Roku 3 Vs Roku Premiere- which one performs better?
Roku 3 and Roku Premiere are both media streamers and they have largely gained a high competitive advantage from the smart TVs because of their ability to offer varied and highly unique content; some that you will not find in the smart TV’s such as the sky’s now TV and iTunes.
Roku is a reputable brand and is keen on expanding to capture other niche markets for example through the production of television sets and Soundbars. The companies streaming devices have gained popularity in the global platform simply because they offer a wide spectrum of channels and have an intuitive interface.
Up to now, the company has put out about four Roku devices, and the problem comes in when picking the perfect media streaming fix because they all tend to have the same names and an almost similar design. We have, therefore, zeroed down to two Roku streamers with which we will evaluate their differences so that you can make a conscious selection.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Roku 3 and Roku Premiere?
Model |
Roku 3 |
Roku Premiere |
Throughput speed |
25mbps for 4K
6mbps for HD |
3.0mbps for standard definition
9.0mbps for HD |
USB |
1 |
Not Available |
Item Weight |
5 Ounces |
1.28 Ounces |
Product Dimensions |
3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches (Bigger in size) |
3.3 x 1.4 x 0.7 inches (smaller in size) |
Storage |
2GB RAM, 512MB |
1 GB operational memory 512 MB |
Processor |
1.7 GHz quad-core |
ARM Cortex A53 quad-core 1.2 GHz |
Availability |
Roku 3 vs Roku Premiere – How do they compare
Build and Design
Roku Premiere has a rectangular design and is covered in a sleek combination of gray and the black color; its small portable size could compromise its positioning ensure therefore, that it is exposed for effectiveness. The packaging of this unit has incorporated a remote control and an earphone jack on the sides. The remote has incorporated a few buttons on the sides to ease navigation with the user interface.
The Roku 3 on the other hand, features some sort of rectangular design, the outer body is made of sleek black plastic material, with an indicative led light on the right to inform the user that the unit is up and running. Given the little difference in functionality, Roku does feature quite some interesting aesthetic passing off as a high-end professional unit when compared to Roku premier.
Expandable options
Overtime innovation has equipped the USB drive and port with greater responsibilities apart from only storing and transferring of information. So when the USB drive is used with a media streaming device, the smart TV’s included they help with updating of the firmware, users can connect computer peripherals to the port and the most relevant is to play and transfer multimedia files, which takes us to the next point.
The Roku premiere hasn’t incorporated a USB port, and this is a major downside for users who wish to play music or videos from their USB drive. Roku 3 on the other hand has incorporated a USB port, which makes it more functional and all you got to do is install the Roku media player channel via Roku’s website or through the channel store.
Speed and Performance
Throughput in any networking device is a vital as well as a primary concern, as it helps inform a user of the performance of the network in relation to the device. The throughput speeds in Roku 3 should be sufficient unless you are engaging the uncompressed UHD content derived from a local source. Ensure, therefore, that your ISP is up to the task and if you are using WIFI with the device it gets better because you are automatically exposed to higher speeds, more so in the 5 GHz bands.
Roku premiere seems to have reasonable demands as regards speeds and performance, so for standard definitions, all you need is up to 3.0mbps and 9.0mbps for the HD content. Both of these devices have different performance standards, which you must adhere to if you expect to get the best resolution and to enjoy seamless streaming. So if the provided throughput speeds are anything to go by then Roku premier is the better option as it does not put high demands on the ISP.
Roku 3 vs Roku Premiere – a Comparison Overview
Roku 3
- Compact stick design. Plugs discreetly right into the HDMI port. Great for wall mounted TVs
- 2,000+ entertainment channels and counting. By far the most movies, sports, news, music and kids shows of...
Roku 3 comes in a compact easy to place design; the unit can be used on the wall-mounted TV sets and has incorporated over 2000 entertainment channels. Users have been granted the liberty of either using the remote control or their phone, which will result in a stunning HD video quality with which you can use to access the various mobile applications such as YouTube and Netflix.
Pros
- Offers unlimited entertainment
- Features the hands-free voice search option
- Users can use the headphone through the remote
- Features an impressive processing speed
Cons
- Users experience glitches when playing YouTube videos
- Roku 3 remote is not functional
Roku Premiere
- Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV,...
- Incredible picture, exceptional value: Whether you’re streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you’ll enjoy...
For those people who don’t want to talk into a remote then the Roku premiere is your media streamer, the unit is not only effective but comes at a rather fair price of $ 30 and below. Upon purchase of the media streamer, you will be treated to a 30 day free trial of interesting content with the option of streaming in 4k, HDR, and HD picture quality.
Set up and use of the unit is pretty easy, so once you plug it in, all you are left to do is connect to the internet and you are good to go. The provided remote has got the relevant operational buttons, including some shortcut buttons to the most popular streaming channels. And to ensure seamless and effective streaming the software updates are automatic and you also get the option to listen privately from your phone.
Pros
- The unit works great
- Set up process is easy
- Comes with a quick start guide
- Doesn’t have buffering issues
Cons
- Comes with a shortcode
- The unit overheats
Conclusion
The Roku premier doesn’t exactly fit the contemporary stature, so if you want a toned-down media streamer then this should be it, but for those who love fancy and a more mainstream unit then Roku 3 should do the magic.
Final Verdict: So which is better? Roku 3 or Roku Premiere
If we are to consider all the factors then Roku 3 is the better router, first because it has been equipped with an effective processor when compared to Roku premiere. The unit also features up to 2GB operational memory and a USB port that allows integration of other external devices.
FAQ’s
-
What is the shelf life of my Roku 3 device
The probable lifespan stands at 3 to 5 years considering the application writers, other Roku devices could have a shorter lifespan more especially the low-end devices.
-
How do I shut off my Roku premiere
Your Roku premiere device has an option that you can activate for it to shut down after 30 minutes of inactivity. However, if you want to turn it off, select settings then go the power menu, the system, and proceed to power and shut it down.
