Description. This small sized media player from Roku plugs into an HDMI port of your TV with a HDMI cable. It has an HDMI port and a mini-USB jack--used for power only. You can power it by plugging the provided USB cable into a nearby USB port (presumably on the TV itself), or using the provided wall adapter. The Roku Express comes with a relatively simple remote that operates via infrared (IR). It includes dedicated content buttons for Netflix, hulu, Sling and VUDU
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up thank to its onscreen setup guide, but it is one of the few models that require you to register the device separately using a computer or device with a Web browser. After registering the device, the player automatically scans for available Wi-Fi networks. We found updating the player's firmware was easy thanks to automatic prompts.
Ease of use. For everyday use the stick is generally easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen uses graphic tiles for all the available apps and content, which can be customized so favorite apps are easier to access. It also has a search function that will search the video streaming services for content.
Remote control. The provided remote is simple, with few buttons. The buttons' size and labeling is good, with high enough contrast that they can still be seen in a room with low light conditions. However, some buttons use non-standard icons, so it may take a while to get used to their functions. The remote requires line of sight to control the unit. You can download an iOS, Android, Windows, or Fire OS app that lets you use a phone or tablet to control the player, and use the device's QWERTY keyboard to enter text, making it easier to enter passwords. The app also lets you search for content and use the device's built in mic to do voice searches, access channels directly without navigating the player's menu, and beam photos and music (video can only be beamed via an iOS devices) stored on the device to the player via its "Play on Roku" feature.
Picture quality. This player supports HD 1080p output. In general we found the streaming picture quality to be excellent, better than DVDs but not quite as sharp or detailed as from a HD Blu-ray disc. However, the quality of the video you'll get is largely dependent on the speed of your wired or wireless network. Since this player has no Ethernet port we had to test it using a wireless connection.
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio via its HDMI output, but it also requires that your TV will pass through the digital signal, or you can plug it into your A/V receiver.
Connections. Given its design, this player has a limited number of connections. It has an HDMI output, and has single-band Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz), but no Ethernet jack. It lacks a USB or memory card slot, but does support DLNA, so you can play pictures, videos or music stored on other DLNA enabled devices connected to the same network. It supports "casting" which allows you to load content from YouTube and Netflix onto the player and control the video from the app on your mobile device. It also supports screen mirroring so you can mirror the screen of any Android, Fire OS, or Windows device on to your TV via the player.
Miscellaneous. Nothing significant.
