Over the past few years, the Roku lineup of streaming devices has grown in tons with the manifestation of impressive and beautiful designs. However, whatever picks your interest, Roku has a channel for you be it, cartoons, sport, comedy cooking, and many more. With Roku channels, we can use our extra TV in the basement to unveil the hidden gems it offers.
With the series of Roku’s streaming devices which offers a series of functions and features, Roku decided to release worthwhile devices that are ultra-affordable for the user. An example of the most affordable in Roku’s lineup of streaming device is the Roku Express. Roku Express is an entry-level streaming device that offers about 1080p streaming for around AU$40, £25, $30, which is less than virtually all streaming devices.
Released sometimes in October 2017, the Roku Express streaming device is a device that offers you an easy TV streaming experience in HD. The Roku Express is designed to be user-friendly and it comes in varieties of features including remote capabilities, enhanced Wi-Fi, high-speed HDMI port, and many more. All that is required is to connect your streaming device (The Roku Express) to your TV using a high-speed HDMI cable and connect it to the internet using the remote control. With this, you are assured of enjoyable streaming experience.
Roku Express Hardware
The Roku Express streaming device comes with various hardware features. The streaming device connects through an HDMI cable and must be powered using a micro USB adapter or via the USB port attached to your TV. However, based on my experience, you may likely have a slow performance when you use the USB port available on the TV. Another plus about the Roku Express is that it comes with an HDMI cable and a Micro USB adapter unlike products from other manufacturers.
A pitfall of the Roku Express is that it comes without voice controls. Unlike newer devices in Roku lineups, the Roku Express uses infrared or IR in which users must be within the line of sight of the device for desired performance. Features on the remote include the home button, play button, reverse and fast forward buttons, and directional arrow buttons.
Performance
Judging performance from my point view, Roku Express is based on more or less three different things including, the Roku platform, the processor, and the WI-Fi.
The Roku Express comes with a Wi-Fi that uses single-band 802.11b/g instead of a dual-band 802.11ac although it’s worth it. Furthermore, there is little knowledge about the name of the processor, but in fact its starts up under a minute and its content takes about 25 seconds or less to when it has a wireless network that is above average speed. So this means that if you operate on a spotty or a slow network provider, you should expect that number to skew a bit higher than expected.
The third which is the Roku platform is a counterbalance to the antenna and processor. It is however minimalist and lightweight. Roku Express promises easy and user-friendly platform with about 15 boxes on the screen to scroll through without having to wait for contents to pop in.
Having to combine these three factors as explained above, the Roku express offers a useable streaming experience for us as we can now watch Youtube with no hassle. However, if you desire to stream your favorite Amazon or Netflix Prime series in Ultra HD, then you’ll have to step up your game to the Roku Premiere line of set-top boxes.
Roku Express Content and Operating System
Roku Express offers over 3,4500 channels that are available to download several and varying degrees of videos including interesting shows, paid contents, mainstream contents such as The Big Bang Theory which is available on CBS All Access, Captain America: Civil War which is available on Google Play Movies and TV, and many more. Also, you can also stream quite a number of educational videos for your kids.
In comparison with Amazon Streaming Stick, and Chromecast, Roku Express runs the full version of Roku’s OS which is fascinating. Also, Roku is preferable when it comes to the desire for cheap contents unlike Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.
Final Thought
The Roku Express is quite an impressive usable device for my family considering its features and price tag. So, it’s really a point of entry into the streaming world for those who are still contemplating. Also, Roku Express is a perfect gift for your friends and family.
