I grabbed one for an old Toshiba TV last year (was also a $20-something on sale at CT as well, not sure the Roku model/type #).
Roku has come a long way in the last couple years, but it's still not perfect.
Support is still behind on several apps - There's still no Sportsnet app. It only recently got CTV & TSN. There's a CBC app of on-air streams, but no GEM.
Speaking of apps, they crash pretty frequently (more recently the Prime app a couple times a week, but it has happened to Netflix and Disney+ in the past) - Moreso on my Hisense with built-in Roku.
My opinion:
Apple TV Box/Nvidia Shield is best for obv reasons.
Chromecast is prob the best "cheap" option now that it's interface is built-in & you don't have to cast via a phone.
Roku next - It's clean, has 90% of apps supported, a few ads off to the side.
Firestick - Returned the one I tried. Good lord the ads and horrible UI (I've heard its better now, but for the same price, I'd get a Roku)
Roku has come a long way in the last couple years, but it's still not perfect.
Support is still behind on several apps - There's still no Sportsnet app. It only recently got CTV & TSN. There's a CBC app of on-air streams, but no GEM.
Speaking of apps, they crash pretty frequently (more recently the Prime app a couple times a week, but it has happened to Netflix and Disney+ in the past) - Moreso on my Hisense with built-in Roku.
My opinion:
Apple TV Box/Nvidia Shield is best for obv reasons.
Chromecast is prob the best "cheap" option now that it's interface is built-in & you don't have to cast via a phone.
Roku next - It's clean, has 90% of apps supported, a few ads off to the side.
Firestick - Returned the one I tried. Good lord the ads and horrible UI (I've heard its better now, but for the same price, I'd get a Roku)