As consumer demand for 4K streaming grows, Roku aims to meet that need with extremely affordable players. Two of their most popular options are the Roku Express+ 4K and the slightly older Roku Premiere. On the surface, both seem similar – offering 4K, HDR video and a basic Roku experience at wallet-friendly prices. But looking closer, we find several key differences that impact real-world performance and value.
An Intro to Roku‘s Budget Streamers
The Roku Express+ 4K and Roku Premiere sit at the lower end of Roku‘s streaming device lineup, which spans from $30 up to $100. They target mainstream consumers seeking an easy route to top-tier 4K HDR streaming without a high price tag.
Both models are designed as small streaming sticks that plug discretely into your TV‘s HDMI port. Setup is quick and painless – just connect to your WiFi network and you can access over 5,000 streaming channels. The Roku platform is a streaming powerhouse yet easy enough for anyone to use.
But the newer Express+ 4K model offers several improvements – including better connectivity, speedier performance, enhanced HDR support and a voice remote. Read on as we compare the key specs and abilities to help determine if those upgrades warrant the small premium.
Roku Express+ 4K | Roku Premiere
Release Date: 2021 | Release Date: 2018
MSRP: $29.99 | MSRP: $39.99
Resolution: 4K | Resolution: 4K
WiFi: Dual-band wireless | WiFi: 2.4GHz wireless
Processor: Quad-core | Processor: Single-core
Voice Remote: Yes | Voice Remote: NoVideo and Audio Specs
Digging into the specifics, both streamers…
Connectivity Comparison
When it comes to connectivity…
Performance & Hardware
The Express+ 4K provides snappier performance and responsiveness than the Premiere thanks to improved hardware, including…
Physical Design & Features
Despite their compact size, the streaming sticks pack a lot of functionality into their streaming stick design…
Content & User Experience
Since both devices run on Roku‘s acclaimed streaming platform, the look, feel and breadth of streaming content are largely the same…
Pricing & Value Rundown
Given its superior feature set and components, the Express+ 4K provides better future-proofing and value overall…
The Right Choice Depends on Your Budget & Needs
In closing, between these two affordable 4K HDR streaming options from Roku, the Express+ 4K is newer, faster and more full-featured. If you can swing the extra $10 or less to upgrade, it makes a considerable difference in connectivity, loading and navigation speeds, HDR format support and voice control convenience.
However, the Premiere still delivers a solid basic streaming experience for tight budgets. And with 4K, HDR10 and access to all the top streaming apps, it will meet many people‘s core entertainment needs on the cheap.
Ultimately, choose the Express+ 4K if you want smoother streaming performance and some extra future-proofing. But those satisfaction with a basic streamer can save a few bucks with the Premiere. Either way, Roku makes 4K content readily accessible to the masses – no other platform matches its combination of capabilities, simplicity and affordability.
