Deals come and go, but Roku has consistently been CNET’s favorite streaming platform. It doesn’t recommend one streaming service over any other, and it has the simplest interface along with the best search functionality. We just wish its devices saw more frequent discounts.
The Roku Express 4K Plus is our top overall pick, mostly because it’s usually cheaper than the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which includes Dolby Vision. However, both of these are discounted by only $1 or $2 right now. Meanwhile, the Roku Streambar is a great streamer-soundbar combination that’s perfect for smaller TVs. It can be occasionally found for $30 off, but you’ll pay full price for it at the moment.
If you’re looking for a wired Ethernet connection, along with Dolby Vision, you might want to check out the flagship Roku Ultra. And if you’re willing to sacrifice a few features, you can pick up the Roku Ultra LT at Walmart for roughly half the cost of the regular Ultra.
Roku discounts occur infrequently, but you can save a few bucks on a handful of Roku streaming devices right now. Keep reading to see the best Roku deals. We update this story frequently to reflect current pricing.
Best Roku deals right now
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is close to full price right now across retailers. The best you’ll do right now is save $2 at Amazon. That makes this streamer roughly $9 more than the Roku Express 4K Plus, which is the usual price comparison. The differences between the two? Along with a stick-like design, Dolby Vision HDR is the main difference between them, and is ostensibly why the Streaming Stick 4K tends to be more expensive than its sibling.
Discounts are slim on our favorite streamer right now. The only price break we see is a scant $1 off at Amazon and Walmart, though sometimes you can find it at either retailer at a $10 discount. We like the Roku operating system because it has the most streaming app options, the simplest interface of any streaming platform and the best search. It’s also content-agnostic — it doesn’t push any one media streaming service provider, like Amazon Prime Video or Apple, over another. The Express 4K Plus is one of the cheapest streaming TV options with 4K HDR. (Even if your current TV doesn’t support those formats, your next one probably will.) Thanks to the AirPlay update, this Roku device is one of the least expensive ways to connect your iPhone or other Apple device to your TV. Read our Roku Express 4K Plus review.
Walmart’s exclusive version of the Roku Ultra is almost identical to the main Ultra and features a similar box design, an Ethernet port and support for 4K HDR with Dolby Vision. It comes with a remote that has a headphone jack for private listening.
As for the differences between the Ultra and the Ultra LT? With this cheaper option you’ll be giving up Dolby Atmos support, a USB port, personal shortcut keys on the remote and the (very useful) remote finder feature. At $58, it’s nearly half the cost of the regular Roku Ultra.
The Roku Ultra, the company’s flagship, standalone streamer, offers more conveniences than some of Roku’s other models. It features Dolby Vision video, faster responses, improved Wi-Fi and a wired Ethernet port — particularly welcome if your home Wi-Fi is overloaded. The 2022 model is almost identical to the previous versions, but now comes bundled with the excellent Voice Remote Pro. The Ultra is easy to set up and might be worth the upgrade for anyone interested in a fast streaming device with Dolby Vision and a wired Ethernet port. It’s selling at or near full price right now but can occasionally be found at Amazon and Roku for $20 off.
A combination soundbar and 4K HDR streamer, the Roku Streambar is an excellent way to “smartify” a bedroom TV with improved sound and streaming in one fell swoop. This compact speaker will outperform the sound in just about any television, and is especially good at elevating hard-to-understand dialogue. It occasionally drops to $100 at Amazon, but right now you’ll pay full price.
Read our Roku Streambar review.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus packages the exact same Roku Streaming Stick 4K listed above with the new, usually separate, Roku Voice Remote Pro. The Voice Remote Pro, which typically goes for $30, largely keeps the look and feel of the company’s other remotes, but notably comes with a midfield mic for voice control, a headphone jack for private listening and a rechargeable battery. Perhaps the best thing about the new remote is you can simply say, “Hey, Roku, find my remote,” to make the clicker beep from wherever it is — a game-changer for those who are constantly scouring the couch cushions. And Roku remotes can chew through batteries quickly, so using rechargeable ones means you no longer need to keep a stash of AAs on hand.
Roku also has a remote finder that works with any Roku remote with a built-in speaker, but that type of remote is not included with the original Streaming Stick 4K. If you’re the type of person who tends to lose TV remotes, the upgrade to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus — and the Voice Remote Pro that comes with it — might be completely worthwhile.
The Streaming Stick 4K Plus is rarely discounted, and right now the biggest savings is a measly $1 off at Amazon.
The Roku Express is compact, streams only in HD and comes with an HDMI cable, but lacks a power brick to plug it in. You’ll either have to provide your own or plug the Express into the USB port in your TV in order to get it to work. It also doesn’t come with a smart remote, so you won’t be able to control your TVs power, volume and input controls with this remote. You’ll need both your original TV remote and a smart speaker or other receiver if you want to use voice controls. It’s a pretty big hassle, so it might make more sense to spend the extra bucks for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
The only price break we see right now for this most basic of Roku streaming devices is $1 off at Walmart.
Watch this: Which Roku Is the Go-To? We Break It Down
Source: CNET
