Roku Express vs Roku stick – Which one will suit your streaming preference?
Ruko has some of the most used TV streaming boxes that are very easy to use and they provide you with a wide variety of streaming channels you can enjoy. The Ruko express and Ruko stick have the same names and may look identical and this might make it hard to know the differences.
Ruko express and Ruko streaming stick both rely on wifi to stream content and are relatively a cheap streaming option. However, Ruko express is the cheaper option and good enough for most users, while the Ruko streaming stick is an HDMI stick that comes with a voice search remote so you don’t have to keep pressing buttons on your remote.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Ruko express and the Ruko stick?
Ruko model |
Express |
Stick |
Connection to TV |
HDMI |
HDMI |
Picture quality |
1080p HD |
1080p HD and 2160p at 60fps |
Voice remote |
No |
Yes |
Internet connectivity |
802.11n/b/g single-band |
802.11ac dual-band |
Roku Express vs Roku stick. How do they differ?
Design
Both the Ruko express and Ruko stick are very small devices that you attach to your TV. The Ruko express is a very small set-top box that has some adhesive tape you can attach to the top or underneath your TV. You can attach the streaming box to your TV using the HDMI cable while the micro-USB takes care of your power. On the other hand, the Ruko stick is a very small device that looks like a flash drive that you plug into the HDMI port for your TV. With the streaming stick, you won’t be able to see it when you’re facing your TV so you won’t notice its presence unless you look at the back.
The Ruko streaming stick has a better design and it’s easier to hide behind your TV and it’s also more portable because you only need to plug it directly to the HDMI port.
Remotes
The remotes for both the Ruko expressand Ruko stick look similar and are pretty much the same as they use the shortcut buttonsfor popular streaming services and they both have headphone jacks for your private listening. However, there’s a subtle difference between the two. With the remote for the Ruko express, you have to aim it directly at your TV, while with the remote for the Ruko stick you can point it anywhere. This means you don’t have to point it directly at your TV to control it. This might seem like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference in your streaming experience.
The Ruko streaming remote is a better remote since you can use it from anywhere in your home.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware, both the Ruko express and Ruko stick use the 802.11 b/g/n wireless standards which means it can work well with a compatible router to give you a stronger signal. Althoughneither streaming boxes support using 4K video, they both have picture quality that can reach up to 1080p. The Ruko streaming stick is a more powerful streaming box because it’s powered by a quad-core processor that Ruko express doesn’t have. It also has been upgraded to the 802.11ac dual-band with MIMO wireless connectivity, but this can only work if you have an 802.11ac router.
The Ruko streaming stick is more powerful overall than the Ruko express thanks to its powerful quad-core processor and 802.11ac wireless standards.
Roku Express vs Roku stick – A comparison review
Ruko express
- Watch what you love: Start streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including...
- Quick and easy setup: It’s easy to get started with everything you need included in the box, including...
The Ruko express is one of the most affordable streaming devices you’ll find in the market today. This is the best device if you aren’t concerned with specs, and just want to watch the services you’ve already paid for on your standard HDTV. This small box has the same Ruko channels and menus that you’ll find in other Ruko boxes, but it lacks extras like the ability to control your TV’s volume using the remote and voice search. For the remote to work you need to be near the Ruko box because it uses infrared to communicate to your TV instead of wifi. With the Ruko Express, you’ll need a high-speed internet connection and a power source for the Ruko and your TV should have an HDMI port at the back to connect the device to. It’s not a 4K device which means it can only display video in a relatively low-quality HD format with 1080p resolution.
It’s very quick and easy to set up and you can stream all your favorite channels and TV shows with ease from various channels like Disney+, Apple TV, HBO, prime video, Netflix, the Ruko channel, Hulu, Showtime, and Google play. You can also access free TV on several channels so you can stream at no extra cost. The remote is very simple to use and it comes with shortcut buttons for popular channels.
Pros
- Very easy to setup
- You can use the Ruko mobile app as a remote
- It’s small and portable
- It’s very affordable
Cons
- It has an activation fee
Ruko stick
- Powerful and portable
- Voice remote with TV power and volume
The Ruko streaming stick doesn’t come with a streaming box, instead, it’s a slim device that looks like a flash drive you can plug directly into your TV’s HDMI port, but it doesn’t include an HDMI extension cable in the box. You just need to plug one end of the power cord into a slot at the end of the stick and the other into the USB slot in your TV or the power adapter in your wall. This stick uses the 802.11ac wireless standard that allows it faster speeds and a longer range over the 5 GHz frequency with a compatible router, but it can also support the 802.11n. The remote has volume buttons, a power button for TV controls.
It also supports voice search that will allow you to easily control your TV and faster channel search with just a voice command. This powerful and portable streaming device will connect you to thousands of streaming channels like Amazon Prime, Vudu, Netflix, HBO, Hulu, YouTube, ShowTime, Disney+, live network TV, kid’s shows, and many more. While most of the channels are free, others like Netflix and Hulu require a subscription. This stick doesn’t come with a headphone jack or support 4K TV’s.
Pros
- The Ruko channel has hundreds of free movies
- Supports both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals for buff free streaming
- Small and portable
- Supports hundreds of channels and TV shows
Cons
- Your TV has to have an HDMI port
Conclusion
Both the Ruko express and Ruko stick are excellent streaming devices that you can use to access your favorite movies and TV shows. While the Ruko express is a simple affordable device, the Ruko stick will provide you hundreds of streaming channels that you can search with just a voice command.
So which one is better Ruko express or Ruko stick?
The Ruko stick is more powerful than the express and with the voice search you have more control of your TV and the MIMO capabilities mean you can stream better and faster.
FAQ
Do you need Ruko for every TV in your house?
Yes, you’ll need a separate Ruko box for each TV in your house. Ruko streaming devices are designed to be connected to one TV.
Should Ruko be unplugged when not in use?
Ruko 3 and other older streaming devices can’t be switched off unless you unplug them from the socket, but you can use a power strip with a switch so you can easily switch off the device when not in use.
