At 0.7 x 3.4 x 1.4 inches (H x W x D), it’s almost the same size as the original Roku Streaming Stick, and funnily enough, it’s even smaller than the included remote. The advantage of the small form factor, however, is that you can slip it into a pocket or store it on your media shelf without it taking up too much space. Roku also includes a two-meter HDMI cable, a remote control, and double-sided tape in each package, which you can use to mount the Express 4K+ to your TV or to any surface. The inclusion of all these accessories is actually a bit surprising – while other manufacturers are all too happy to send you out the door without the necessary equipment, the Roku Express 4K+ is a complete kit. If there’s a better-featured app store on a set-top box, we’d love to see it. Roku may not have literally everything, but this is as close as it gets. Roku has more than 4,500 channels, ranging from major streaming services like Netflix, HBO and Vudu to more obscure channels – there’s even a channel called “The Fireworks Channel” – so finding something to watch is rarely a problem. The latest addition to the Roku channel lineup is HBO Max, which is finally available after lengthy contract negotiations. To download the app, go to the “Featured” section of the channel store or search for “HBO Max” via the Roku voice remote or the Roku app on your mobile device. Once downloaded, follow the on-screen instructions to log in through your provider or enter your username and password. When starting up the Roku Express 4K+, you must first sign in to a Roku account before you can choose which streaming service to have pre-installed on the device. Switching from one app to another is pretty quick, and there’s only a second or two of waiting for a menu of images to appear. However, how fast streams are buffered and menus are filled with images depends on the speed of your Internet connection – so make sure you pay for more than 15 Mbps before you buy a 4K streaming device.
