Today is one of the best days of year to buy our favorite streaming stick
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RokuWe like the Roku stick a lot, enough to call it the best value in a highly competitive market. Even better, thanks to a pre-Black Friday, sale it's $15 less expensive than when we first reviewed it.
There are a few things that separate the Roku from the rest of the pack, but the most important is that it's the only neutral party in the streaming hardware business.
Other options, like Amazon's Fire TV Stick, are made by companies that also make content, and have it in their best interest to block that content from their competitors boxes. That's why you won't see Apple hardware on Amazon's store or Amazon's Prime Video app on the Apple TV. While these companies duke it out, the biggest loser is all of us.
Roku, on the other hand, welcomes all comers: If there's a content maker, their app is likely one of the thousands in Roku's library; if there's a store, Roku will be sold there. This neutrality benefits us all, because you won't have a problem finding video from the major players, like Netflix or Hulu, in addition to niche services, like Crunchy Roll. There are even apps dedicated to America's Funniest Home Videos and Pokémon.
It doesn't stop there. Content apps aren't the only ones allowed on Roku's app store. Games, browsers, and utilities are also available, making the Roku stick more of an independent-app platform that's primarily focused on video delivery.
On the performance side, it's a mostly positive mixed bag. Of course, to get the best results while streaming, you'll need a high-speed Wi-Fi connection, so your experience with the Roku will depend on that. App performance is competitive with higher-end devices like Roku's own full-sized box and the regular Amazon Fire TV. If you're looking for 4K, you'll have to opt for one of those boxes, because this stick outputs at 1080P.
Still, if you're in the market for an HD streaming stick and all you care about is access to as much content as possible, Roku's streaming stick is a winner. It's not the most powerful streaming device on the market, but it runs well and you'll always have something new to watch.
Roku 3600R, $34.99 (normally $49.99), available on Amazon [30% off]
Having trouble figuring out what to get people for the holidays? You can check out all of Insider Picks' 2016 gift guides here.