Roku is quietly freely giving a free HDMI accent

What I actually like about streaming sticks is not only their affordability, but additionally how straightforward they’re to arrange. Specifically, with Amazon’s Hearth TV Sticks and Roku’s Streaming Sticks, all it’s important to do is plug the stick into your TV’s HDMI port, join it to energy, and comply with the simple on-screen directions to set it up. Then, increase, inside minutes of unboxing, you will be streaming.

That mentioned, there’s one small distinction within the setup between an Amazon Hearth TV Stick and a Roku Streaming Stick — and whereas it will not matter to everybody, it is nonetheless price stating. Amazon features a free HDMI extender within the field with all of its Hearth TV Sticks, whereas Roku does not.

If you happen to’re not accustomed to what an HDMI extender does, it is a quick cable that sits between your streaming stick and your TV’s HDMI port. The extender plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, with the streaming stick connecting to the opposite finish, making a little bit of house between your TV and the system. So in case your TV’s HDMI port is awkward to succeed in or too near different ports to plug the stick in straight, the additional room the extender creates makes the stick simpler to entry — and in some circumstances, it will probably even enhance its efficiency thanks to raised airflow.

Nevertheless, whereas Roku does not embrace a free HDMI extender within the field once you purchase considered one of its streaming sticks — just like the Roku Streaming Stick or Roku Streaming Stick Plus — that does not imply you’ll be able to’t nonetheless get one at no cost. As a substitute of together with it with each system, Roku presents HDMI extenders at no further value to customers who want them (through Cord Cutter News). All it’s important to do is request one, and Roku will mail it out to you freed from cost.

Easy methods to get a free HDMI extender from Roku

You simply must fill out a brief on-line kind

Fortunately, making use of for a free HDMI extender from Roku is easy and requires solely filling out a short online form. It is price noting that you’ll want to personal a Roku Streaming Persist with qualify for the free HDMI extender. With that in thoughts, earlier than you get began with the shape, you will have to search out your Roku’s serial quantity. There are a number of methods to search out it.

The simplest approach is to test the again of your Roku Streaming Stick, the place the serial quantity is normally labeled “SN:” (as seen within the picture above).

Alternatively, when you use the Roku cellular app, you’ll be able to go to the Gadgets web page, faucet the three dots subsequent to your streaming stick, and choose View System Data to search out the serial quantity. Or, you will discover it straight in your TV by going to the Roku dwelling display screen and deciding on Settings > System > About. From there, you will see the serial quantity listed under the mannequin identify.

Now that you’ve got your serial quantity, head to https://my.roku.com/hdmi. Then, merely fill out the shape on Roku’s web site that asks to your transport particulars and your system’s serial quantity, and Roku will mail you an HDMI extender freed from cost.

Roku’s method is totally different from Amazon’s

For higher or worse

Roku’s method to HDMI extenders is noticeably totally different from Amazon’s. The upside for Roku is that it cuts prices and is extra environmentally pleasant by not together with an HDMI extender within the field of all its streaming sticks. The draw back, in fact, is that if somebody does find yourself needing one, they’re now caught ready for it to be mailed to them.

To be truthful to Roku, its newest streaming sticks are fairly slim, so most individuals doubtless will not run into points the place it does not match and would wish an HDMI extender within the first place. That mentioned, as somebody who frequently makes use of a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, I exploit the free HDMI extender that got here with it just because it makes the system simpler to succeed in, so I can see how it could be helpful if Roku included it within the field, because it provides individuals the choice whether or not they wish to use it or not.

All in all, you probably have a Roku Streaming Stick and wish an HDMI extender, Roku makes it pretty straightforward to request one and have it shipped to you at no cost. Although it’s admittedly much less handy than Amazon’s method, the place an HDMI extender merely comes within the field with each Hearth TV Stick. If you happen to already know you will want an HDMI extender, you is likely to be higher off with a Hearth TV Stick than a Roku. However when you do not care about having one — or know you will not want it — then this actually is not a giant deal to request one at no cost as an alternative of getting it within the field.