The Roku is a set-top box sales champion in the United States. The device allows access to streaming services, applications, Android mirroring and Windows, as well as a lot of cable channels. Easy to use and full of features, the device started to gain space in Brazil, where it is imported from unofficial way.
But is it worth investing in a Roku instead Chromecast rival, or Apple TV competitor, which officially sell in the domestic market? Next, learn in detail what are the advantages and disadvantages of the device that can transform ordinary TV into Smart.
Specifications
The Roku exists in two formats: the dongle, very similar to Chromecast, and a set-top box, more like Apple TV, called Roku 3 (or 4 Roku compatible with 4K). In both cases, the device has specifications appropriate to the task of playing high-resolution video on your TV.
In terms of technical specifications, however, the smartest investment lies with the Roku 4, most current model and compatible with the transmission of 4K (UltraHD). However, in Brazil, the standard is still very difficult to be found in great content.
Compatibility
To control and use the Roku, you do not need much. The recommended is to have at least 1 MB of Internet to take advantage of the device. Moreover, unlike Chromecast, no need to use the phone to control the device, which has a remote control that can be customized.
The strength of the device is access to thousands of TV channels via streaming versatility that made him a very popular product in the North American market.
The Roku, except Roku 1, enables streaming devices with Windows or Android screen. The transmission is made by a specific application, which makes use of the device similar to the Chromecast. In addition, you can also control the unit directly from the phone by a remote control app.
And the content?
Here things start to get a little more complicated. The Roku is not officially sold in Brazil and, because of that, most of the channels ends blocked to users with IPs from Brazil. Moreover, much of this content only works with TV subscription, which can make the use of expensive equipment in the country too.
However, unlike Chromecast, Roku has USB ports and memory card, which allow not only the expansion of storage, but access to downloaded videos from the Internet. The Roku gets along with popular video formats such as mp4 and mkv, allowing users with large libraries to use to reproduce the material on the big screen.
In this sense, the purchase of the Roku can be attractive. If you are willing to give up services that will be blocked by Brazilian IP account, leaving only the features and basic applications, such as mobile mirroring, Netflix and some others, plus the ability to watch downloaded content, the device can be a interesting alternative media center.
Inputs and outputs for accessories
We already said this aspect in the previous paragraph: Roku has input for microSD memory card and external hard drive and flash drive via USB port, on models with larger format, similar to the Apple TV.
In addition, the equipment can be connected to the TV via HDMI and has Ethernet port for faster connection and stable Internet (Streaming Stick is limited to Wi-Fi).
The Roku 3:04 there is still the possibility of headphones connection directly on the remote control, providing an interesting isolation for those who want to watch TV without disturbing.
Price
You can find easily Chromecast by R $ 160, in a package that gives access to a product officially sold in Brazil. Everything works as it should and there is wide range of applications and services.
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The Roku, on the other hand, is not so. In the country, the Roku 3 goes for $ 799, high and compatible with price charged by Apple TV. As it is not officially sold here, the device ends up having a large part of their locked features, making it interesting only to a niche of users who have downloaded many files from the Internet. To import the Roku 3 goes for $ (R $ 375 in direct conversion, excluding shipping and taxes).
For the Roku Streaming Stick, the device can go for more than R $ 375, high price for a device that, in Brazil, basically offers the Chromecast functions tables, with only the remote control as a great advantage.
Conclusion
The Roku, regardless of version, is a difficult product to use in Brazil due to the region locks that veto access to channels available in the North American market.
But at least in the case of box Roku 3, it is possible to envision a more interesting use of the device for users with large media libraries on their computers.
Small, the model fits into any room and allows connection to USB drives to deliver content to the TV.
This functionality is key for those who need something like Chromecast, but need a more convenient device for playing content downloaded from the Internet in the living room screen.