It’s likely that you want to enhance your home entertainment if you’re looking for a new streaming device. The built-in operating system on your TV may no longer be adequate, or perhaps you’ve been using your phone or tablet instead for binge-watching sessions. At this point, streaming dongles like the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite and set-top boxes like the Apple TV 4K are commonplace, but it can be difficult to distinguish their differences. Additionally, they’re not the only devices that can bring your most recent Netflix infatuation to your TV.
How to choose a streaming gadget
When selecting a media streaming device, platform, cost, and what you currently have at home should be your top considerations. Currently, Roku, Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google TV are the most widely used streaming devices (which is an overlay on top of Android TV). The user interfaces of each one of them differ slightly, but they all provide a comparable selection of streaming services. Roku, for instance, uses a straightforward grid design, whereas Google TV and Fire TV place more emphasis on tailored recommendations.
The normal starting price for a streaming device is $30, and they can cost up to $200. (like the 64GB Apple TV 4K, for example). Sticks or dongles are typically less expensive whereas set-top boxes are more expensive. If you want Ethernet access, a streaming box is the better choice over a dongle. Additionally, certain models include quicker wireless connectivity and Ethernet ports. (Roku sticks lack Dolby Vision, whereas its set-top boxes support it.) A set-top box also has the advantage of being faster and simpler to upgrade in the future than earlier TV processors.
There are several further feature variations. For instance, Google TV uses Google Assistant, but Fire TV uses Alexa. In reality, it’s typically advisable to choose a gadget that is a part of a pre-decided ecosystem when it comes to products like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Therefore, if you currently use iTunes regularly, an Apple TV would be a better choice than a Fire TV. It goes without saying that this is not a hard-and-fast rule: If you rely more on a streaming service than on purchasing or renting shows, the ecosystem concern isn’t as pertinent. Later in this tutorial, we’ll delve deeper into each system’s specifics.
Here are some suggestions for the top streaming sticks and other affordable choices.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
It’s little wonder why the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, as well as prior models like the Streaming Stick+, has long been an Engadget favorite: It fits a ton of functionality into a portable and reasonably priced design. The most alternatives for streaming TV are available, and the user interface is simple. Simply plug it into your TV’s HDMI input and connect the power cable to the USB port on your TV to get it set up. The TV interface and Roku control can then be used to complete the remaining steps of the installation procedure.
As already noted, Roku offers a wide variety of entertainment. You can select from more than 500,000 movies and TV programs to stream, claims the business. Roku’s universal search, which can locate shows across numerous platforms without giving any one a higher priority, is another helpful tool. Amazon’s streaming service, in contrast, gives search results from its own Prime video service priority.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is excellent for individuals who wish to broadcast from Macs or iOS devices because it also supports Apple AirPlay 2. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K also supports Dolby Vision, HDR streaming, and 4K.
If you don’t want to bother other family members, you may appreciate Roku’s private-listening feature, which enables you to use headphones to watch shows. On both iOS and Android devices, the Roku TV app allows you to do this. The app can be used in place of the actual remote control. This is especially useful for entering login and password information because using a smartphone keyboard is far more convenient than hunting and pecking with the remote.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K can be controlled using voice commands in addition to the remote, allowing you to find your favorite shows, change the volume, or enable closed captioning.
Consider upgrading to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ if you want a better remote. With the exception of including the rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro, it includes all the functionality of the Streaming Stick 4K. Hey Roku, where’s my remote? will help you locate your missing remote. Additionally, a 3.5mm headphone connection is incorporated into the device, allowing you to use the private listening capability without an app. However, it costs roughly $20 more than the Streaming Stick 4K, so unless you absolutely require that fancy remote, we suggest the latter.
Chromecast with Google TV
Google’s Chromecast was a dongle without a remote for many years. It was only used to stream TV programming from a laptop or phone. But the new Chromecast with Google TV is quite different. It now has a dedicated remote control in addition to a brand-new menu layout and Google Assistant smarts. While the Roku may be our top choice overall, people who prefer a more customized interface and powerful voice commands should opt for the Google Chromecast.
The Google TV feature, which is essentially a redesigned version of Android TV, is the highlight of the new Chromecast. Based on your viewing preferences, the home screen is customized. There are category headers like “Continue watching” and “Popular on Google,” as well as a moving carousel of trending shows and hand-picked top picks. The “Continue Watching” row is something we particularly value because it provides a simple way to catch up on television you were, you guessed it, already watching.
Additionally, there are algorithmically created suggestions like “Shows about aliens” or “Shows about murder.” The majority of the suggested shows come from services to which you already have a subscription, which is convenient. You’ll value the Live TV tab, which serves as a channel guide for YouTube TV, if you’re a subscriber. However, Google has stated that the tab ought to eventually function with additional live TV suppliers like Sling or Hulu Live.
Google TV provides a wealth of details about a particular program or film, including the Rotten Tomatoes rating and all of the available viewing options. In addition, no matter which streaming service the show is available on, you may add it to your watchlist directly from the show page. However, you can only rent or buy the program via the Google Play Movies & TV store.
Google Assistant integration is one of the new Chromecast’s most popular features. You can ask broad questions like, “What’s the weather forecast for the next five days?” The best part is that contextual searches like “Show me true crime documentaries” and “Find movies with Bill Murray” all produce very relevant results. Voice commands can also be used to fully operate the TV, including turning it on and off and altering the volume.
Both 4K HDR and Dolby Vision are supported by the Chromecast when used with Google TV. It is less compatible with Macs and iOS devices because it does not support Apple’s AirPlay 2 protocol. Additionally, it is not yet carrying iTunes videos or Apple TV+. The most recent Google Chromecast, unlike previous streaming devices, cannot be powered by a TV’s USB port; instead, you must use the 7.5-watt power adapter that comes with the device.
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is a good substitute if cost is your top priority and 4K is not necessary. It’s one of the least expensive streaming sticks available at $30 (and is usually on sale, too). It has an Alexa voice control and offers FHD streaming with HDR, exactly as its more expensive siblings.
This particular Fire TV Stick cannot operate your TV; you must use your television remote to turn it on and off and change the volume, which is one of the reasons it is referred to as “Lite.” That’s not a big deal, especially if it allows you to make some financial savings. In contrast, the Fire TV Stick 4K costs $50 while the basic Fire TV Stick normally sells for $40.
Nearly all of the well-known streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, YouTube TV, and Hulu, are supported with Amazon’s Fire TV. Twitch is a standard feature on the Live page. While Alexa cannot be used to control the TV, it can be used to search for shows and to ask more general questions, such as the weather forecast or the most recent sports scores, using the Fire TV Stick Lite.
The Fire TV Stick Lite is a good streaming dongle despite its modest cost. It has the redesigned Fire TV user interface, which includes features like user profiles, a new main menu navigation bar with show recommendations, as well as a scrolling list of your preferred streaming apps.
Though more complex than Roku’s and less intuitive than Google TV’s, the layout is still simple enough to understand. Despite this, the UI favors Amazon Prime Video content and has a lot more advertisements than competing streaming services. Although it’s not the greatest streaming device available, it’s a nice, affordable option if you don’t have a smart TV and want to modernize an old set for as little money as possible.
You could also upgrade to either the Fire TV Stick 4K or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for a little bit more money. Both devices support 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, however the Max supports WiFi 6 and has a faster processor.
Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K might be a worthwhile investment for individuals who need a little more expensive choice and own many Apple products. Additionally to supporting AirPlay 2 for streaming from Mac and iOS devices, it can stream in 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. The tvOS platform includes a user interface that is both appealing and simple to use. You can use Siri to look up your favorite shows, and the “One Home Screen” feature allows you to sync apps and their layout across several Apple TVs. Additionally, it has been much simpler to switch between apps, skim through content, and generally find what you’re searching for since Apple updated the Siri control that comes with the device.
The Apple TV is the only set-top box that is compatible with the whole Apple ecosystem, as you might imagine. This implies that you can use the Apple TV to access music and podcasts, play games from Apple Arcade, and run programs like Fitness+, Apple’s line of gym classes. You can even buy and rent movies from iTunes.
Particularly iPhone owners stand to gain from owning an Apple TV. To transmit all of your settings and enter passwords straight through the Remote app, which is itself easily accessible via iOS’s control center, you may hold your phone up to the box during setup.
The 2021 model is still on the market right now, however we advise upgrading to the recently unveiled 2022 model in order to receive double the base storage (64GB) for the new, cheaper $129 starting price.
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
Consider NVIDIA’s Shield TV Pro if you’re looking for an all-in-one gadget that enables you to stream movies, manage a PLEX media server, and play games. It presently uses an out-of-date operating system called Android TV, but there’s a chance that Google TV will eventually replace it.
The Shield TV Pro can stream in native 4K thanks to its powerful Tegra X1+ processor and upscale 720p and 1080p footage to 4K using the company’s AI neural network. It includes two USB-C ports, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and supports Dolby Vision and HDR10. A microSD card slot, an HDMI port, and a gigabit Ethernet port are also included. You may use it to play the majority of games from the Google Play Store because it is an Android device.
The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is superior to competing devices primarily because it provides access to NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. You can play top-tier PC games that are streamed online to your Shield TV Pro as long as your internet connection is reasonably fast.
