Roku Streaming Stick+ vs Google TV Streamer: best buy for UK streamers

Display

Both products support 4K HDR streaming, so on pure picture output they can both deliver excellent results on a good TV and broadband connection. In practice, the difference is less about maximum resolution and more about how consistently each device handles modern streaming apps and interface responsiveness while you browse. The Google TV Streamer (4K) has the advantage here because it is a newer, more premium streamer with a more capable platform and 32 GB of storage, which helps keep apps ready to go and reduces the friction of switching between services. Winner: Google TV Streamer (4K).

Performance

This is where the gap becomes more obvious. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is a very capable streamer, but it is designed around simplicity and low cost, not raw speed or extra features. The Google TV Streamer (4K) is explicitly marketed as a fast streaming entertainment device, and its 32 GB storage gives it far more room for apps, updates, and smoother day-to-day use. If you like jumping between Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, YouTube, and live TV apps, Google’s box is the stronger performer. Winner: Google TV Streamer (4K).

Build quality and design

The Roku Streaming Stick+ wins on compactness. It is a tiny stick that hides behind the TV, making it ideal if you want a clean setup with almost no visible hardware. The included voice remote with TV power and volume is practical and keeps things simple. The Google TV Streamer (4K), by contrast, is a larger set-top style device in Porcelain, so it takes up more space but feels more like a premium home hub. It also has a more substantial design and is better suited to a main living room system. For minimalism and easy installation, Roku wins; for premium build and a more substantial device, Google wins. Overall winner: tie, depending on your setup.

Battery life

Neither product is a battery-powered device, so this category is really about remote convenience and how often you’ll be changing batteries or dealing with power issues. Both come with voice remotes, and both support TV power and volume control, which reduces remote clutter. Roku’s remote is straightforward and tends to be less fussy, while Google’s remote is integrated into a more advanced ecosystem. Because there’s no meaningful device battery advantage here, the result is effectively a tie. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

This is the biggest difference and the clearest win in the whole comparison. The Roku Streaming Stick+ costs £39.98, while the Google TV Streamer (4K) costs £99.00, a difference of £59.02. Roku also has a huge review base at 4.7/5 from 121,370 reviews, which suggests it has proven reliability and broad appeal. Google’s 4.6/5 from 6,171 reviews is strong, but you are paying well over double for a device that, for many buyers, won’t deliver double the real-world benefit. If your goal is simply to add 4K HDR streaming to a TV and keep costs down, Roku is the best value by a long way. Winner: Roku Streaming Stick+.

Game library/features

Neither product is a gaming-first device, so this category is really about ecosystem features, app support, and extras. The Google TV Streamer (4K) has the edge because Google TV offers a richer content-discovery experience, voice search, live TV integration, and smart home control. The 32 GB storage also means more room for apps and services, which matters if you want a more complete entertainment hub. Roku is excellent for straightforward streaming and is easier to live with if you just want the main UK apps without fuss, but Google’s broader feature set is stronger. Winner: Google TV Streamer (4K).

Overall user experience

Roku is the better choice for people who want a simple, reliable, low-cost streamer that gets out of the way and just works. It is especially appealing if you mainly want to watch the big UK and global streaming apps and don’t care about smart-home extras. Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better choice if you want a more premium interface, faster-feeling hardware, more storage, and smart-home control in one box. It is also the better pick for households that use lots of streaming services and want a more polished, centralised entertainment experience.

Overall summary: the Roku Streaming Stick+ is the smarter buy for most UK viewers because it delivers the core streaming experience for much less money. The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better product on features and performance, but only if you’ll actually use those extras enough to justify the £59.02 premium. If you want the best balance of cost, simplicity, and proven satisfaction, Roku wins. If you want the most complete living-room streamer and don’t mind paying for it, Google is the upgrade.