Table of Contents 64q43
Since "tree” of smart TVs, consumers can easily access hundreds of apps and services with just a screen and a remote control. However, not everyone has a television that has an internet connection and popular streaming services. 6ka28
In 2020, these streams are even more accessible thanks to streaming players , the My TV Stick e Roku Express – just have an HDMI input on the TV for them to work. Both are high-quality releases to serve as competition with the giant Google device, the chromecast, which allows connection via cell phone, directly on the TV.
Unlike him, the Roku Express and My Stick have remote controls and a more intuitive interface for those looking for fluid navigation, without relying on a smartphone. But are they really that much alike? To answer this question, we tested both models. In this review, we tell you about performance, app availability and other important points to help you decide which one is best for you.
Design and highlights 6z646l
A novelty among TVs and streaming devices, the Roku Express arrived in Brazil in the same year as the Roku system arrived here, Dolby Atmos (with -through via HDMI), which guarantees great transmission quality for thousands of series and movies.
Some of the highlights are the easy setup, as we will discuss in sequence, and automatic system update. O Roku has own app for iOS and Android, whose strong point is that you can listen to the audio (in up to 4 independent devices) directly through the cell phone, without disturbing anyone nearby.
Regarding design, the product deserves full recognition for being quite compact, even if it works via infrared by remote control. The rounded box must be attached close to the TV with the help of adhesive tape, a discreet look that matches the matte plastic and sensors of traditional LCD televisions.
Already My TV Stick has in its name the pillar of its design: it is a USB stick, so just “stick” it into the TV's HDMI input. Because of this, it only has a USB power cable, with the option of being able to be plugged into the socket. Just be careful with the positioning of your TV, because if it only has straight rear inputs (and not sides) and is on the wall, the space may not accommodate the plugged device — it must be at least 10 cm.
The product has 5.1 GB free memory to install any available application, the great system Android TV and the power of the “3+2 core” GPU (in addition to 1 GB of RAM) for fluid navigation. Another important point is the option to control many of its functions through the MyMovies | Google Assistant right from the controller. As well as the Roku Express, also s DTS and Dolby Digital audio.
controls 5wv4s
Low-profile and slender, the control of the My TV Stick it works without problems and without the need to “aim” at the receiver — as it has a Bluetooth connection. Are 14 buttons, being: 4 directional pads, shortcut to Netflix and Prime Video, “OK” key, volume up/down, on/off, Google Assistant activation and three menu navigation keys (menu superimposed on apps, back option and “home” ).
It has vivid colors - noticeable if you compare the “white and red” of Netflix, this being the only common shortcut between this and the competitor. Furthermore, there is a perceived gut feeling. great on the keys. Especially in the shortcuts, it looks like there was a colored print with direct relief on the buttons on the controller, which results in a very elegant finish.
The fact that the Mi has volume buttons may please some. On the one hand, the volume difference between streaming channels or programs can be better adjusted in quick switching. On the other hand, for low-end apps you'll need to turn up the product's volume first and only after controlling the TV's volume — a situation that is eliminated when you only need to focus on the TV's volume.
As a matter of practicality, the absence of batteries in the control package is disappointing, as it is essential for setup of the device – especially in a “pandemic year”, a trip to the corner to buy batteries could be avoided by adding a generic pair to the package.
Control of the Roku Express it's matte and rough, with an almost ergonomic cutout for an index finger on the back. It has rubberized keys, which can be a bad sign in the long run – because it accumulates stains and dirt much easier than plastic keys. In of comfort, this really ends up being a strong point.
Has 16 buttons: 4 directional arrows, “OK”, Home, Back (in menus), Options (*), Instant Replay key, play/pause, forward/backward and four streaming shortcuts, with Netflix, HBO Go, Google Play and Globoplay. It still comes with 2 foreign Duracell batteries.
Interestingly, while testing the system's functions, one thing I found myself thinking about (more than I should) is the usefulness of the purple fabric ribbon with the Roku logo located at the base of the controller. Attached to the battery compartment cover, it is not only useless but also inconvenient: depending on how you handle the control, the “edge” of the folded strip can rub against your hand. Aesthetically and practically, not a good addition.
Initial setup and setup 3r626s
A striking detail of Roku Express is that it should be positioned right at the edges of your TV. Its packaging comes with a resistant adhesive tape (those thick “type 3M”), with suggestions for positioning the box explained in the manual itself. To plug it into the television, just connect the HDMI for video signal and the USB for power.
In sequence, there are screens for: language selection, Wi-Fi network , mandatory system update, screen type detection (maximum Full HD) and the suggestion of association with the Roku . When logging in from a nearby cell phone, a sudden scare is the apparent need to enter your credit card details, but when you scroll down the page you find the option to skip this step. After that, it updates (again) with the pre-installed channels.
As mentioned above, the My TV Stick must be connected to the TV via HDMI, along with the USB. The difference is that the HDMI is built into the “stick” without needing a second cable. You can also choose plug it into the outlet for power, as it comes with the adapter - even if the connection cable is too short, in my opinion, for most scenarios of placing a television in a rack.
The initial configuration of Mi suggested association with the Google app to "detect device", which unfortunately didn't work. I even tried a second time after restarting the device and closing the application on the phone, but the error persisted. After going ahead and accepting about a dozen (both Google and Xiaomi) and selecting additional channels to install, there was an option to sync via Android TV website, where the connection was great. Finally, before having access to all the functions, there was the option (note that it was optional beforehand) to update to the latest Android with a 600 MB .
Interface 3i6z6t
O My TV Stick turns your television into an Android TV, a key point of the product as many cannot enjoy such a smart TV. Manufacturers may opt for their own operating systems, such as LG (webOS) and Samsung (Tizen), while some, such as Sony, which recently launched an 8K in Brazil, opt for that Android. The advantage is the practicality with apps familiar to those who have a smartphone with the system.
As soon as you turn on your TV, the Mi takes between 25 and 30 seconds to be 100% operational, in the traditional “loading” of the Android logo for its startup. Searching for items can be done by voice or typing. This is a very important point, because particularly one of the worst interface errors in televisions is the keyboard. Rarely, an app gives the option to sync with the smartphone app or to via code insertion in a browser link (only through Prime Video!).
The “Menu” button on the control, represented by a grid of squares, opens a tab superimposed on the current application without having to leave the activity in question. It shows suggestions of installed apps and, at the bottom of the list, games. It's an easy access, just like the discreet menus of smart TVs with the systems mentioned above.
The Roku operating system resembles the bluray players modern, as well as that of some cable TV operators. So it's basic and very affordable for anyone looking for a first dive into the world of smart products, whether with the TV's native Roku or via the Express device. It has four Home items: Home screen (preferred apps), Search, Streaming channels, and Settings.
“Home screen” and “Search” show exactly these functions, while “Streaming Channels” brings the items already installed and others highlighted. Then there is the list of news, recommended, free items, search (again, now inside the submenu) and the complete catalog separated by genre. Instead of apps, the operating system has channels own made for him.
O Roku Express distances itself with customization options, as the can configure a theme, among a list of 40 items that includes wallpapers of nature, animals, LGBTQ pride and the series Sons of Anarchy e Star Trek. What worked best was Graphene, as if it were a cozy night mode.
Applications and performance 3z1y6f
All the more mainstream streaming channels (Netflix, Globoplay, HBO Go and Apple TV) worked well and never had a drop in performance on Roku. The number of channels within the categories may surprise more than a hundred, but many of them are almost a clickbait.
The most comical example I found was one of the first items in the comedy genre, the “Friends Reunion“, with an image from the series Friends highlighted. Doubting it was official, I ed it and pressed play. Randomly opened a channel dedicated to videos of children playing with animals — which is far from the series' premise.
I risked ing one of the independent horror film channels and the content continued with questionable quality: the first of the films had a very low budget and terrible image resolution. Unlike the Android system, where you can risk exploring new apps, on Roku you need to stay away. Fortunately, the most well-known channels, even if underground, worked without crashing.
In channel switching, it's a shame Roku doesn't do very well. Even if an app is open (HBO Go, for example) and you switch to another with the controller shortcut (Netflix), it forces you to return to the home menu for a split second, as there is a flash of the wallpaper , and only then change the channel. If you do this while watching a movie, the channel ends and so does the playback.
The “replay” button on the controller rewinds 20 seconds on a regular video player, an unusual number for those used to the 10-second replays of YouTube, HBO and Prime Video. The control's forward and backward arrows let you navigate the timeline, with a thumbnail detail of the content above the timer. To “confirm” going to the selected section, in a non-intuitive way, you must press the down arrow (instead of play or “ok”).
Since the My TV Stick has Android system, a good start of performance tests was with games. I installed two games on the system: B e Crossy Road. The first one worked well, with a drop of frames (predictable, given that the system has GPU and base processor), and the second unfortunately did not work — the first screen is to confirm the age via numeric keypad on the screen that should be touch. strange is Crossy Road still be at the top of the recommended games for Android TV.
Just in case, I decided to test the Stick's connection with a wireless video game controller, more specifically the PlayStation 4 one. Since I've already paired it with tablets and cell phones in different versions of the operating system, I believed it would work. And it is even detected, its light blinks and stays on after a supposed “successful connection”, but soon after, Android loses .
The Netflix and Prime Video apps looked identical to the smart TV apps, a huge strength for the My TV Stick. The Crunchyroll app worked as usual, even though I felt a slight delay between the time each episode started (free s have ads before each show). When I merged switching apps, I reported a peculiar performance. Between Netflix and Prime Video, by control shortcuts, the screen was off for 5 seconds, before profile selection. After both are started, the exchange is instantaneous.
The voice assistant is quite smart in certain cases, because it relates the open application to the type of result displayed. For example, when saying “comedy movies” with Netflix in the background, it shows a list of movies available in the respective catalog – the same happened with Prime. Bizarrely, if you say a specific title it can vary results. Stranger Things came up with a suggestion from Netflix (even with the closed app), Captain Marvel comes with a rental option on Google Play (even with Prime open and the movie in the catalog), the exclusive The Boys appears with synopsis and reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and The Office (today on Prime) takes you to the YouTube channel shortcut.
Talking about multitasking, My TV Stick disappoint. During video playback, the system becomes a test of patience. It took more than 40 seconds for the bottom bar of the Google Assistant to appear on the screen and voice recognition to be activated. Worse than that, depending on the app, the video player may run out of subtitles during this time, with no possibility of interrupting the content.
After a simple question “what day is today?” I waited 20 seconds until I got the answer (text only, as the voice decided not to work). Then I asked a second question that I never got an answer to, as the assistant did the “think” animation and then ended up abruptly. And in these tests, I had better luck with Netflix than with Prime, because the app seemed to be more optimized and the response time between commands was shorter.
In contrast, sometimes there were at least 10 seconds between pressing the controller button and playback being paused (in Prime Video), even though it showed the “pause” animation in the middle of the screen. Anyway, the content loading happened smoothly throughout the entire testing period, so I recognize it's a performance issue, not internet stability with the Mi connection.
Who wins: Roku Express or Mi TV Stick? 366t26
Currently, in Brazil, one can find the My TV Stick for R$450, while the Roku Express It costs around R$350. Starting with the comparison of values, we have a considerable difference for those looking for a more economical way out (and will opt for Roku). The voice assistant technology and the Mi system itself clearly express its superiority, which goes hand in hand with the price. A pity is the interface is very good for an average performance, which requires a certain “knack” to be controlled.
Anyone who has an outdated smart TV and misses some apps can see an advantage in purchasing the Xiaomi product, precisely because it can turn it into an Android TV. The Roku Express, on the other hand, is better suited to s who are not used to the functionality of a smart TV and want quick access to their favorite streaming services. The infrared control of this one also brings a familiar use to those used to cable TV devices.
Which of the two will be better used by you, the Roku Express or the My TV Stick? Tell us in the comments!
Technical Specifications 4n1h3u
| Name | My TV Stick | Roku Express |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) (mm) | 92,4 x 30,2 x 15,2 | 38,1 x 19,1 x 76,2 |
| Weight (g) | 28,5 | 31 |
| Operational system | Android TV | Roku |
| Resolution | Full HD | HD Full HD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac Bluetooth 4.2 HDMI |
WiFi 802.11bgn HDMI 1.4b |
| Audio | Dolby DTS |
Digital stereo via HDMI® DTS Digital Surround™ Dolby Audio™ and Dolby ATMOS® |
| Remote Control | Bluetooth | Infra-red |
| Food | microUSB | microUSB |
