The best streaming TV devices, from sticks to TV boxes

Many phones, tablets, and computers can run the most popular streaming TV and movie apps, including Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and many more. The thing is, without a dedicated 4K TV streaming device connected to the largest screen in your home, your viewing experience may not be as good as it could be.

If you take your couch time and entertainment seriously, buying a TV stick or streaming box is a smart idea. Our picks below are the newest, fastest, and most feature-packed models on the market, and they let you do more than just watch TV. Some let you control your smart home accessories, like light bulbs or smart speakers, and some are surprisingly great for gaming.

Our team is always on top of curating the best TV shows and movies to watch, and now, this guide should help you find the best tool to view them all. But first, if you’re new to this type of technology, here’s a summary of the main ways the options below differ from one another.

The best TV broadcast sticks and boxes

Apple TV 4K

The latest Apple TV 4K is, as they say with every new release, the best yet. In addition to some performance improvements over the previous generation (which was really fast), Apple’s new streaming box offers more for less.

Apple has doubled the base storage from 32GB to 64GB in the new $129 for Apple TV 4K The model, which is crucial for Samsung TV owners – its support for 4K HDR video playback finally includes the HDR 10 Plus, as well as support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10. In terms of sound, it does support Dolby Atmos in the content it supports, though you’ll need to A sound system compatible with this format.

Apple TV 4K includes a free three-month trial of Apple TV Plus with purchase. If you want more storage and some new features, the $149 The 128GB model adds an Ethernet port, as well as Thread support, which turns the Apple TV 4K into a thread hub for some smart home accessories.

Not surprisingly, the Apple TV 4K is suitable for people who own one or more Apple devices. It is currently the only streaming device that can play Apple Arcade games (file DualSense on PS5 And Xbox Wireless Controller Both are compatible), and offers integration with HomeKit, Apple’s smart home protocol that lets Siri control other HomeKit-compatible devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network. However, you will need to provide it yourself HDMI cableas one is not included in the box.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Google? To access content purchased through Google TV or Google Play Movies, download Youtube on your Apple TV 4K, then sign in to the app with the account that contains your purchases. They will wait in the “Library” section of the app.
• How do I access TV shows and movies I purchased through Amazon? They will be waiting for you at Prime Video app, once you’re signed in on your Apple TV 4K.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Amazon’s top streaming device, which is Fire TV Cube, is a fast, capable option that shares some — but not all — of the same features as the Apple TV 4K. It can stream TV shows and movies in 4K on all streaming services, with support for Dolby Vision HDR, HDR 10, HDR 10 Plus, and Dolby Atmos sound.

While the Apple TV 4K offers more internal storage for games and other downloads, that’s clearly not Amazon’s focus, as it only has 16GB of storage. However, the Fire TV Cube is a slightly cheaper option that offers more ports, including an HDMI out, an HDMI in, an ethernet port, USB-A for accessories such as a webcam, and a slot for an infrared extender. Plus, it can connect to the latest and fastest Wi-Fi 6E wireless routers. Note the infrared extender And HDMI cable Are the things you have to buy on the side.

In addition to being your go-to streaming TV, Amazon also intends for you to use it on the side like an Alexa-enabled speaker. There is literally a speaker inside the streaming device. Both the Fire TV Cube remote control and cube have microphones, so they can pick up when you use Alexa’s wake word to ask a question, play a song, or display footage of your Ring doorbell on the big screen.

For gaming, this streaming device is compatible with Amazon Luna and Amazon.com observer. The game streaming service has a growing collection of titles that can be played on demand on your TV.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Google? To access content purchased through Google TV or Google Play Movies, download YouTube to your Fire TV Cube, then sign in to the app with the account that contains your purchase. They will wait in the “Library” section of the app.
• How do I access TV shows and movies that I purchased through Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you’re signed in with your linked account.

Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

Google’s latest Chromecast offers plenty of functionality at an affordable price. The cost of this HDMI stick $49And, in particular, it’s the first model to ship with a dedicated voice-enabled remote (previous versions relied on your phone to act as a backup remote). Through its Google TV interface, you can access all available streaming services, and you can watch in 4K HDR, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10, and HDR 10 Plus. It can also provide Dolby Atmos content if you have a compatible audio setup.

Just like previous Chromecast models, this model lets you cast content from multiple apps, as well as through the Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers, making it easy to transfer video and audio from one screen to another, regardless of whether you’re using Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS. In terms of smart home capabilities, it can play music along with Google Home speakers and smart displays, and you can pull Nest Cam footage onto your screen if you have a Nest home security camera or doorbell.

Chromecast does not provide any additional ports; It plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, and gets power through the USB-C port. However, it does support some game controllers via bluetooth, and you can use one of them with games. Google Play Store offers Nvidia GeForce NowAnd steam linkand other gaming apps, so you can stream games online. This model has 8GB of onboard storage.

In terms of downsides, navigating the operating system can be a bit slow at times. However, video playback is smooth. If you need more bandwidth for your broadcasts, Google sells a Ethernet power adapter For this particular Chromecast.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Amazon? To access content purchased through Amazon Prime, download Prime Video on your Chromecast.
• How do I access TV shows and movies that I purchased through Apple? They will be waiting for you at Apple TV Plus application, once you are logged in with your linked account.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers many of the same features as the Fire TV Cube, including its interface, but at a much lower cost. this $54.99 The HDMI stick is a step above the latest Chromecast in a few ways that may or may not matter to you. It’s faster, and it supports Wi-Fi 6 routers, which are growing in popularity and availability (file Aero 6 and the Google Nest WiFi Pro Just two examples).

These differences aside, it supports the same HDR standards, including Dolby Vision, HDR 10 Plus, and HDR 10. It can output Dolby Atmos audio as well. Like the Chromecast, it includes a voice-enabled remote control with infrared support, and it also has just 8GB of storage. It also includes an HDMI extender to make it easy to connect it to your TV’s HDMI port, should your TV be wall-mounted or hard to reach.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Google? To access content purchased through Google TV or Google Play Movies, download YouTube to your Fire TV Stick 4K Max, then sign in to the app with the account that contains your purchase. They will wait in the “Library” section of the app.
• How do I access TV shows and movies that I purchased through Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you’re signed in with your linked account.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K (top) next to Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for expansion.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Roku’s high-end streaming TV stick offers value where its competitors can’t match. At $49.99, it’s a great deal if you want an HDMI stick that’s capable of compatibility with all the major streaming apps, and has such extensive 4K HDR support that every HDR-ready TV will shine. And if you want to cast content from your Apple or Android phone or tablet, this Roku model supports AirPlay, Google Cast, and screen mirroring across Windows.

Roku’s streaming devices offer more customization than you’ll get from other companies. There’s plenty of free content you can stream on demand (quality varies widely), and you can install one of several screensavers, including the ever-popular Rocco City screen saver. And if you download the Roku mobile app to your phone or tablet, pairing a set of wireless or wired headphones with it can let you listen to your TV’s audio privately.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Google? To access content purchased through Google TV or Google Play Movies, download Youtube on your Roku device, then sign in to the app with the account that has your purchases. They will wait in the “Library” section of the app.
• How do I access TV shows and movies that I purchased through Apple? They will be waiting for you at Apple TV Plus application, once you are logged in with your linked account.
• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Amazon? To access content purchased through Amazon Prime, download Prime Video on your Roku device.

This tube-shaped end of the Shield TV features an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a remote search button.

Nvidia Shield TV

Nvidia’s lineup of Shield set-top boxes has remained a popular choice over the years, though the company rarely releases updated models. That’s in part because each one features Nvidia’s fairly powerful Tegra X1 Plus chip, supports storage expansion, and continues to receive software updates long after its launch in 2019.

Nvidia currently has two models on the market, which differ in price, size, and capabilities. The Shield tube TV does not feature the ability to play 4K HDR content with support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10 (without HDR 10 Plus). Impressively, however, this little device has an ethernet port, a microSD card slot, and built-in AI chopping for upscaling HD content to 4K. It also includes a voice-enabled remote control.

It runs on Google Android TV (similar to the newer Google TV interface), so you can access the full catalog of Play Store apps, letting you choose from the most popular streaming apps, as well as access Steam Link and Nvidia’s GeForce Now game streaming service. Shield TV is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to integrate it into your smart home if you want.

Shield TV Pro highest price vs $199.99 It has the same processor, but benefits from more RAM for a slightly faster experience (3GB versus 2GB in the tube-shaped Shield TV). It also has 16GB of storage by default, but you can connect a flash drive or portable hard drive to one of its three USB-A ports to add even more storage. Otherwise, there aren’t many other reasons to pay more for a larger TV streamer.

• How do I access shows and movies I’ve purchased through Amazon? To access content purchased through Amazon Prime, download Prime Video on your Nvidia product.
• How do I access TV shows and movies that I purchased through Apple? They will be waiting for you at Apple TV Plus application, once you are logged in with your linked account.

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