![]() I’ve noticed that some of the apps have more dated interfaces than you’ll see on some competitors, though. However, it’s clean, clear and easy to navigate. The Roku Express’ interface isn’t the most elegant I’ve seen. Once again, this applies only to content from Amazon and Now TV. There’s an option to ‘follow’ movies or actors too, which will then alert you to relevant price drops and new availability. The menu is pretty straightforward and includes settings, a search function and a link to the channel store for browsing more apps. Note that you can turn off personalised adverts in the settings, if you prefer. The programme suggestions are supposed to adapt to suit your tastes over time, but it hadn’t throughout the time we tested the device. Move across to select an app and some adverts from streaming services will appear on the left of the screen. ![]() You’ll see a short on-screen menu and square thumbnails of your chosen app library. Unlike Amazon’s rather full-on homescreen, Roku takes a simpler approach. There are also over 100 games – but they can’t compete with the better-quality selection available on Amazon’s app store. ![]() You’ll find thousands more – split into genre – in the channel store, including family options such as Disney Life and music playback from Spotify and TuneIn Radio. For Sky content, you even have access to Sky Store and Now TV. There’s plenty to choose from: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Player and Demand 5 are all present and correct. You can add more later, but this gives you a starter for six. Here you can easily pick the services you want to download to your Express. Once that’s all completed, you’ll be asked to go to Roku’s website to register your device. Mine switched to 1080p immediately, but if your internet connection isn’t as good, you’ll have to live with Roku’s recommendations – there’s no ability to hardwire via Ethernet. You might notice the setup screens are a little fuzzy, but don’t worry – they’ll run at 720p until the Express is able to check your display and connection it will optimise itself accordingly. These walk you through connecting to your Wi-Fi network, as well as checking for any firmware updates before you get started. Getting the Roku Express up and running is as simple as plugging it in and following the on-screen instructions. However, once connected it’s likely to stay largely untouched – and mostly unnoticed. The Roku Express’ black plastic form factor isn’t going to set the design world alight. It would have been more useful to have buttons for Now TV, Amazon or iPlayer here, but I’m assuming these companies have paid for their presence on the device. This includes Netflix, and a more questionable selection of Red Bull TV, Rakuten TV and Yupp TV. It comes with a small remote to control all the basic navigation and playback functionality, alongside a handful of shortcut buttons on the unit itself. As a result, it isn’t as tidy and tucked away a solution as some of its competitors, but it can be helpful if your TV’s back panel is a bit of a squeeze. Leads connect via an HDMI port and into a USB socket for power. It takes the shape of a small black plastic box that sits just beneath your TV. We’re more used to devices of this ilk taking on a dongle design – Amazon’s compact Fire TV Stick, for example – but the Roku Express does things differently. It goes up against the excellent (and still available) Chromecast from Google, as well as the newly refreshed Amazon Fire TV Stick. Now in its second generation, it claims to offer a five times faster performance than its predecessor. It’s the company’s most affordable unit, and the 1080p sibling to the pricier 4K Streaming Stick+. The Roku Express is a full HD streaming device that brings all manner of streaming services to non-smart TVs, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Now TV.
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