A "Roku Ready TV" is a marketing term for a television with a "Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)" which is a type of HDMI port with expanded capability to pass remote control signals through the port. As such, a Roku streaming stick can be attached and provide all of the advantages of a standalone Roku box, but without the need for a power plug and (more importantly) the TV remote is all that is necessary. At one ounce with no cables, it means that there is no interference with hanging the TV on the wall.
TV's with these MHL ports are coming down under $200, and Best Buy has reduced the price of the streaming sticks from $100 to $70.
I see little advantage to buying the cheaper Google Chromecast as it requires you to procure or tie up your phone or tablet.
But I would like to hear from someone who has bought one of these TV's and attached the Roku streaming stick. Any complaints?
Most reviews on Amazon are pretty positive, and many of the bad ones were by people trying to force the stick to work on an non-MHL HDMI port. But some people raised some realistic questions.
said by Amazon reviewers with negative comments :
(1) I've also found that it loses the wireless network every now and then so I have to push the reset button
(2) A universal remote can't be programmed for it like the other ROKU models
(3) Huge disappointment. Slow menus.
said by Amazon reviewers with positive comments :
(1)This is honestly the greatest thing, I've ever bought. I love everything about it, and when I was buying my TV one of the things that I specifically thought about was if it would be compatible with this device. It exceeds all expectations and having every ability of the top of the line roku box in the size of a flash drive is excellent design. No more cords, no more cable bills, buy this product.
(2)So happy, I bought another TV & Roku stick for another room.