Roku Express review: Cheap, decent, and probably still not the streaming box for you

There just happens to be a much better streamer available if you're willing to spend another $20. That would be the stellar Roku Streaming Stick, which for $50 includes a remote with TV volume and power controls, voice controls, and point-anywhere RF technology. If you plan to use your Roku for any decent stretch of time, you'll want those features. Still, the new Roku Express is more powerful than its predecessor, which in turn makes it passable enough to buy as a cheap gift, for use with a universal IR remote, or perhaps for TVs you don't intend to use very often. Compared to last year's model, it feels a little less like a compromise.