Today’s streaming devices are more than just tools for watching movies and TV shows. They also double as powerful smart home hubs that bring access to virtual assistants from Amazon, Apple, and Google. Translation? These devices help you seamlessly find content, look up important information, and even control connected home appliances, all with the power of your very own voice commands.
Added bonus: Streaming devices can help upgrade an older TV, too. They're a more affordable alternative to buying a new TV if you're just looking for some smart capabilities and access to streaming services.
To determine the best streaming devices worth buying, we thoroughly scrutinized products from today’s leading hardware manufacturers — Apple, Amazon, Google, NVIDIA, and Roku. Even TiVo, a brand that was famous long before streaming media became common, offers an up-to-date player with such functionality.
Because some devices offer limited access to streaming services, we only considered players that offer access to all of today's major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max, to name a few. We also looked for products that can display enhanced HDR (high dynamic range) content with more vibrant colors and deeper contrast levels.
The products' design, ease-of-use, and overall performance were also important bits that we carefully evaluated. The same goes for the quality of their bundled remote controls.
What to Consider
When shopping for a streaming device, you need to consider several important features, starting with 4K UHD streaming support. Now commonly available on all major streaming services, 4K content has four times as many pixels as Full HD video, resulting in a more detailed picture. If you don’t own a 4K TV, or even if picture quality isn't a top priority, it’s still wise to invest in a streaming device that supports this feature, as 4K will keep it from feeling outdated in the future.
Regardless of the price tag it rocks, every product we picked will deliver a smooth and stutter-free viewing experience over a Wi-Fi network. Still, it’s important to note that the more you spend on a streaming player, the faster and more fluid the interactions will be. Just like smartphones and laptops, top-tier streaming players have more powerful chips and faster overall performance.
All of the products on this list are compact and easy to set up — all you need is a TV with an onboard HDMI port. However, some players don’t come bundled with a cable, so if you don’t own one already, be prepared to spend a little extra. All of the devices we picked have a bundled remote that’s as easy to use as it gets (some even have customizable buttons), with the exception of the overly cluttered TiVo remote control.
Today’s streaming devices can deliver HDR10- and Dolby Vision-enhanced content, making the viewing experience even more dramatic on a compatible TV. In other words, when paired with the right audio hardware, our top picks will give you an even more immersive sound.
And then there’s the smart home integration to consider. The best streaming devices and players will also allow you to control your connected appliances with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri voice commands.
These are the best streaming sticks, boxes, and systems for your setup.
The latest Apple TV 4K is the absolute best streaming device worth your attention. It supports high-resolution streaming with HDR 10-and Dolby Vision-enhanced content, as well as Dolby Atmos sound. With tvOS on board, the device will also give you access to an outstanding selection of apps and games.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Apple TV 4K has a more powerful A12 Bionic chip and a redesigned, vastly better Siri remote control. To top things off, the media player also doubles as an Apple HomeKit hub, allowing you to interact with a multitude of connected appliances.
The NVIDIA Shield TV, powered by Google’s Android TV platform, is a solid alternative to my top pick from Apple. It has an impressively compact design, compatibility with Dolby Vision- and Dolby Atmos-enhanced content (HDR10 support is also on board), as well as a cutting-edge upscaling engine. The latter uses artificial intelligence to make the onscreen content look even better.
With the Google Assistant on board, the Shield TV will allow you to search for content, open apps, and control connected appliances with your voice. The media player is also compatible with Amazon Alexa voice commands.
For less than $40, the Roku Premiere will upgrade your current TV to a whole new viewing standard. The tiny media player (it’s smaller than the brand’s signature remote) is capable of streaming 4K content from all major streaming services. It also brings a vast selection of channels with free content.
The Roku Premiere is compatible with immersive audio standards, including Dolby Atmos. Thanks to Apple AirPlay support, it can easily stream onscreen content from an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac. The player can also work with Alexa, and Google Assistant commands.
The Alexa-powered Amazon Fire TV Cube allows you to fully control it with voice commands. This includes looking for and playing content, changing the volume, controlling connected appliances, and anything else you can think of. Amazon has accomplished this feat by equipping its range-topping player with eight far-field microphones, meaning that it will hear your commands even with the volume up.
There's also an option to disable the device's built-in microphones when necessary. Its retail package includes an Alexa voice remote, so you can control it like just about any Amazon Fire TV product.
The Chromecast with Google TV is a tiny streaming player with a discreet design and stellar performance. It can deliver 4K HDR content from all popular services, as well as from a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop. For less than $50, it is one of the best options for thrifty shoppers, especially if they use an Android smartphone.
The player supports all top-tier standards for HDR content. With the Google Assistant on board, the device allows users to search for content and control connected appliances with voice prompts. Its remote control has an adorable design and a built-in microphone.
The Roku Ultra is the brand’s finest, most feature-packed offering and we think it's easily the best streaming player $100 can buy. It's easy to install, intuitive to use, and capable of streaming 4K HDR content. The player is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, as well as Apple AirPlay wireless playback.
Roku’s signature remote control has support for voice commands, customizable shortcut buttons, and a built-in audio jack. The last bit allows you to connect wired headphones and enjoy content without bothering those around you. Plus, you’ll get a pair of wired earbuds with the product.
Designed to stay out of sight, the affordable Amazon Fire TV Stick will allow you to enjoy 4K HDR content, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision-enhanced titles from all major streaming services, including Netflix and Prime Video. Support for Dolby Atmos audio is also among the device's key features.
Powered by Amazon Alexa, the streaming player allows you to search for content and control your smart home gadgets via a dedicated voice button in its remote. The feature is really impressive, especially given how affordable the device is.
Easy setup and intuitive remote with tactile buttons
Offers access to all major streaming services
Bundled HDMI cable
Not compatible with HDR content
Key Features
• Streaming resolution: Full HD • HDR compatibility: No • Voice remote: No
The Roku Express HD will instantly transform your older TV into a modern entertainment powerhouse. The tiny gadget can stream Full HD content from all major services, and it comes with a ton of free content, courtesy of Roku's own channel. Of course, Roku's intuitive-to-use remote is also included.
It's important to note that the product does not support HDR-enhanced content. This is not a dealbreaker because it is best suited for older TVs that lack such capabilities. We like that, despite its impulse-buy price, the Roku Express comes bundled with a high-speed HDMI cable.
The TiVo Edge is a streaming player for those who like to record live TV and access streaming services in 4K resolution. Designed to replace a cable box, the device can simultaneously record up to six shows, then allow you to watch them on your own time and seamlessly skip commercials. But it's important to note that if you want to take advantage of the recording capabilities, it requires a $15-per-month TiVo subscription.
When it comes to streaming, the Edge can deliver Dolby Vision-enhanced content, as well as Dolby Atmos sound. TiVo’s instantly recognizable remote supports voice commands, but its design looks dated by today’s standards.
The Streaming Stick+ by Roku was designed to plug directly into the HDMI port of a compatible TV or monitor and stay out of sight. It can deliver 4K HDR content from all major streaming services, so it’s well-connected, too.
When it comes to HDR content, this reasonably priced media player supports only the HDR10 standard. Speedy dual-band Wi-Fi and Roku's easy-to-use remote control round up the small gadget's key features.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
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