Roku unveils "most compact streaming sticks on the market," don't require a power outlet

Both models and their remotes are mostly identical. Roku claims they are the most compact sticks on the market, measuring over 35 percent smaller than other brands – it never specified which ones – without compromising their performance or speed. Considering the rear ports of most people's TVs are packed...Read Entire Article

What just happened? Roku has introduced two new streaming sticks that it says are not only the smallest available today, but are also more power efficient than most rivals. The sticks can be powered by the USB port alone on the majority of TVs, meaning you don't need a spare outlet to use one. Both models and their remotes are mostly identical.

Roku claims they are the most compact sticks on the market, measuring over 35 percent smaller than other brands – it never specified which ones – without compromising their performance or speed. Considering the rear ports of most people's TVs are packed with cables, anything that saves space is welcome. And there's little risk of them blocking unused HDMI ports.

The other big feature is that the sticks can be powered by most TVs' USB ports using a separate cable, so you don't have to plug them into a power outlet. Roku is pushing the sticks' portability. According to its research, 74% of viewers want to be able to watch their go-to shows or pick up where they left off without having to skip a beat.

The company says the portable stick design is perfect for vacations where you don't want to log in to someone else's device. The new sticks feature Roku's home screen, which has been described as the easiest and most intuitive to navigate of all streaming devices. The entry-level streaming stick offers HD picture quality, while the Plus model comes with 4K and HDR support.

The cheaper model now includes voice activation features, too. Roku's 2025 hardware lineup Roku's Streaming Stick will cost $29.99 and the Streaming Stick Plus will be $39.

99 when they go on sale on May 6 – they can be preordered today. The models are replacing the Roku Express and Roku Express 4K Plus at the same price points. Roku also announced new software features, including a "Coming Soon to Theaters" row, personalized sports highlights, and more.

The company has also shared a Roku TV Smart Projector reference design with its TV-manufacturing partners, so expect to see a (comparatively) cheap projector arriving at some point carrying the Roku brand name..