Streaming devices: the downsides, first

CNET lists it as 'still a lot more expensive than rival, capable streamers' and Tom's Guide as 'still expensive'. PCMag notes Apple raised the price by $70 to $199 on June 25, 2026, citing memory costs.

PCMag found the touchpad overly sensitive and the lack of a home button unintuitive (both can be changed in settings). Wirecutter calls the remote sometimes finicky, and Tom's Guide lists no Find My remote feature.

Wirecutter says it puts Apple's content at the forefront. PCMag found tvOS and the Apple TV app confusingly overlapping, no live TV guide, no YouTube Music, and Siri only via the remote. Ethernet is only on the pricier model (CNET).

Reviewers note it launched at $99, twice the old Chromecast with Google TV, and CNET lists 'costs twice what most streaming sticks do' as a con. Google's own store now lists it at $149.99. Amazon's review summary says some owners consider it overpriced.

CNET calls the interface very busy, says the content rows can't be customized and the simpler apps-only mode disables search. At its 2024 review CNET found Apple Music and BritBox didn't work and Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna and PlayStation Plus were missing. Amazon owners report trouble with unofficial apps.

Wirecutter lists Wi-Fi 5 only, no far-field microphones and no Alexa, Siri or AirPlay 2 support as flaws, and wishes an HDMI cable were included. PCMag notes the cheaper Onn 4K Pro has Wi-Fi 6 and hands-free voice. Amazon's summary says some owners report units that stop working.

PCMag lists the price as its main con. Its list price is now $199.99 per PCMag and Tom's Guide (it launched at $139.99). Amazon owners are divided on value.

Amazon's review summary says functionality is mixed, with some owners saying it hardly ever works, crashes all the time or has Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

Wirecutter says it still puts Prime Video content at the forefront and is too specialized. PCMag notes no AirPlay or Google Cast, and that Wi-Fi 6E doesn't improve video quality.

Tom's Guide and PCMag list the price as a con. CNET says a speed bump, faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren't enough for a flagship, and the new remote can be added to any Roku for $30. Roku raised its list price to $150 in July 2026.

Amazon's review summary says connectivity is mixed, with some owners reporting frequent disconnections, and that some say the device crashes or freezes weekly and the remote doesn't work properly.

PCMag and CNET note the new Voice Remote Pro drops the 3.5mm headphone jack. CNET found it slower to respond to 'Hey Roku' than the old remote, and PCMag calls Roku's voice features stiff.

CNET lists ads as prevalent on the home screen and screensaver and calls search results wonky. Wirecutter says it's still too Prime Video-centric with an annoying amount of ads, though it found Amazon's revamped interface (rolling out since Feb 2026) much less Prime-centric.

Amazon's review summary says reliability and the remote are mixed, with some owners reporting the remote stops working after a month and the stick freezing and needing frequent restarts.

CNET lists no Chromecast or AirPlay support, and its roundup calls the 2023 model only slightly improved over the previous one.

Wirecutter found it slower to load the home screen and apps than the Google TV Streamer, more hiccup-prone after several apps, and quick to close background apps. PCMag says menus occasionally stutter.

Wirecutter calls the plastic box, mesh cover, barrel AC plug and remote low-quality, says it might not survive a few knocks, and finds the big 'Free TV' remote button tacky.

Wirecutter notes it's sold only at Walmart and may be out of stock. Walmart's AI review summary for the 2026 model says sound can cut out, pop or go quiet.

Wirecutter says it's much slower to load apps, move through tiles and answer voice queries than its other picks.

Wirecutter says Roku's interface feels dated and doesn't show what you were watching across apps. CNET lists a limited voice assistant, no smart-home control and no gaming services, and says it doesn't support Dolby Atmos (Wirecutter says it passes Atmos through).

Amazon's review summary says the remote gets mixed feedback, with some owners reporting it would not work.

Tom's Guide and PCMag both list the lack of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos as a con. Wirecutter says that's not worth saving about $10 over the Stick 4K.

Tom's Guide calls ads the biggest drawback, advising you to turn off video autoplay to avoid noisy videos on startup, and lists intrusive ads as a con.

Amazon's review summary says connectivity and the remote are mixed, with some owners reporting disconnections and several saying it stops working randomly. Tom's Guide notes the remote needs batteries and the stick doesn't fit behind every HDMI port.