Roku produces some of the cheapest, most approachable streaming devices on the market. Its tiny streaming sticks are especially easy to forget about when they’re plugged into the back of your TV, but Roku OS is as powerful as it is simple. That simplicity means we don’t see major software overhauls all that often, and the hardware you bought years ago might still be kicking just fine in its HDMI port.
The most recent Roku streaming device to hit the market in 2025 was the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which retails for just $40. However, the company has released more than a dozen other devices focused on streaming over the years, some of which are reaching “ancient” status. And we all know that when cheap tech starts to reach a certain age, it usually fizzles out in one way or another.
While saying a streaming stick can “expire” is a little dramatic (it isn’t suddenly going to ooze glowing green goo or start emitting a nasty sour smell like milk), it can sure become as useless as a gallon of expired milk. Some older Roku devices reach an age where they become “legacy” devices, which means that they aren’t on the guest list for new Roku OS updates. Just because they can’t show up to the software party doesn’t mean they stop working immediately, but it does mean that certain app support, general performance, and overall reliability on your device goes out the window.