![]() ![]() That’s because the OS on top of the player is less power-hungry than Android TV and its ilk, and therefore allows the Roku Express to zip along fairly well, especially on good connections. That said, we’re happy to provide anecdotal evidence based on our experience with the player.ĭespite using something less powerful than, say, the Nvidia Shield's Tegra X1 ARM-based processor, which has a memory clock of 1600MHz, the Roku Express does just fine. We’ve talked about the Wi-Fi antenna already – most notably its short range and lackluster bandwidth – but we have yet to discuss the last two.īecause Roku doesn’t disclose what processor it uses inside the Roku Express, it’s hard to compare it to other streaming players in a fair, objective way. Performance, more or less, is shaped by three things: the Wi-Fi antenna, the processor and the Roku platform. Roku says that because the player only streams in HD it doesn’t need the better component, but the additional reach and speed would almost certainly be appreciated. The last issue, and this is a minor one given the scope of the player, is that Roku decided to use an 802.11b/g/n single-band wireless antenna instead of upgrading to 802.11ac, the new wireless standard that improves both the distance in which signal can travel and transmission speed. It doesn’t give you much room to move the box around and, considering that it also always needs line of sight, it pretty much means that it has to sit right under your TV. The other problem is that, while Roku is one of the few manufacturers to provide you with an HDMI cable in the box - something not even the $119 Amazon Fire TV Cube does - it’s likely the shortest HDMI cable you’ve ever come across. ![]() For that, you’ll need to step up to one of the better Roku models. no voice search, volume control or private listening. It also means that the entire system is IR-based, and that means that the remote can’t do anything beyond basic functions - i.e. The first is that its diminutive size would’ve made it easy to tuck behind a TV but, because it needs line-of-sight to the remote, it has to sit out on the shelf. The inclusion of all these accessories is actually somewhat surprising – while other manufacturers are all too happy to send you out the door without all the necessary equipment in hand, the Roku Express is a complete kit.īut there are three big problems here. Roku also includes a two-foot-long HDMI cable in every box, a remote and double-sided adhesive tape that will allow you to stick the Express onto your TV or on any surface around it that still gives it line-of-sight to the remote. Roku ships the Express with a microUSB-to-USB cable, which can be plugged directly into your TV if your TV has a USB port on it, and a wall adapter if the first option doesn’t work. ![]() Like the Roku Streaming Stick, the Roku Express is powered via its microUSB port. The comparison to the Stick goes beyond size, however. ![]() But, the benefit to its small form factor is that you can throw it in a bag or store in on your media shelf without it taking up too much real estate. At 0.7 x 3.4 x 1.4 inches (H x W x D) it’s nearly the same size as the Roku Streaming Stick and, funny enough, even smaller than the remote that comes inside the box. While the Roku Express’s performance might fit into the category of streaming video box, its stature puts it more in the category of a streaming stick. ![]()
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