Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs Roku XD (2050)

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Streaming Stick 4K compared with XD (2050)

	RokuStreaming Stick 4K	RokuXD (2050)
Overview
Released
Released	October 2021	September 2010
Video and audio
Resolution
Resolution	4K (better)	1080p
HDR
HDR	Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG (better)	None
Video
Video	Up to 2160p at 60 fps (3840 × 2160) with up-scaling from 720p and 1080p; needs HDCP 2.2 for 4K	1080p through HDMI; standard-definition composite output. AnandTech reports 1080p24 and 1080p30, without 1080p60
HDR
HDR	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG up to 60 fps	–
Audio
Audio	Digital stereo over HDMI; DTS Digital Surround and Dolby-encoded audio pass-through over HDMI (Roku's UK spec doesn't list Dolby Atmos)	Analogue stereo through RCA; HDMI supports 5.1 surround sound where available according to the original maker guide
Performance
Software
Software	Roku OS	Roku OS
Chip details
Chip details	Quad-core Arm Cortex-A55; Roku quotes up to 30% faster boot than before	MIPS at 400 MHz in Roku's Pico/2050X developer row; NXP PNX8935 identified in AnandTech's exact XD teardown
Memory
Memory	1 GB	256 MB in Roku's exact 2050X/2050N developer row
Software and services
Software and services	–	Roku lists OS 3.1 as the last compatible version for 2050X and 2050N. Service support depends on region and software; this is the original XD rather than the later Roku 2 XD
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 4
Ethernet
Ethernet	No	Yes
Voice remote
Voice remote	Yes	No
Ports
Ports	HDMI 2.0b; USB for power and the long-range Wi-Fi receiver	HDMI, Ethernet, composite video, left/right RCA analogue audio and power; no component video, optical audio or USB media port
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	802.11ac dual-band MIMO Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) with long-range receiver	Extended-range wireless-N; 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n verified in the exact-model reviews, without the XDS model's dual-band radio
Smart home
Smart home	Works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, Google Home and Alexa	–
Remote
Remote	Voice remote with TV power, volume and mute buttons; two pre-installed AAA batteries	Original infrared remote with Back, Options and Instant Replay, which replays the last seven seconds; no microphone or headphone socket
Design
Type
Type	Stick	Box
Power
Power	5 V, 1 A; under 3.5 W typical when streaming 4K; power adaptor included	–
Size
Size	3.7 × 0.80 × 0.45 in; 26.0 g	–
In the box
In the box	Roku Streaming Stick 4K, voice remote, two AAA batteries, USB power cable with long-range Wi-Fi receiver, power adaptor	Player, infrared remote, two AAA batteries, power adaptor, RCA video/stereo cable, Getting Started Guide and Important Product Information; HDMI and Ethernet cables sold separately