The Roku Express (2022) is the Roku to buy if you don’t need 4K. Anyone who needs to upgrade a “dumb” 1080p screen in their life might consider it. And while the new Roku Express is primarily an upgrade for the better, it faces growing competition for the HDMI slots in our lives. On paper, the Roku Express (2022) impresses with improved performance.
Unlike most cheap streaming devices, the Roku Express (2022) is not a dongle hidden behind the TV. It’s a small, curved piece of plastic that’s matte on top and shiny on the front, where you might notice a faint power indicator. It’s almost too light, but unlike previous models, we didn’t need the included adhesive strip to make sure it lay flat on a surface. It took only a small amount of effort.
A stick or dongle design would be easier to use, though. Unlike most cheap streaming devices, the Roku Express (2022) is not a dongle hidden behind the TV. It’s a small, curved piece of plastic that’s matte on top and glossy on the front, where you might notice a faint power indicator. It’s almost too light, but unlike previous models, we didn’t need the included adhesive strip to make sure it lay flat on a surface.
It took only a small amount of effort. A stick or dongle design would be easier to use, though. You’re familiar with the Roku Express (2022) interface, as Roku has thankfully kept things simple since day one. On the main home screen, there’s a grid of app icons in the center, a menu of options on the left, and a display on the right. Unlike Fire TV or Chromecast with Google TV, you have almost complete control over these screens.
There is a fall theme currently preloaded on Roku, and it matches the latest edition of the Roku City screensaver. Roku’s support for paid third-party live services like Sling TV is sorely lacking. Fire TV and Chromecast with Google TV have entire sections where these services can show their content, while Roku only brings in the free linear channels from the Roku Channel.