Amazon Fire Stick rival offers a new way to stream live TV, Netflix and Disney+

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Roku's streaming devices give access to live TV channels and apps (Image: Amazon)

Streaming sticks are incredibly handy gadgets that provide households with access to a variety of television channels and apps so that they can watch their favourite shows and films to their heart's content. The Amazon Fire Stick is arguably the most popular option, however, there's another alternative on the market.

Offering a variety of features and access to the likes of Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and more, Roku is one such rival. Another brand of devices that can quickly upgrade any TV to HD 4K streaming. There's the Roku Streaming Stick Plus that can be purchased directly from the Roku website, or the Roku Streaming Stick, which is available on Amazon, and finally, the Roku Express HD Streaming Device that's on sale at Argos.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is the brand's ultimate device, providing access to over 200 TV channels in 4K picture and vivid HDR colour, including live news, sports and more. This slim and portable gadget costs £39.99 - the same price as the latest Amazon Fire Stick - and simply plugs into any TV.

It comes with a handy voice remote control that can be used to power on the TV and control the Roku device, although it doesn't have volume control buttons. Users can simply talk into the remote to quickly search for the show or films they are looking for.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus has a simple home screen displaying live TV, streaming apps, settings and more. Say goodbye to spending hours scrolling through pages of content trying to pick something to watch, as the Roku TV Stick's useful 'what to watch' feature recommends new films and shows.

Roku Streaming Stick

The streaming stick provides access to hundreds of channels and apps in HD.

For households looking for a cheaper alternative, the Roku Streaming Stick costs £29.99 at Amazon. This gadget offers access to the same TV channels and apps as the more advanced Stick Plus, but in return, users are sacrificing 4K picture quality for HD instead.

The cheapest option is the Roku Express HD Streaming Device priced at £24.99 at Argos. This option offers slightly less channels than the sticks, but still provides access to over 100 free, live and premium TV options in sharp HD pictures, including Roku Originals on The Roku Channel.

The Roku Streaming Device comes with a standard remote control and comes with an HDMI cable that plugs into the television for a quick and easy set-up. For shoppers wanting to check out the Amazon Fire Stick, the £39.99 device allows users to stream TV shows and films in Full HD. It comes with an Alexa-enabled remote control that will work with the device, as well as other Alexa-enabled gadgets in the home.

Roku has a variety of devices that rivals Fire TV Stick(Image: Roku/Amazon/Argos)

It seems the Roku Express HD Streaming Device is one of the most popular options, with it earning an overall rating of 4.7 out of five from over 460 Argos customers. One impressed buyer wrote: "Really impressed with this purchase which has converted an old Sony Bravia TV into a full blown smart TV. Thoroughly enjoying watching Netflix and Prime on it, great product, thank you Roku."

"This is a fantastic piece of equipment," declared another shopper. "Works on an old HD TV and saves money considering the costs of Sky or Virgin TV packages which are not great. You can download the main channel apps and can watch live TV via your internet, as well as the Netflix app and Sky news etc."

Sadly one Argos shopper was less impressed with the Roku Express HD Streaming Device. They noted: "It's ok for a bedroom TV, but there are no volume control buttons and no power button on the remote. I probably would not have bought it if I knew."

However, another purchaser was delighted, commenting: "Why didn't I buy one before? Absolute game-changer. I had a TV I didn't want to part with because it had a built-in DVD player. This little thing turned it into a smart TV."