Roku lets you watch thousands of different programs from a variety of streaming video services. All you need is an Internet connection and a Roku streaming media box, Roku stick, or Roku TV, and you’re all set. We’re taking a closer look at what you need to know about Roku and how it works.
What is Roku?
The Roku operating system powers a number of Roku-branded streaming media devices at a variety of price points. These range from set-top boxes and small sticks that connect to the back of an existing TV, to all-in-one Roku TVs that build the Roku experience into a flat-screen LCD TV.
What makes Roku so popular? There are a number of reasons.
First, Roku players have been around since 2008. This provides Roku with broad established support within the streaming video industry.
Third, Roku devices just work. All you have to do is plug them in and start watching, few if any hassles involved.
Finally, Roku offers a wide variety of players at affordable price points. This means you can easily find the right unit to fit your needs.
How Does Streaming Video Work?
Roku is a streaming video player, which means it streams video content over the Internet to your home, in real-time. Streaming video works with computers, smartphones, tablets, and dedicated streaming media devices, such as those offered by Roku.
Streaming video is different from broadcast television, which broadcasts programming over the air using radio waves. It’s also different from cable television, which transmits programming over coaxial cable to a set-top cable box, and from satellite television, which transmits programming from a geostationary satellite.
Streaming video delivers its programming over the Internet as a stream of digital data. It’s a lot like downloading a file from the Internet, except that there are no files to download or store on your computer. Instead, the program streams in real-time. In many instances, you can control playback by pausing and rewinding the program.
How Does Roku TV Work?
A freestanding Roku streaming media player attaches to your TV via HDMI—directly, in the case of a Roku stick, or via an HDMI cable, in the case of a set-top box. A Roku TV is a television set with a Roku device built-in, so there’s no extra device to connect.
All Roku players and TVs also have to connect to the Internet. Most Roku devices connect wirelessly, via Wi-Fi, to your home network. The high-end Roku Ultra streaming media player and some Roku TVs also have Ethernet connections, you can connect with a hardwired Ethernet cable for a more stable connection. In most instances, however, connecting via Wi-Fi works just fine.
Roku players require minimal setup. Pretty much all you have to do is install specific “channels” or apps on Roku to watch specific streaming video services. For example, if you want to watch Netflix, you install the Netflix channel on your Roku device. This is easily done via the Roku Channel Store, accessible from Roku’s Home screen. Installing a new channel is free, though watching some channels requires a separate subscription.
You navigate Roku through a menu on the left side of the screen. The Home screen is where you find all the channels to watch. The Streaming Channels screen is home to the Roku Channel Store, which is where you find new channels to install. The Settings screen is where you access all of Roku’s settings and options. And you can search for specific programs or actors from the Search screen.
All the channels you install are displayed on the Home screen in a series of tiles. You can rearrange the titles in any order by pressing the Options button on the Roku remote and selecting Move Channel. This lets you customize the Home screen to your liking.
What Can You Watch on Roku?
Roku users get access to thousands of available channels. These include both subscription and free (ad-supported) services, including both on-demand and live content. There are also many topic-specific Roku channels.
Some of the most popular streaming video services available on Roku include:
Roku also offers its own channel, called The Roku Channel. This ad-supported channel offers a variety of movies and TV shows, all for free.
What Roku Devices Are There?
Roku offers three types of streaming media devices, with a number of different models within each type:
Set-top boxes. These are standalone set-top boxes that connect to your TV via HDMI cable. Available models include the Roku Express, Roku Express 4K, and Roku Ultra. Streaming sticks. These are small devices, about the size of a pack of gum, that connect directly to your TV’s HDMI input. Available models include the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Roku TVs. These are large-screen LCD TVs with Roku streaming built-in. Various companies manufacture Roku TVs, including Hisense, Hitachi, Insignia, RCA, Sharp, TCL, and Westinghouse. They’re available in a variety of screen sizes, from 32" all the way up to 85" models.
Check out our comparison of available Roku models to find the right one for you.
How Much Does Roku Cost?
Roku players and TVs are available at a variety of price points. You can pay anywhere from $29.99 for a simple Roku streaming stick all the way up to over $2,000 for a huge Roku TV.
It costs nothing to use a Roku player or TV, however—there are no subscription fees to use the Roku service. However, you may have to pay subscription fees for various streaming services you watch on your Roku device, such as Netflix and HBO Max. All subscription services charge separately.
Put Roku TV In Your Home Today
Once you connect a Roku player or Roku TV in your home, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
You’ll soon be using Roku to watch all your favorite programming—just connect your Roku device to your home Internet and you’re ready to go.
