When it comes to media-streaming devices, Roku is a well-respected name, with many customers preferring its products due to the features that they offer at an affordable price.
However, as a consumer considering the purchase of a Roku device, one of the most important questions that may come to your mind is: how much power does a Roku use?
By knowing how much power a Roku uses, you can save money on your electricity bills, compare it to other options on the market in order to make a better purchasing decision, and contribute to a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
In this blog post, I will answer your question and provide detailed information about the power consumption of various Roku models, both while they’re fully up and running, as well as when they’re in standby mode.
After that, I will show you the various factors that determine the power consumption and also provide various tips to help you reduce the power consumption on a Roku device.
First, how is the power consumption measured?
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What Power Consumption Means?
In a nutshell, power consumption refers to the amount of electrical energy that an electrical device consumes over a period of time in order to run completely or perform specific tasks.
As a result, the more power a device requires to function, the more electricity it consumes.
Typically, devices’ power consumption is measured in Watts (W), and it refers to the rate at which a device draws electrical energy from a power source.
For example, a 100-watt light bulb consumes 100 Watts of electrical energy every hour it is switched on.
How Much Power Does a Roku Use? (All Models)
As you already know, Roku offers a range of models each one comes with its own set of features, and capabilities, and the more advanced and capability-rich a device is, the higher its power consumption is likely to be.
So the power usage of Roku devices is not the same, and it differs depending on the model itself.
Here is how much power every available Roku model use:
Note: the information provided in this section is based on the Official Roku website, and on the ENERGY STAR test results since Roku products are ENERGY STAR Certified.
1. Roku Ultra
The Power Usage During Operation: When the device is up and running fully, and providing one or more primary functions such as streaming a 4K video, Roku Ultra will use around 3.82 to 4.5 Watts of power.
The Roku Ultra is known to be a more advanced model than other models, that’s why it consumes more power.
The Power Usage in Standby Mode: When a device is in standby/sleep mode, it has entered a low-power state in which it is turned off but still connected to its power source.
In this case, the device may still provide some basic functions, such as clocks, the remote control ON/OFF function, and some internal sensors.
So, according to the ENERGY STAR test results, Roku Ultra consumes 0.0 (zero) Watts of power, meaning no power usage, when it’s in sleep/standby mode.
2. Roku Express 4K & 4K+
The Power Usage During Operation: These models, Roku Express 4K and 4K+, are designed to be more power-efficient when they are ON and performing one or more primary functions, such as streaming 4K UHD videos, and therefore consume between 1.9 and 2.5 Watts of power when in operation.
The Power Usage in Standby Mode: However, even when the Roku Express 4K and 4K+ are in sleep or standby mode, they continue to use up to 1.5 Watts of power.
3. Roku Streaming Stick 4K & 4K+
The Power Usage During Operation: When streaming 4K UHD videos (or performing a main function), the power consumption of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and 4K+ ranges from 2.39 to 3.5 Watts.
The Power Usage in Standby Mode: You’ll be surprised to know that the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and 4K+ still use around 1.86 Watts of electricity while they are in sleep or standby mode, according to the results of an ENERGY STAR test.
4. Roku Express
The Power Usage During Operation: When performing basic streaming tasks with a Roku Express, which will be in high-definition resolution, it will use about 2.08 Watts of power.
The Power Usage in Standby Mode: In sleep mode, Roku Express will continue to consume around 1.73 Watts of power, which is quite an amount given that sleep or standby mode is supposed to keep the device in a low-power state.
5. Roku Ultra LT
The Power Usage During Operation: Along with the Roku Ultra, the Roku Ultra LT is an ultra-powerful 4K streaming player with more advanced capabilities than basic Roku models; as a result, it consumes around 3.36 Watts of power.
The Power Usage in Standby Mode: When Roku Ultra LT is in sleep mode and maintaining just the essential functions only, the test results show that it uses no power or 0.0 Watts.
Which Roku Player Is the Most Costly to Operate
The next thing that may come to mind after discovering how much power most Roku models use is: how much each one will cost to operate, ideally on an annual basis.
To answer this question, you must first be aware of this basic equation:
Annual Cost = Annual Energy Usage in kWh × Cost per kWh.
Second, you need to know the estimated annual energy consumption of each Roku model for a typical user, which you can find on the ENERGY STAR test results, as well as the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your country or region—the United States as an example.
Now, by performing the calculations on each Roku model, you can determine how much it will cost to operate yearly:
Annual Cost of Roku Ultra = 13.94 kWh/year × $0.17/kWh = Around $2.36 per year.
Annual Cost of Roku Express 4K & 4K+ = 15.18 kWh/year × $0.17/kWh = Around $2.58 per year.
Annual Cost of Roku Streaming Stick 4K & 4K+ = 19.01 kWh/year × $0.17/kWh = Around $3.23 per year.
Annual Cost of Roku Express = 16.94 kWh/year × $0.17/kWh = Around $2.87 per year.
Annual Cost of Roku Ultra LT = 12.26 kWh/year × $0.17/kWh = Around $2.08 per year.
6 Factors That Affect How Much Power Roku Devices Use
Customers frequently attribute all power consumption to the device itself generally, overlooking the fact that there’re many hidden factors that can drastically affect how much power a Roku device will consume.
The following 6 major factors will all have an impact on how much power Roku devices use:
- How do you use the device: You already know that if you leave your Roku device running all day long, it will consume significantly more power than if you only leave it turned on for a few hours a day.
- The resolution quality: Streaming a 4K Ultra HD video will demand more resources than streaming a video in standard definition.
- The environmental conditions: A Roku device’s energy consumption will increase if it is kept in a hot or high-humidity room as opposed to a cold or dry one.
- The device’s configuration: the power consumption will increase when advanced audio or picture settings are enabled, such as the auto-adjust display refresh rate.
- The network connectivity: You may not be aware of this, but the reliability and speed of your Wi-Fi connection can have an impact on how much power is used to transmit data, as a poor network connection necessitates more attempts, which uses more power.
- Standby mode: As you have already seen in the earlier Energy Star test results when some Roku devices go into standby mode, they consume no power at all.
6 Tips to Reduce Roku’s Power Usage
Here are 6 helpful tips to help you reduce the power consumption of Roku devices and pretty much any other electronic gadget in your home:
- When you’re not using your Roku device, turn it off completely by unplugging it from the power source, and avoid leaving it in sleep or standby mode, as it may continuously waste power despite being “turned off.”
- Movies don’t have to be streamed all the time in 4K at 100% brightness. Although this may add a touch of fun to the experience, but it will force your Roku device to double its power usage.
- Ensure that power-consuming features, such as voice control, screen mirroring, game modes, and auto-adjust display refresh rate, are disabled.
- Roku, like all smart devices, should have its firmware regularly updated so that it can benefit from the the latest performance and power-saving features.
- Ensure that Auto power savings or any other Standby mode feature is activated on your Roku so that it turns off automatically after a specified period of inactivity.
- Overheating electronics always results in an increase in power consumption (just observe what your laptop does when it’s hot), so keep your Roku device in a cold room away from heat sources, and clean its vents regularly.
Conclusion
Streaming players like Roku may be considered “low-power devices,” but they still use a fair amount of electricity, which will not only affect your wallet but also our planet.
For this reason, knowing how much power your Roku device—and pretty much any other electronic device—consumes is a must for everyone.
Moreover, being aware of and implementing any practice that helps reduce the power consumption of your electronics will save you money and contribute to a greener planet.