Andy Shaw tests Roku’s new mid-range TV-streaming box, which has been updated to make it as powerful as Roku’s top model
The latest member of Roku’s family of streaming devices is an upgrade to an old favourite - the Roku 2 - which is intended to replace the previous version. It has a new case, which makes it look more like the Roku 3; updated hardware to provide significantly faster performance; and a redesigned remote control. There have also been some updates to the Roku software to tie in with the launch of this device, though existing Roku devices will also get the software as a free update.
Set up and cables
The Roku 2 doesn’t come with an HDMI cable, so you’ll have to supply your own, but other than that, setting it up is relatively straightforward. Once it’s connected to your TV, power socket and network (either by Wi-Fi or Ethernet, though again you’ll need to supply your own cable for the latter option), you just follow a few on-screen steps and the Roku is ready to go. When we set it up, it failed to recognise that we had a 1080p HD screen, because it defaults to 720p, but this was easily adjusted in the settings.
The set-up process includes making you sign up for a free Roku account, which will try to push a few (free) channels on you, but you can skip these if you’d prefer and choose your own from the menu.
Choice of channels
What makes Roku devices so special is the choice of channels they offer. The new Roku 2 claims to have 1,400 channels and, while this is in itself already impressive, it’s the core essentials that most people are interested in. Roku has arguably the best range of basic options on any streaming device because it includes all the catch-up players from the main terrestrial channels (BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4 and Demand 5); a good smattering of movie-on-demand services (Sky Store, Google Play and Sainsbury’s); Netflix for those who prefer a subscription service; and free internet video essentials including YouTube and Vevo. There are some notable omissions, such as Amazon’s Prime Instant Video and Tesco’s Blinkbox, but you could easily fill these gaps with alternative services from Netflix and Sky Store.
Of the hundreds of other channels available on the Roku 2, many are free, though flicking through the options we found little of interest that you can't find elsewhere. A few big-name YouTube channels, such as Good Mythical Morning, have Roku channels, but they’re no different to their YouTube counterparts and it’s generally easier to find content through the main website.
Some of the channels charge a small fee to access their videos but since there’s no way of previewing what you’re going to get, and there’s already such a good collection of more traditional streaming options available, we can't imagine spending much time or money on them.
Performance and remote
The hardware updates in the new Roku 2 have made it run as smoothly as the Roku 3, so navigating the apps and moving around the interface is now slick and free of glitches. Once you’ve enjoyed its fast and responsive performance, going back to a Streaming Stick feels awkward and slow.
Like most remote controls, the Roku 2’s uses infrared, so you have to point it at the main device to make it work. This is slightly disappointing because the remotes provided with the Roku 3 and Streaming Stick are direction-free and, as Roku veterans, we missed the freedom of operating a remote control without needing a line of sight to the main device.
The new Roku 2 remote has four channel buttons for Netflix, YouTube, Google Play and Rdio (which might have been more useful as an iPlayer button, but never mind).
You can also use the Roku as a casting device so, for example, YouTube or Netflix videos you’re playing on an Android or iOS device can be sent to the Roku instead. If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you can also use the Roku app to cast anything from your device to the screen. You can also set this up with Ethernet-connected devices, as long as everything’s connected to the same network, but it’s much easier to use Wi-Fi.
There are plenty of options if you want to play content from other devices through your TV: the Roku Media Player app lets you access videos, music and photos stored on a USB device through the Roku’s USB port; and there are a handful of apps available for NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives from the likes of Seagate and Synology. You can even can set up a Plex Media Server on a PC and stream from that.
Extra tools and value for money
Roku’s software update has added a number of new tools, including a search tool that looks for content such as movies and TV programmes across lots of services, and shows you where they can be watched. However, it only works with Netflix in the UK, and isn't pulling information from other services, so it’s not up to scratch yet. Hopefully the other services will be included soon, because it would be great to have a unified search across apps to help you find the best prices for movie rentals. You can also ‘follow’ forthcoming movie releases to receive alerts when they become available on one of the services you’re subscribed to.
For £69.99 we think the Roku 2 is good value for money. It’s more expensive than streaming sticks from the likes of Amazon and Google, and its flaws stopped us giving it five stars in this review, but we like that it has more UK catch-up options than those other devices and comes with a great range of additional streaming services. We especially like the choice of movie and TV-streaming options, which let you shop around for the best prices when you’re looking for specific movies or TV shows.
VERDICT
The Roku 2 makes a great addition to your TV set-up. It provides almost all the core essentials you’d want from a streaming service, including the top terrestrial catch-up services; Netflix and other subscriptions services; and an excellent range of pay-as-you-go movie rentals. It’s faster and more responsive than the Roku Streaming Stick, but cheaper than the Roku 3, which it matches on almost every level bar the superior remote control. If you’re not bothered about the direction-free remote and can do without the remote-mounted headphone socket, it’s got most of the Roku 3’s benefits for £30 less.
SPECIFICATIONS
- 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Fast Ethernet
- 720p or 1080p via HDMI
- USB port compatible with MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264), AAC, MP3, JPG, PNG
- 89 x 89 x 25mm
- 142g