Remember when what you watched was available only on your physical television? There’s no guarantee that your relatives subscribed to the same streaming channels as you did (if they streamed at all), so you’d have to put your TV watching on hold when traveling for the holidays. Well, no more, because the Roku Streaming Stick 4K travels with me and lets me keep track of where I left off in any movie or show. Right now it’s down to $29, a 42% discount from its usual $50 price tag.
In fact, I’ve found the Roku Streaming Stick 4K so useful that I’ve given it to several friends and family members as a stocking stuffer or just as a normal holiday gift. It’s something I know they’ll use repeatedly, which to me, is the best kind of gift you can give.
How I watch television and movies has drastically changed since I got my Roku streaming stick. I’ve been a cord-cutter for so long now that I don’t miss cable, especially not the commercials. Plus, I enjoy speaking into my remote and getting exactly what I’m looking for on any platform, from Peacock to Hulu and more. It makes it easy for me to binge-watch the latest seasons of The Bear, Love Island USA, Bel-Air and lots more. All that’s needed is a Wi-Fi connection, an HDMI port, streaming services and the Roku Stick to access an endless amount of entertainment.
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Watch this: 7 Tips to Get More Out of Your Roku TV
How does the Roku Stick work?
Whether I’m blasting music on Spotify or watching the latest season of Top Chef, my Roku Streaming Stick has me covered. It can plug into my TV for a chill night in or into my Epson Home Cinema 1080 projector for movie nights or hosting parties.
To get the full movie theater experience, I pair my Roku with the Vizio V-Series 2.0 sound bar. Karaoke nights haven’t been the same after this pairing; guests are always impressed.
Can I still access live TV with the Roku stick?
The best thing for me about this streaming stick is that I still have access to live TV. Thanks to streaming services like Peacock and Hulu Plus Live TV, I can watch the Food Network or the NFL in real time.
You might be thinking, don’t all those streaming service subscriptions add up? With bundling options and internet providers offering deals with certain contracts, it can actually cost less than cable.
I love the Roku Streaming Stick because it’s small and portable, and I’ve never had any problems with it not working. Occasionally, my Roku will reboot for updates, or I’ll need to change the remote batteries, but that’s a small thing compared with a cable box or satellite service outage.
Looking for more great budget-friendly gifts? Check out our guides to the best gifts under $25 and gifts under $50. And if you’re wanting to drop a bit more cash on that special someone, we’ve also found some cool tech gifts under $100, the best gifts under $300 and gifts under $500.
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