Why Roku beats every other streaming device

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

2020 has been a fantastic year for streaming. With movie theaters closed, it'south been the best mode for new content to be distributed to the masses. At that place'due south no shortage of ways to stream, whether you have a dedicated streaming device or one of the all-time TVs with congenital-in smarts.

Despite all of the competition, Roku however makes my favorite streaming devices, and with the amount of streaming I've done this year my fondness for them has only grown.

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Roku is no minor visitor by any means, just compared to the likes of Amazon, Apple, and Google, they're still relatively unknown to the masses. Which doesn't really make sense, because Roku has a heck of a lot going for it -- to the indicate where I couldn't e'er see myself going back to another company'south devices.

In fact, I have just purchased my tertiary Roku device, and now take more of them than I practice TVs.

Access all the content y'all want

At that place are plenty of reasons why I similar Roku, and a big one is that they don't autumn within the lines of ane of the other big tech companies. A lot of other streaming gadgets are produced by huge rivals, and they've been known to refuse to let competitors access their devices. Like Amazon and Google'south long-running spat that prevented YouTube from appearing on Fire TV sticks, and Prime Video on Chromecast until simply final year.

Roku itself has claimed status as an unbiased partner, with no incentive to prioritise one service or another. In other words Roku devices typically have access to all major streaming services. At that place are exceptions, like the long-running collision that stopped Roku users from being able to access HBO Max, but historically information technology'southward rare for a service to be missing. And Roku and HBO Max recently struck a deal.

A make clean interface (that doesn't sell you stuff)

While Roku does operate its own gratis streaming channels, that "unbiased partner" condition means the interface itself avoids pushing you towards any i service. At that place are static adverts in a small number of places (one of my colleagues says that's still too much), but for the bulk of the time it'due south content to let y'all lookout man what you lot want to lookout man .

Roku is non similar Amazon's Fire OS, which is constantly trying to push you towards Prime number Video and other Amazon services. Some Burn Boob tube sticks may offer more than avant-garde features than comparably priced Rokus, such as born Alexa integration, but for me that's not worth the trade-off.

For me the clean interface is the existent selling point. Roku's Os puts your content front and eye, on the homepage as soon as you turn on your Tv. There'southward no making y'all navigate halfway down the page or hunt for your streaming apps, nor are you forced to beam annihilation from your phone or put upward with any other nonsense that gets between yous and the shows you desire to spotter.

What about Chromecast and Apple tree TV?

Chromecast with Google TV is the best streaming device I've ever owned — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Roku isn't the only company that does this. Google TV, being Android, lets you lot customize your home screen to suit your own tastes. Also, Apple tree TV lets you lot customise how app icons appear on the homepage. Merely Apple TV boxes are very expensive in comparison, and the Chromecast with Google TV has a home screen with a lot of suggested and promoted content.

Apple Boob tube also has that god-awful touchpad remote that I've never been able to stand. It'southward improved over the years, from what I've experienced, but it all the same sucks. For a visitor that prides itself on design, Apple tree makes some spectacularly dumb decisions past over-engineering things that don't need it. Roku did non practise that on the remote, but that's not really a selling bespeak considering every other streaming device does information technology the same way.

I could do without those abrasive buttons for services I never use, though. Roku's not alone in doing this, as Nvidia Shield Tv and PS5 media remote owners will know. It would still be nice to either practice abroad with them or let u.s. customize what they do.

The value factor

All of that is pointless if a device isn't affordable. The Apple Television has a lot going for information technology, but the cheapest one nevertheless costs $149 and that doesn't even support 4K. If you want that y'all'll have to pay at least $179. Roku's cheapest device is $xxx (Roku Express) and 4K support costs $twoscore (Roku Premiere), and the most expensive all-inclusive device is just $100 Roku (Roku Ultra). That's assuming none of these devices are on sale, and Rokus oftentimes are. Especially at this time of year.

That's roughly the same as Amazon'southward Fire TV devices, whether we're talking about the Burn down Idiot box Stick Lite, Fire Telly Stick 4K or Burn down Goggle box Cube. The features aren't identical, but the indicate is Rokus don't cost too much.

Roku has some drawbacks

roku smart soundbar — (Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

Merely Rokus do not have everything. For instance they spent years stubbornly ignoring Dolby Vision, and at present but only included this standard in its virtually expensive device: the Roku Ultra. Meanwhile, Amazon'south 4K Fire Tv set Stick has included HDR10 and Dolby Vision from 24-hour interval one. And for half the price to boot.

If you have a Dolby Vision TV, that's definitely going to put you off and Roku'southward next set of 4K streaming devices should include back up HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Particularly if Roku has plans to release more than soundbars. If y'all're going to the trouble of purchasing a soundbar to upgrade your living room setup, it would help to have the best possible features thrown in.

Bottom line

The truth is I am willing to overlook some of Roku's minor shortcomings if I get something dark-green in return. In my mind, a clean and easy-to-use interface is well worth the fact I don't accept an HDR feature I can't even use right now. But come back to me in a few years, after I've upgraded my TV to something better than a basic 4K set up, and see if I feel the same way.

Tom is the Tom'southward Guide's Automotive Editor, which means he can unremarkably exist constitute knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. Information technology's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually institute trying to clasp another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't allow him buy the stuff he really needs online.