You can add a full-blown smart TV operating system to any HDMI-bearing display you have with streaming products like the Roku Streaming Stick+,
which is just $30 at Best Buy
for Cyber Monday. This $20 discount also includes 40% off two months of Sling TV for new subscribers. It’s one of the best deals you’re going to find on a Roku for Cyber Monday, with only Amazon’s half-off Roku Ultra challenging its value.
The Roku Streaming Stick+ is an affordable way to add 4K streaming functionality to any TV. It’s perfect for the super affordable panels that you often see as low as $150 on days like Cyber Monday, as those often trade smart platforms for an unbeatable price tag. The Streaming Stick+ has everything it needs to get you going on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and a ton more. We liked it enough to grant 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review of the original version.
If you’re unfamiliar with Roku — which is a perennial contender among top streaming devices — its primary draw is a simple user interface that presents your streaming options as rows of big icons. You’ll find thousands of apps to download in the company’s store, with both free and paid options available. Roku has grown into a titan in the industry, so you don’t have to worry about missing out or waiting long for new streaming services as it’s usually a foregone conclusion. It’s even easier when you factor in the voice remote with Alexa and Google Assistant, which you can use to find content and get straight to watching it without the perils of using on-screen keyboards.
You’ll come to love the remote all the same if you prefer traditional navigation. There are very few buttons to learn, and each one serves a specific and straightforward purpose. Roku includes four quick launch buttons for apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Sling, though these may differ depending on your SKU.
As for video capabilities, the Roku Streaming Stick+ supports full 4K resolution with HDR10 for color enhancement in supported apps. Yes, Dolby Vision is out of the question, but HDR10 can produce equally impressive results, and there’s very little Dolby Vision content outside of Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ anyway.
At least there’s DTS Surround and Dolby Atmos for audio, the latter giving you accurate spatial audio in a 3D soundstage to let you know a chopper’s exact flight path well after it exits the scene. Speaking of audio, you can download the Roku app to listen to your content through headphones, which is a boon for late-night binge sessions. You’ll also find a cast feature, a digital remote function, and the ability to browse Roku channels right on your smartphone.
If you need a smart TV experience but can’t spring for a new TV this holiday season, Roku can get you most of the way there. This timely Cyber Monday price drop should remove any hesitation you have. However, if for any reason you miss this sale, there are always Black Friday Roku deals to look forward to.
TCL goes big with 85-inch XL Collection 4K and 8K Roku TVs
Though not everyone will agree, when it comes to TVs, there's no such thing as too big. At least, that seems to be the guiding principle behind TCL's new 85-inch Roku TVs, which have been dubbed the XL Collection. Initially introduced at CES 2021, the XL Collection has been formally announced by TCL today. It consists of three models: The entry-level LED 4K HDR version, the step-up QLED-based 4K HDR version, and an OD Zero mini-LED 8K HDR version. All three will be available by the end of the year.
Though they're not the first 85-inch TVs you can buy -- Sony, Samsung, LG, and Vizio all make models that measure 85 inches or more -- they are the first to offer the Roku smart TV software.
Today, Roku took the wraps off some new hardware, including a more affordable 4K streaming media device, an updated soundbar, and an upgraded remote control that gives you hands-free voice commands.
Roku has also discontinued its Premier line of players, leaving the company with a more streamlined offering of four dedicated player devices and two soundbars with built-in Roku OS streaming capabilities.
Walmart is readying its own Android TV streaming stick
Walmart has been slowly dipping its toes into the streaming devices game, thanks to its Onn. brand's partnership with Roku. Now, however, it looks like the massive retailer wants another option for its store shelves: A recently spotted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification lists specifications and photos for an Onn. 2K Streaming Stick, powered by Android TV.
The photos reveal what is a very standard-looking streaming stick -- black, around four inches long, with an HDMI plug at one end and a MicroUSB port at the other end. The thick, rounded body bears the Walmart-owned Onn. branding. The included USB cable, power adapter, and HDMI extension cable are all exactly what you'd find with a Roku, Mi, or Amazon Fire TV streaming stick.
