Roku sells two 4K streamers in the UK, separated by just £10. The Express 4K costs £39.99 and the Streaming Stick 4K costs £49.99. Same Roku OS, same apps, same 4K resolution — so what does the extra tenner actually buy you? Three things: Dolby Vision, a voice remote, and better Wi-Fi. Here is the full breakdown so you can decide if that £10 is worth spending.
Roku Stick 4K vs Express 4K: The 60-Second Answer
Buy the Streaming Stick 4K at £49.99. For £10 more than the Express 4K, you get Dolby Vision, a voice remote that controls your TV’s power and volume, and long-range Wi-Fi that hides the stick behind your TV.
Buy the Express 4K at £39.99 only if every pound counts, or for a secondary TV where Dolby Vision and voice control do not matter.
UK Prices: What You Pay
- Roku Express 4K: £39.99 — small box, connects to the TV with an HDMI cable
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K: £49.99 — compact stick, plugs straight into the HDMI port
The gap is exactly £10 at full price, and both get discounted in sales. When the Stick 4K drops to £39.99 in a sale, the Express 4K stops making sense entirely.
The 3 Differences That Actually Matter
- Dolby Vision: the Stick 4K supports Dolby Vision; the Express 4K tops out at HDR10/HDR10+. On a TV that supports Dolby Vision (most 4K TVs sold in the last few years), films and shows on Netflix and Disney+ look noticeably better.
- The remote: the Stick 4K ships with Roku’s Voice Remote — it works over Bluetooth (no line of sight needed), has voice search, and controls your TV’s power and volume. The Express 4K’s Simple Remote is infrared only: you must point it at the box, there is no voice, and you still need your TV remote for volume.
- Wi-Fi range: the Stick 4K has a long-range Wi-Fi receiver built into its power cable, giving roughly double the wireless range. If your router is in another room, this is the difference between smooth 4K and buffering.
Roku Express 4K — £39.99
The Express 4K is the cheapest way to get 4K Roku in the UK. It is a small box that sits by your TV and connects with an HDMI cable. Performance is snappy for the price, and every app runs in 4K HDR.
Pros
- Cheapest 4K Roku at £39.99
- 4K + HDR10/HDR10+ picture
- Same Roku OS and apps as pricier models
- Simple, reliable, easy to set up
Cons
- No Dolby Vision
- Basic IR remote — no voice, no TV controls
- Standard Wi-Fi range
- Box + cable is less tidy than a stick
Roku Streaming Stick 4K — £49.99
The Streaming Stick 4K is the sweet spot of the Roku range. It plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port and disappears behind the screen. You get Dolby Vision, the excellent Voice Remote, and long-range Wi-Fi — the three upgrades that justify the £10.
Pros
- Dolby Vision + HDR10/HDR10+
- Voice remote with TV power and volume controls
- Long-range Wi-Fi for routers in other rooms
- Stick design hides behind the TV
Cons
- £10 more than the Express 4K
- No Ethernet option (Wi-Fi only)
Roku Express 4K vs Streaming Stick 4K: Full Comparison (2026)
| Spec | Express 4K | Streaming Stick 4K |
|---|---|---|
| UK price | £39.99 | £49.99 |
| Design | Small box + HDMI cable | Stick, plugs into HDMI directly |
| Max resolution | 4K | 4K |
| HDR | HDR10, HDR10+ | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band 802.11ac | Dual-band + long-range receiver |
| Remote | Simple IR remote | Voice Remote (Bluetooth) |
| Voice search | No | Yes |
| TV power/volume buttons | No | Yes |
| Ethernet option | Yes, via adapter | No |
| OS and apps | Roku OS, same apps | Roku OS, same apps |
| Best for | Budget / second TV | Main TV / best value |
Which Should You Buy?
- Main living room TV: Streaming Stick 4K. The voice remote alone is worth £10 — one remote instead of two, every day.
- Bedroom or kitchen TV: Express 4K is fine, especially if the router is nearby.
- Dolby Vision TV owners: Streaming Stick 4K, no question. The Express 4K cannot use your TV’s best HDR format.
- Weak Wi-Fi: Streaming Stick 4K. The long-range receiver is built for exactly this.
- Tightest budget: Express 4K. It is still a great 4K streamer for £39.99.
Roku Express 4K vs Stick 4K: Your Questions Answered
Is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K worth £10 more than the Express 4K?
Yes. Dolby Vision, a voice remote with TV controls, and long-range Wi-Fi are worth far more than £10 over the life of the device.
Do both support 4K?
Yes, both output 4K. The difference is HDR: the Stick 4K adds Dolby Vision on top of HDR10/HDR10+.
Which Roku remote is better?
The Stick 4K’s Voice Remote. It works over Bluetooth (no pointing needed), searches by voice, and controls your TV’s power and volume — so you can ditch the TV remote.
Can the Express 4K use Ethernet?
Yes, with an optional USB Ethernet adapter. The Stick 4K is Wi-Fi only, but its long-range receiver usually makes that a non-issue.
Do they have the same apps?
Yes. Every Roku device runs the same Roku OS with the same app selection: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, NOW, BBC iPlayer, ITVX and thousands more.
Which is better for a bedroom TV?
The Express 4K is fine for a bedroom, especially if the router is close. But if the £10 does not matter, the Stick 4K’s voice remote is just as nice in bed.
Related Guides
- Roku vs Apple TV: Which Should You Buy?
- Best Budget Streaming Device UK
- Roku Remote Not Working: Every Fix
Final Verdict: Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs Express 4K
Buy the Streaming Stick 4K at £49.99. It is the best-value Roku in the UK: Dolby Vision, a voice remote that replaces your TV remote, and Wi-Fi that reaches the router in the next room.
Buy the Express 4K at £39.99 only when the budget is absolute, or for a secondary TV where its missing features will never be noticed.
My final word: £10 is one takeaway. The Stick 4K’s upgrades pay you back every day for years. This is the easiest £10 upgrade in streaming.
