Roku is designed to offer unlimited entertainment to its users without compromising the accessibility. With the same intent, they have come up with a variety of devices. However, people aren’t usually able to make the right choice since they don’t have in-depth information about the device’s features, pros, and cons. So, in this article, we are talking about Roku 1 vs. Roku Express, so you can make the practical choice. Have a look!
Roku 1 vs Roku Express
Roku 1
Well, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Roku 1 has always been an easily effective addition to the Roku lineup. Roku really revolutionized the entire idea by adding the 1080p output. The Roku 1 was launched quite a time ago, and it’s now available for only $50. But it is worth mentioning that Roku is discontinuing the Roku 1 in some time.
Roku 1 has a very boxy outlook in black color, but there are no compromises on attractiveness. The box has rounded edges with a concave top surface. Also, it has a plum color tag on one side. As for the connectivity, Roku has tried to keep it simple because there is only one HDMI output added. Also, there are no LAN pockets, but you can connect it with the built-in Wi-Fi compatibility.
Roku 1 is pretty serviceable because the buttons are suitably directional. There are some playback transport controls in the box, topped with the contextual action button. The best thing is the home symbol that brings you back to square one if you are stuck in the menus and settings. However, it doesn’t come with a remote, which is a real bummer.
The most important part is the setup, and with Roku 1, you don’t have to call in some technician because it’s a breeze itself. It is suggested to use the HDMI cables for high-end vide streaming and for connecting to the wireless connection.
Roku Express
Okay, first things first, we don’t think that we have ever seen a streaming player better than Roku Express because it comes with new streaming channels (for free). Roku Express is integrated with the basic HD streaming features along with the most simplistic setup and utilization standards. On top of everything, there is a remote with Roku Express.
With Roku Express, the users can get high-speed HD streaming at a reasonable cost of $30, which means you can access everything at the lowest possible rate. The Roku Express was launched last year in 2019, and it’s only available in the U.S. right now. The overall design and size of Roku Express are very similar to the streaming stick.
Well, the size is even smaller than the remote, but it’s become a pro since you can toss it anywhere you want. There is a micro USB port in Roku Express and comes with the USB-to-USB cable. This cable can be plugged into the TV, depending on the availability of a USB port on the TV. In addition, it comes with the HDMI cable to offer diverse installation options.
When you order Roku Express, it comes as a complete package. As far as the performance is concerned, it majorly depends on the processor, Wi-Fi antenna, and the Roku platform. As for the Wi-Fi antenna, it has a short-range and limited bandwidth. Roku Express is integrated with the power-efficient operating systems that’s a plus for the connectivity and performance.
As for the antenna and processer, they are pretty lightweight since Roku was implementing the minimalistic approach. However, we are intrigued by the resolution because Roku Express can only offer 720p to 1080p, which is pretty decent for people who haven’t tried the 4K yet. As for the streaming, Roku Express supports Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, HBO, Movies, and Google Play TV.
In addition to these streaming networks, there are multiple (thousands) channels available along the Roku Channel. With the Roku Channel, users can watch movies and TV shows for free. The best thing about Roku Express is that you have access to more than 3,500 channels, and you can download them according to the paying ability.
Well, the bottom line is the price and availability of remote is the big catch. However, the 4K content streaming is not available, and the remote has only a basic IR configuration available. Also, you might need to get an extra HDMI cable because the one in the package is pretty small.