Roku Streaming Stick review: The $49 Roku Streaming Stick gives its user the overall Roku box experience in one compact device. The unit, which basically has a Micro-USB port, small indicator light, and a tiny button, delivers 1,200 aps including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, and Hulu Plus.

The Roku Streaming Stick offers a lot of apps, plus a real remote and a polished onscreen interface that includes cross-platform search. The device also access to the biggest library of apps available for such streaming gadgets.

According to CNET, one of “The Good” things about the Roku Streaming Stick is that it has a cross-platform search function that combs through several major TV and movie services to find content. Unlike its competing device, Chromecast, the device has a real remote and an onscreen interface, which tends to work better in the living room.

The tech site said that some of the downsides of the Roku Streaming Stick include Netflix and YouTube taking too long to boot up. The remote also does not have a neat headphone jack feature, which is available on the Roku 2 and Roku 3, and makes private TV viewing more convenient.

In the $50 or less category of streaming sticks, however, the new Roku Stick is much better than the Chromecast for those who want to take advantage of the expanded content offerings or prefer a regular remote. Though the Roku Stick and Chromecast look similar, their approach to navigation and finding content is different.

In terms of design, there’s not much else to the Roku Streaming Stick aside from a Micro-USB port, a small indicator light and a tiny button that you can use to reset the stick if it freezes up. The gadget is just over 3-inches long and easy to throw in a bag for traveling. CNET warns though that the hotel wi-fi may always play nice with media streamers, regardless of the brand.

Nonetheless, then Roku Streaming Stick still offers a lot of great apps, a real remote and a compact design for $50. But the slow boot up times, especially for famous video apps, keeps it from becoming the ultimate streamer it could have been.