Nab a Special Edition Roku SE for $25 on Black Friday

If you've been eyeing a Roku streamer, but didn't want to spend $50, the company has a Black Friday deal for you.

Roku this week unveiled a new, special-edition streaming box that will be available in "limited supply" for Black Friday weekend online and at select retailers. The Roku SE has a suggested price of $49.99, but will be slashed to just $25 for the most hyped shopping event of the year, making it the cheapest Roku player ever, the company said.

The Roku SE runs the company's newest "built-for-TV" operating system, Roku OS 7, which launched with its pricier 4K device. It offers 1080p video streaming with a "simple user interface," and gives you access to nearly 3,000 streaming channels, including 300,000 movies and TV episodes.

Search for movies, TV shows, actors, and directors across 20 top streaming channels and see your options sorted by price and availability. You can also follow and receive notifications for box office movies you want to watch.

The Roku SE is compatible with HDMI and analog TVs as well as the Roku Mobile app for iOS and Android, letting you search for, play, and control content on your TV right from your mobile device. You can also share content from your mobile device to the TV via the Roku Mobile app, and use the Roku SE outside your house with Hotel and Dorm Connect for quick wireless connectivity in locations that require Wi-Fi access credentials.

"The popularity of streaming to the TV continues to grow, and streaming players are sure to be at the top of many holiday wish lists," Roku Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Anderson said in a statement. "The Roku SE player sets a new precedent in streaming player value this Black Friday. From 4K UHD streaming with the new Roku 4 , to the simple and portable Roku Streaming Stick , to the affordable Roku SE; there's a Roku player for everyone."

Roku isn't the only company getting ready for Black Friday. Amazon last week launched a "Countdown Black Friday" sales event, offering discounts on electronics, video games, DVDs, and other items every day leading up to the big event on Nov. 27. Target and Walmart are also planning some pretty steep tech savings this Black Friday.

(For the best deals every day, check out TechBargains.com.)

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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