TWO Roku streaming devices have had their prices significantly reduced in an Amazon sale.
Although Amazon sells its own Fire Sticks, the retailer still offers (and even discounted) Roku rivals.
The main attraction is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which connects to. back of your TV to update it with smart characteristics.
It normally retails for $49.99, but Amazon has reduced it to $29 – a 42% discount.
The $20.99 price cut is part of what Amazon calls a “limited time deal,” although there is no confirmation on when the offer will end.
- Roku 4K Stick on Amazon for $29 – buy here
This isn’t the lowest price ever, according to Amazon trackers — it was $24.98 during a Black Friday sale.
But it’s well below the average selling price of $45.18.
This streaming stick connects through your TV’s HDMI port, adding Roku software with a wide variety of apps and features.
You’ll have access to premium apps like Netflix, Hulu, HBO’s Max, Disney+, Apple TV, and Spotify.
But it will also give you a huge library of free TV, courtesy of The Roku Channel.
There are plenty of other ad-supported TV options that don’t cost anything money Also: try using apps like Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Plex, and Pluto TV.
As the name suggests, this Roku TV stick supports 4K content – although you’ll also need an Ultra HD TV to view it.
And you’ll need to watch 4K content, but there’s plenty of that out there.
It also supports high dynamic range content formats (for better contrast and a wider range of colors) such as Dolby Vision and HDR10.
What is 4K, Ultra HD and UHD?
Here’s an easy guide to what 4K means…
- 4K, Ultra HD and UHD are different names for the same type of TV screen. 4K refers to the number of pixels on your TV screen – or the “picture resolution”
- Pixels are small colored dots that make up the image you see on television. A pixelated image is one where the pixels are really obvious because there aren’t many of them. But images with lots of pixels — like a 4K movie — often look sharper and clearer.
- A true 4K display is 4096 x 2160 pixels. This means that your TV screen is 3,840 pixels wide and 2,160 pixels vertically. There are around 8.3 million pixels on the screen in total
- 4K gets its name because it has four times more pixels than a standard Full HD TV
- Full HD (or 1080p) displays are 1920 pixels wide and 1080 pixels up – about two million pixels in total. So 4K just means your TV has a lot more pixels on the screen compared to a more common Full HD screen
- Ultra HD, or UHD, is basically the same as 4K. If you buy a UHD television in a store, you can watch 4K content without any problems
- But there is a small difference. Almost every TV you buy has a 16:9 aspect ratio. This means that for every 16 pixels horizontally, there are 9 vertically.
- Real 4K images don’t fit this aspect ratio, so you won’t often find TVs with 4096 x 2160 pixels. Instead, to fit the 16:9 aspect ratio, most 4K TVs will be 3840 x 2160 pixels.
- If it doesn’t make sense, grab a calculator and divide 2,160 by 9. Then multiply by 16 and you get 3,840. That’s the aspect ratio working its magic. So when you see an Ultra HD TV, it just means it’s a 4K picture with slightly fewer vertical pixels
- If you try to watch a 4K video on a non-4K TV, the video will still play – but it won’t be 4K quality. To watch 4K video in 4K quality, you’ll need to shell out for a 4K TV. Likewise, if you are watching standard or HD images on a 4K TV, it will not magically become 4K quality.
- Some TVs promise “4K upscaling,” which converts your standard or HD footage to near 4K quality. This works by using software to guess which colors would fill the extra empty pixels missing from HD footage and then filling them in. This creates an effect similar to 4K, but it is not true 4K.
The device also comes with a Roku voice remote to control your TV with voice commands.
It’s highly rated on Amazon with a score of 4.7/5 based on over 77,500 reviews.
Of these, a whopping 82% achieved a five-star score, with another 11% dishing out four stars.
One buyer wrote: “I have had experience with several devices and this is my favorite.”
What is HDR? TV technology
HDR stands for high dynamic range and is present in most mid-to-high-end televisions today.
In short, it can increase the quality of your 4K TV’s pixels, resulting in better, more accurate colors and better contrast.
First things first – HDR is not an alternative to 4K Ultra HD (UHD), but rather a complementary TV technology that allows you to watch HDR content on compatible devices.
The amount of HDR entertainment available is growing all the time and includes games, downloadable movies, and 4K UHD Blu-rays and streaming shows.
You’ve probably seen HDR on your smartphone’s camera, but it’s a little different on video.
While 4K refers to the quantity of pixels on your television, HDR is all about the quality of those pixels rather than the quantity.
It not only improves the brightness of the TV, but also adds more details to the picture quality.
As a result, 4K HDR TVs feature darker blacks (or what are known as “true blacks”) and brighter whites (and more contrast in between) compared to non-HDR 4K TVs.
And another called it “the ultimate streaming solution.”
- Roku 4K Stick on Amazon for $29 – buy here
THE TRUE HD-EAL!
For a cheaper alternative, look to the Roku Express HD.
Dropped from its regular price of $29.99 to $17 on Amazon.
This 43% discount is also a “limited time offer” and is available even if you are not a Prime subscriber.
- Roku Express HD on Amazon for $17 – buy here
The Roku Express HD offers similar features to its more expensive 4K sibling.
But the obvious downside here is that you won’t be able to stream 4K content – the limit will be HD.
If you don’t have a 4K TV, this might be a smarter purchase.
However, 4K TV owners should consider opting for a more premium alternative.
Best Prime Big Deals of the Day 2024
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It’s almost the first day of PRIME Big Deals Day, and there are some fantastic deals up for grabs. We’ve picked our favorites below:
* If you click a link in this box we may earn affiliate income
Here are some of our top picks from Amazon event so far:
- Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) with Blink Mini, $54.99 (save $69.99) – buy here
- Fire TV Stick HD, $17.99 (Save $22) – buy here
- Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet (16GB, Purple) $61.99 (Save $72.99) – buy here
- Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 – Instant Film Camera, $89 (Save $40.95) – buy here
- Shark IX141 Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner, $149.99 (save $110) – buy here buy here
- Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush, $59.95 (save $50.01) – buy here buy here
- Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Set, $24.99 (Save $15) – buy here
- De’Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso and Coffee Maker with Automatic Milk Frother, $549.95 (save $450) – buy here buy here
- Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker, $79.99 (save $70) – buy here buy here
- Ninja DZ401 Foodi 10 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone XL 2-Basket Air Fryer, $179.99 (Save $50) – buy here
- Traveller’s Choice Pagosa Indestructible Hardshell Expandable Spinner Luggage, Black, 2-Piece Set, $109.97 (Save $110.03) – buy here
- GreenPaJBL Tune Flex – True Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds, $59.95 (Save $40) – buy here
- DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Wrench, $139 (Save $100) – buy here
- Manspdier Wood 3-Tier Serving Tray Three-Tier Cupcake Stand, $29.99 (Save $40) – buy here
- Crest 3D Whitestrips, Professional Effects, Teeth Whitening Strips Kit, $29.99 (Save $16) – buy here
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 6 44mm Bluetooth Smartwatch, $239.99 (Save $90) – buy here buy here
- AUDIBLE – Get two months free – sign here
If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to Sign up for your 30-day free trial here – otherwise you will not be able to access the offers.
We’ve gathered more offers and important information here:
This particular gadget has a score of 4.7/5 based on 38,000 reviews.
One happy buyer called it “an amazing little device.”
They added: “Setup was very easy. It took 10 minutes to connect to WiFi, log into my streaming services, and add some additional apps for local News and free TV.
“It’s a small but powerful device, and the value for the price can’t be beat.”
- Roku Express HD on Amazon for $17 – buy here
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing but may have changed since then.
Always do your own research before making any purchases.
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