Roku takes on Chromecast with new $49.99 dongle

Many of you who read this site for any length of time have probably realized that I absolutely love Google’s Chromecast streaming dongle – it’s cheap, it’s reliable, and practically all of the media partners I use are on board (Netflix, YouTube, etc.).

Apparently, Roku is feeling the heat.

Earlier today, Roku announced the new Roku Streaming Stick, which brings all of the functionality of a full-sized Roku box into a form factor practically identical to the Chromecast. Sure, this isn’t the first streaming stick Roku has created – but this one is half the price, at only $50, and it is now compatible with all televisions that have an HDMI input, not just MHL-compatible TVs.

The Streaming Stick is just over 3 inches long, and it does include a micro-USB port to power it if necessary, just like the Chromecast. Some things it has that the Chromecast doesn’t are a traditional remote control, an on-screen user interface, and access to all of Roku’s 1,200 apps (or channels).

Output maxes out at 1080p (sorry, no 4k quite yet), and it is compatible with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz).

Who’s planning on picking one of these up?

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