4 Disadvantages of Streaming Sticks You Should Know Before Buying

With so many capable smart TVs, it’s become much harder to justify purchasing a streaming stick as your primary way to access your favorite apps, like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. So one of the questions becomes: what’s the point of buying a streaming device when you own a Smart TV? The Smart TV operating system should be able to install your apps and have the necessary hardware to run them properly.

But sometimes the built-in operating system of these TVs isn’t perfect, and running too many apps on it might slow it down, or at the very least, it’s more of a money-saving aspect, and you’re not willing to pay for the next hardware upgrade. This is where buying a streaming stick becomes a little more cost-effective, so you don’t need to write off your Smart TV as obsolete, even if the built-in software seems too slow.

Amazon and Roku have some really good options, and if you’re a Prime Day shopper, you can often find great deals on Amazon Fire Sticks that do a good job of staying under $50, which is the equivalent of a night out at a restaurant. Unfortunately, streaming sticks, while often much cheaper, come with a few caveats and aren’t always the ideal replacement for your TV’s built-in software. Additionally, some streaming devices are ranked lower than others based on their specifications, accessory support, and general app compatibility.

Basically, you get what you pay for when you buy a streaming device for around $30-$50. The hardware tends to be a bit weak, considering the limited space and very low RAM. For example, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD 2026 only has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. While it’s generally the least powerful of Amazon’s Fire Stick lineup, it’s also pretty comparable to what you’d get on a small power budget.

In comparison, you could look at high-end models, and you’d only get double the RAM and storage, which isn’t surprising. But these sticks do what they’re designed to do: streaming, so all you need is working software that can handle app downloads and support 1080p and 4K resolutions. So don’t expect this to be comparable to larger streaming devices, like dedicated boxes or your TV’s software; Unless they are high end, these sticks will perform much slower.

Streaming sticks rely on your Wi-Fi to get the most out of it. It’s great for using streaming apps and cheaper access to live TV, but unless you have the latest Wi-Fi standard paired with a decent home internet plan, your experience may vary. These sticks aren’t designed to be flexible, like downloading content from Netflix and watching it later – the offline download feature is only available if you’re using a Chromebook, tablet, or smartphone.

So your entire experience depends on your connection, but only for Wi-Fi. The streaming sticks don’t have an Ethernet port, so you can’t connect them, in case your router location provides a spotty and inconsistent connection. There are some local options you can use to stream your saved media (depending on the stick, whether it supports Plex or Kodi), and you can configure certain devices to mirror your phone’s screen – just be aware of the limitations and reduced functionality when doing so.

Many streaming sticks are designed to be plug-and-play. However, if you have specific models, you can find accessories that work with them but are somewhat specialized. It’s usually limited to adapters, power cables, and a few other gadgets, such as controllers and a mini keyboard. While it’s better than nothing, not all streaming sticks offer the same level of compatibility. So when you buy a particular model and want to change the remote, you’d better read the label to see if your key is supported.

Notably, a nice feature of Amazon and Roku Sticks is that both companies offer an app that turns your phone into a controller, if necessary. Although it depends on the streaming stick you buy, the company usually includes the accessories needed to make it work. For example, Amazon includes an optional HDMI extension cable, power adapter, and USB cable to make your purchased Fire TV Stick work with your TV. Roku, depending on the model, can receive one for free if you fill out the online form.

Streaming devices from Amazon, Roku, and even Google are designed to give you controlled access to apps within their respective ecosystems. No, it’s not impossible to acquire other apps — although there is a secret hack, but it has heavy restrictions and not all devices can do it. If you’re also using an Amazon Fire TV Stick with Vega OS installed, you’re out of luck: even apps like media players are flagged and blocked on the Fire TV Sticks themselves, because sideloading simply isn’t possible thanks to the required VPKG format instead of APKs.

Roku and Google Chromecast don’t face the same restrictions because they’re both based on Android; This mainly comes down to enabling developer options to get it working so you can install APKs. Remember that the streaming stick runs proprietary software, similar to a Smart TV, so you can’t make major changes like rearrange the home screen or change the operating system – you’re essentially stuck with the supplied UI – unless you try to jailbreak it to add a custom launcher. The problem is that some updates can actually break the launcher and crash it.