
As for the games, Roku serves more than one hundred games to download. They are relatively simple compared to the richer game options Apple has to offer, where you’ll find titles like Grand Theft Auto 3.
So which device offers the best feature pack? Roku is said to offer the most official streaming apps on any device. And it supports it with voice search and being easy to accommodate.
However, for quality over quantity, go for Apple TV 4K … if you can afford it. It offers more premium features, including better voice search, more sophisticated streaming (from your Mac, iPad, or iPhone to your Apple TV), higher-quality games, and the best selection of affordable 4K HDR content anywhere.
Winner: It comes down to your needs, but Apple TV 4K has more premium features
Performance
Both Roku and Apple devices support 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos surround sound, but while Apple TV 4K supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision flavors of HDR, the Roku Streaming Stick + only supports HDR10. So if you’re looking to watch compatible Netflix, Disney + and Apple TV + titles in the best possible way, Apple TV 4K is the one for you.
When we reviewed the Roku Streaming Stick +, we praised its “sharp and detailed” image, which clearly shows the difference between HD SDR and 4K HDR images. The Apple TV 4K, however, offers a really beautiful image. The detail is different, natural and realistic; If you haven’t experienced Netflix 4K HDR before, a real treat awaits you.
In short, the more expensive 4K Apple TV works at a much higher level. It includes Apple’s A10X chip and simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi, which means it is more powerful than the Roku. You can also enhance content to 4K with enviable skill and precision.
The Roku Streaming Stick + offers a brilliant 4K picture for the money, but the Apple TV 4K is the clear winner here. It is almost certain to convince you with its impressive striking image.
Winner: Apple TV 4K
Verdict
The Roku Streaming Stick + is a very nice video streamer. It is packed with features, a pleasure to use, and comes with a simple and well-designed interface. It handles 4K content well for the money and offers the largest selection of video streaming apps, even if some are pretty dark. The best part? It is affordable
If you don’t have the support of Dolby Vision and you get the absolute Better image quality, the affordable Roku is an excellent choice. (Also consider the Amazon Fire Stick 4K, which is similarly priced and supports Dolby Vision).
The award-winning Apple TV 4K costs much more than the Roku, of course, but if your budget is stretched, it’s worth every penny. It provides the best choice of 4K HDR movies available, built-in storage, and Dolby Vision compatibility. In short, the five-star Apple TV 4K is the best video transmitter you can buy today.
PLUS:
Amazon Fire TV vs Roku: which one is better?
The best TVs 2020: budget to premium
The best streaming services for TV and movies.
