The Roku Express is the entry-level streamer in Roku’s new line-up, sitting below the Premiere and older Streaming Stick+. The Premier outputs 4K resolution with HDR10 support, but both it and the Express output 1080p video and upscale from 720p, while delivering stereo, DTS surround, Dolby audio and Dolby Atmos sound over HDMI. Both also have the same 802.11n single-band Wi-Fi, with the Streaming Stick+ having dual-band 802.11ac. These differences are deal-breakers if you’re looking to replace built-in smart TV services on a 4K TV, but not really a problem if you’re looking to stream something on an older HDTV or a fairly basic kitchen or bedroom set. In most respects, the Roku Express is identical to the Roku Premiere, coming with the same remote control and physical form factor. While it’s compact, it’s a bit chunkier than previous Roku streaming stick devices. The device itself is a curved module that sits next to or on top of your TV and attaches with the included adhesive pad. Unlike the streaming sticks, it also requires line of sight to the remote control, so it needs to be placed in front. This isn’t a huge downside given it’s so small, but if you tape it to your TV you can’t move it to another, and if you don’t it tends to get twisted by the cables. On the back you’ll find a microUSB input that delivers power from your TV’s USB port, or from a power adapter if your TV doesn’t have one. It’s a bit odd that Roku doesn’t ship an adapter with the Express when it does for the more expensive Premier. Finally, finding a 4K TV without a USB port is a challenge, while many older HD and Full HD sets can’t. Performance is as good as you’d expect from an HD system. When viewed on a Samsung 4K TV (with TV upscaling), it delivered sharp picture quality, vibrant colors and minimal artefacts. Comparing 1080p Netflix on the Roku to 1080p Netflix on the TV’s built-in app, there’s virtually no difference. On a smaller 24-inch 1080p monitor, the video quality is hard to fault, and anything you might discover generally depends on the stream itself rather than the playback device.
