Which Roku Streaming Device Is Best For Frequent Travelers?

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Roku's media streamers are generally well-liked for their relatively clean interface, private listening support, and cross-service search. The company's dongle-like streamers are also a good choice to take with you on your travels. These are compact, can often be powered with a TV's USB port, and provide a plug-and-play experience. All you need to do is plug them into your hotel's or Airbnb's TV and add Wi-Fi details to get started. Your favorite streaming services will be seamlessly available to stream, logged in and ready.

However, as Roku currently offers three different streaming stick models, from its base Roku Streaming Stick to the Streaming Stick 4K, you might be wondering which device makes the most sense for frequent travelers. The company's Roku Streaming Stick Plus model offers the best balance of features and price, making it suitable for most people. It's also the best-value Roku device and offers 4K HDR streaming and all the essentials that you typically might need. It also costs only $60 at list price and is frequently discounted to under $30. You can buy it from all major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and the company's own website. That said, it's best to stick with popular retailers rather than the Roku website to get the best deal. Moreover, do shop around a bit before choosing a retailer, as discounts can vary. For example, Walmart is selling it for just $29 at the time of writing, whereas Best Buy and Target have it listed for full price.

Besides 4K HDR streaming, you get support for Bluetooth Headphone Mode, a remote with built-in voice search as well as TV control buttons, dual-band Wi-Fi 5, and a USB-C port for power. Since it only needs around 2.5W of power for typical operation, there is a good chance you'll be able to power it using the TV's USB port. Most TV ports can deliver 2.5W of power, whereas some with a blue plastic insert can even push out 4.5W. Moreover, the media streamer can pass Dolby and DTS audio to the TV and supports HDR10+ for compatible content as well as Apple AirPlay. 

Like other Roku devices, it runs on the Roku OS, which offers access to all popular streaming services as well as tons of free content via the Roku Channels. The only two features missing from the Plus model compared to the more expensive Roku Streaming Stick 4K are support for Dolby Vision HDR and long-range Wi-Fi. As there is no guarantee that you would even get Dolby Vision support on the TVs that you encounter on your travels, it's not really a must-have feature. Similarly, long-range Wi-Fi is another nice-to-have but not necessary, as the Plus model offers reasonable Wi-Fi range.

Experts at PC Mag, PC World, Tech Radar, and Wired also have largely positive things to say about it. They say it's easy to set up, affordable, and provides good performance. However, they do mention that Roku's home screen is increasingly becoming cluttered. 

If you don't want to spend much on a media streamer for your travels, the Roku Streaming Stick can be a decent option. It's not as feature-rich as the Streaming Stick Plus or 4K models, but it includes the basics to bring you entertainment on the go. For example, it can stream in 1080p resolution, support dual-band Wi-Fi 5, and plug into the TV's HDMI port. You also get the same voice remote as the more expensive models, and it can also pass DTS- and Dolby-encoded audio to your TV. Moreover, it runs on Roku OS and has support for Bluetooth Headphone Mode.

Unfortunately, it doesn't support any HDR format, and as noted by experts at PC Mag and PC World, its performance can be a bit slower than the Plus model, particularly when browsing menus and launching apps. That said, it has a list price of only $40, and you can often find it selling for $20 or less.

Remember, when you're buying your Roku streamer for your travels, if there isn't much difference in the prices of the base and the Plus models, going for Plus may make more sense, as it would make your streaming stick more future-proof while adding 4K HDR streaming support.