Black Friday deals are the perfect time to snag discounts on the little products you’ve been holding off on. Products like a Roku streaming stick, which will turn any TV into a smart TV. These magical devices are already pretty cheap, but Black Friday Roku deals slash even more off the price tag. If you’ve been considering splurging but the price was just outside your reach, these Roku deals should help you pull the trigger. Of course, you could always upgrade your whole setup with Black Friday TV deals, since those are already getting hefty price cuts.
There are Roku deals from retailers across the spectrum, but some of the best ones we’ve seen so far have been part of Amazon Black Friday deals. The retail giant is starting their deals super early this year, a common theme among tech stores. Demand for consumer electronics far outweighs the supply this year, which has been hampered by a serious microchip supply issue. All that means for you is that Black Friday Roku deals have arrived super early, and you can get your new Roku installed by Thanksgiving.
Today’s best Roku deals
- Roku Premiere — $20, was $40
- Roku Streaming Stick+ — $29, was $45
- Roku Express 4K+ — $30, was $35
- Roku Ultra 2020 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision Streaming Media Player with Voice Remote — $91, was $100
- 40-inch TCL 3-Series FHD Roku TV — $230, was $350
- 40-inch Hisense Class H4 Series LED Roku Smart TV — $250, was $330
- 43-inch TCL 4-Series 4K Roku Smart TV — $258, was $299
40-inch TCL 3-Series FHD Roku TV
$230 $350
Roku Premiere
$20 $40
Roku Streaming Stick+
$29 $45
Roku Express 4K+
$30 $35
75-inch TCL Roku Smart 4K QLED TV
$999 $1,500
43-inch TCL 4-Series 4K Roku Smart TV
$258 $299
Roku Express
$25 $30
32-inch TCL 3-Series 720p Roku TV
$169 $230Should You Shop the Black Friday Roku Deals Now?
If you want to get ahead of the storm of Black Friday Roku shoppers, you should buy now. As we mentioned, there is a serious microchip shortage across the whole world right now, making lots of consumer electronics hard to come by. The whole reason retailers like Amazon and Best Buy have started their Black Friday deals early is to get a jump on this crazy supply problem.
These retailers are releasing their discounts now while they still have products on their shelves. If you wait until after Thanksgiving to shop for your Roku deals, you’ll be wading through the scraps. The most popular Roku models, like the Roku Ultra and Roku Express, will likely be all sold out by then. The ones that aren’t sold out will have estimated shipping dates well past the New Year. We strongly encourage you to do your shopping ASAP.
Roku Express
The Roku Express is the company’s entry-level streaming box. It only supports maximum resolution of 1080p and has no HDR support, and the slower 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi standards. There is no way to hardwire your streaming box to your router as the Express doesn’t have a built-in Ethernet port.
Its included remote is a less feature-rich version of the remote included with other Roku boxes and doesn’t support voice recognition. You’ll also need to use your TV remote to turn your TV on and off as well as control the volume of your TV, something higher-end Roku devices can do directly from the remote.
While the functionality of the Express is considerably limited, you’ll still get access to every Roku channel in the channel store, as well as HDMI and Dolby Audio and DTS pass-through. For those looking for a streaming box for an older HDTV, the Express is your best (and also cheapest) bet.
Roku Streaming Stick+
The Roku Streaming Stick+ is the next step up from the Roku Express and is the cheapest Roku that supports 4K HDR content. You also gain 802.11ac dual-band MIMO, meaning better connectivity and performance, especially for 4K HDR content. Also, the wireless connectivity inside allows for four times the range of the Express, meaning you’ll be able to place the device further away from your router.
The included remote adds voice recognition support and the capability to control your television’s power and volume directly from the remote. For many, this is the Roku model we would recommend due to its extensive feature set and competitive price compared to other streaming options on the market, most notably the Fire TV Stick.
Another attractive feature of the Streaming Stick+ is its size. For wall-mounted TVs. The stick can fit in the space where your connections are, allowing you to hide the device away for a cleaner look. If your TV has a USB port, you can also use this to power the device, further eliminating excess cables.
Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra is Roku’s top-tier device, aimed at home theater enthusiasts with a feature set that has these users in mind. While it also supports 4K HDR video and 802.11ac dual-band MIMO like the Streaming Stick+, the Ultra also includes a built-in Ethernet port. This allows you to hardwire your set-top box to your network, essentially giving the most reliable streaming experience available.
But that isn’t the only feature that sets the Ultra apart: it also includes a USB port and MicroSD slot, the former allowing you to playback content locally, and the latter to give you extra storage space for additional Roku channels. The remote adds other functionality enabling you to add personal shortcuts to whatever you want, whether it be a channel or a frequent search, and so on.
Included in the package are a set of premium JBL headphones, which can be plugged into your remote to allow for private listening — a great way to enjoy content without disturbing others. If you’re looking for the best Roku experience, this is it.
Roku Express vs. Roku Streaming Stick+
Not sure which to choose between the Roku Express and Streaming Stick+? The biggest difference between the two is resolution. The Express can only stream in Full HD, while the Streaming Stick supports full 4K. If you’re buying a Roku for an older TV that you don’t plan to upgrade any time soon, the Express might be the better choice.
Another key difference is the Wi-Fi connectivity. While the Express does support 802.11 b/g/n networks, the Streaming Stick+ also supports the newer and faster 802.11ac dual-band MIMO routers. The latter works much better for streaming, and as a result, will provide a much more reliable streaming experience. The Wi-Fi chip inside also has better range, making it a better solution for TVs further away from your router.
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