Roku is quietly gifting away a free HDMI accent

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

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

In case you’re not aware of what an HDMI extender does, it is a brief 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 area between your TV and the system. So in case your TV’s HDMI port is awkward to achieve or too near different ports to plug the stick in immediately, the additional room the extender creates makes the stick simpler to entry — and in some instances, it might probably even enhance its efficiency thanks to higher airflow.

Nonetheless, whereas Roku would not embody a free HDMI extender within the field while you purchase one among its streaming sticks — just like the Roku Streaming Stick or Roku Streaming Stick Plus — that does not imply you may’t nonetheless get one at no cost. As an alternative 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 you need to do is request one, and Roku will mail it out to you freed from cost.

How you can 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 straightforward and requires solely filling out a short online form. It is value noting that you will want to personal a Roku Streaming Stick with qualify for the free HDMI extender. With that in thoughts, earlier than you get began with the shape, you’ll need to seek out your Roku’s serial quantity. There are just a few methods to seek out it.

The best means is to examine the again of your Roku Streaming Stick, the place the serial quantity is often labeled “SN:” (as seen within the picture above).

Alternatively, in the event you use the Roku cellular app, you may go to the Units web page, faucet the three dots subsequent to your streaming stick, and choose View System Data to seek out the serial quantity. Or, yow will discover it immediately in your TV by going to the Roku residence display and choosing 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 in 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, after all, is that if somebody does find yourself needing one, they’re now caught ready for it to be mailed to them.

To be honest to Roku, its newest streaming sticks are fairly slim, so most individuals possible will not run into points the place it would not match and would wish an HDMI extender within the first place. That stated, as somebody who usually 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 achieve, so I can see how it will be helpful if Roku included it within the field, because it provides individuals the choice whether or not they need 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 Fireplace TV Stick. In case you already know you will want an HDMI extender, you is likely to be higher off with a Fireplace TV Stick than a Roku. However in the event you do not care about having one — or know you will not want it — then this actually is not an enormous deal to request one at no cost as an alternative of getting it within the field.