The best streaming devices can make an old TV look like new, an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution that will be needed with the switch off to DVB-T2 and the new HEVC standard.
It is possible that you are among the many who own a TV from a few years ago, with excellent image rendering but without smart features. Or maybe you have a smart TV that, due to company policies and the “weight” of contemporary apps, does not perform satisfactorily and does not support some of the major streaming and video apps. There are more and more similar cases and, with the transition to the new European television standards, they will increase. Even if your device is certainly still valid, the software has become so slow and obsolete that it cannot be used extensively or the lack of support for current technologies could decree its premature end. Whether yours is a traditional TV or one of the first smart TVs,
Best Streaming Devices
Best Streaming Devices | Comparison Table 2022
Image | Title | Buy | |
---|---|---|---|
Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls) | Dolby Vision | Amazon | Check Price | |
Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls), HD streaming device | Amazon | Check Price | |
NVIDIA Shield TV | 4K HDR Streaming Media Player | NVIDIA | Check Price | |
Roku Express 4K+ 2021 | Streaming Media Player HD/4K/HDR with Smooth Wireless Streaming and Roku Voice Remote with TV Controls, Includes Premium HDMI Cable | Roku | Check Price | |
Roku Streaming Stick 4K 2021 | Streaming Device 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision with Roku Voice Remote and TV Controls | Roku | Check Price | |
Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote (includes TV controls), Dolby Vision | Amazon | Check Price | |
Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device with Long-range Wireless and Roku Voice Remote with TV Controls | Roku | Check Price | |
Roku Premiere | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Media Player, Simple Remote and Premium HDMI Cable | Roku | Check Price | |
Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Voice Remote Lite (no TV controls), HD streaming device | Amazon | Check Price |
Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Best Streaming Devices | 2022 Products Overview
1. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device
- Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.
- Home theater audio with Dolby Atmos - Feel scenes come to life with support for immersive Dolby Atmos audio on select titles with compatible home audio systems.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Live and free TV - Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others. Stream for free with Pluto TV, IMDb TV, YouTube and more.
- Alexa Voice Remote lets you use your voice to search and launch shows across apps. Plus, control power and volume on your TV and soundbar with a single remote.
- Control your smart home - Ask Alexa to check weather, dim the lights, view live camera feeds, stream music and more.
- Simple and intuitive - Quickly access your favorite apps, live TV, and things you use most, all from the main menu.
- Easy to set up, compact enough to stay hidden - Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
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2. Fire TV Stick with Alexa Streaming device
- Latest generation of our best-selling Fire TV device - 50% more powerful than the 2nd generation for fast streaming in Full HD. Includes Alexa Voice Remote with power and volume buttons.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Live TV - Watch your favorite live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others. Use the Guide button to see whats available and when.
- Free TV - Access over 200,000 free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV and more.
- Listen to music - Stream on Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others. Subscription fees may apply.
- Less clutter, more control - Alexa Voice Remote lets you use your voice to search and launch shows across apps. All-new preset buttons get you to favorite apps quickly. Plus, control power and volume on your TV and soundbar with a single remote.
- Home theater audio with Dolby Atmos - Feel scenes come to life with immersive Dolby Atmos audio on select titles with compatible home audio systems.
- Easy to set up, stays hidden - Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
- Certified for Humans - Struggle-free, tinker-free, and stress-free. No patience needed—its actually simple.
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3. NVIDIA SHIELD best budget streaming devices
- The Best of the Best. SHIELD TV delivers an amazing Android TV streaming media player experience, thanks to the new NVIDIA Tegra X1+ chip. Enhance HD video in real-time to 4K for clearer, crisper visuals using next-generation AI upscaling. 2x USB 3.0 ports for storage expansion, USB cameras, keyboards, controllers, and more. Plex Media Server built-in, 3 GB RAM, and 16 GB storage.
- Dolby Vision - Atmos. Bring your home theater to life with Dolby Vision HDR, and surround sound with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus—delivering ultra-vivid picture quality and immersive audio.
- Best-In-Class Design. Designed for the most demanding users and beautifully designed to be the perfect centerpiece of your entertainment center, SHIELD TV Pro levels you up to more storage space, more RAM, the expandability of 2x USB 3.0 ports, and Plex Media Server. Get the best connectivity with Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band AC Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. The all-new remote is more advanced than ever with motion-activated, backlit buttons—including a customizable menu button. Plus, with voice control, Bluetooth, IR control for your TV, and a built-in remote control locator, you have the most advanced remote yet.
- Unlimited Entertainment. Enjoy the most 4K HDR content of any streaming media player, and access to thousands of apps and games, including top apps like Netflix,YouTube, Prime Video, Disney + and Hulu. Add a game controller (sold separately) and play today’s most popular games like Fortnite and GeForce Now. Even stream from your phone with built-in Chromecast 4K.
- Voice Control. The built-in Google Assistant is at your command. See photos, live camera feeds, weather, sports scores, and more on the big screen. Dim the lights and immerse yourself in your favorite show or music using only your voice. And control your SHIELD hands-free with Google Home or Alexa and Echo.
- Included Components: Remote Controller
- Power Source Type: Corded Electric
4. Roku Express Best 4K Streaming Device
- Brilliant 4K picture quality: Stream in HD, 4K, and HDR with sharp resolution and vivid color optimized for your TV
- Smooth wireless streaming: Now featuring dual-band wireless, enjoy a smooth streaming experience with faster wireless performance, even with multiple devices connected to your network
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, mute, and control your Roku device all with one remote
- Convenient voice control: Use your voice to quickly search across channels, turn captions on, and more in a touch
- Upgrade to Roku streaming: All of your favorite channels, like HBO Max, Netflix, and Prime Video, are front and center on the customizable home screen, plus your device is always getting better with automatic updates
- Simple setup: It’s easy to get started with everything you need included in the box, including a Premium HDMI Cable—just plug it in and connect to the internet
- Save money, stream big: Watch what you love, including a massive selection of free and live TV, including 200+ Live TV channels free on The Roku Channel—it’s great for streaming TV and cutting cable
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
- Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
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5. Roku Streaming Stick 4K Streaming Device
- Hides behind your TV: The all-new design plugs right into your TV with a simple setup
- Super-fast startup: Start streaming channels like Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu in a snap—just turn on your TV
- Long-range Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room with a strong Wi-Fi connection, now up to 2x faster
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku Streaming Stick with the Roku remote
- Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
- Breathtaking picture: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ with sharp resolution and vivid color
- Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including Roku Originals and 200+ free Live TV channels on The Roku Channel
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
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6. Fire TV Cheap streaming devices
- Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.
- Home theater audio with Dolby Atmos - Feel scenes come to life with support for immersive Dolby Atmos audio on select titles with compatible home audio systems.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Live and free TV - Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others. Stream for free with Pluto TV, IMDb TV, YouTube and more.
- Alexa Voice Remote lets you use your voice to search and launch shows across apps. Plus, control power and volume on your TV and soundbar with a single remote.
- Control your smart home - Ask Alexa to check weather, dim the lights, view live camera feeds, stream music and more.
- Simple and intuitive - Quickly access your favorite apps, live TV, and things you use most, all from the main menu.
- Easy to set up, compact enough to stay hidden - Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
7. Roku Streaming Stick Streaming Device
- Wireless that goes the distance: Basement rec room Backyard movie night Bring ‘em on. The long-range wireless receiver gives you extended range and a stronger signal for smooth streaming even in rooms farther from your router
- Brilliant picture quality: Experience your favorite shows with stunning detail and clarity—whether you’re streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you’ll enjoy picture quality that’s optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
- Tons of power, tons of fun: Snappy and responsive, you’ll stream your favorites with ease—from movies and series on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Netflix, to cable alternatives like Sling, enjoy the most talked-about TV across thousands of channels
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, mute, and control your streaming all with one remote—use your voice to quickly search across channels, turn captions on, and more in a touch
- Setup is a cinch: Plug it in, connect to the internet, and start streaming—it’s that simple
- Private listening on mobile: Use the free Roku mobile app to pump up the volume on your shows without disturbing the house
- Endless entertainment: Stream what you love, including free TV, live news, sports, and more. It’s easy to stream what you love and cut back on cable bills with access to 500,000+ movies and TV episodes across thousands of free and paid channels
- Automatic software updates: Get the most up to date software including all the latest features and available channels without even thinking about it
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
- Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
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8. Roku Premiere Best streaming device 2022
- Watch what you love: Upgrade your streaming with a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV, including Roku Originals and 200+ free live TV channels on The Roku Channel
- Incredible picture, exceptional value: Whether you’re streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you’ll enjoy picture quality that’s optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
- Tons of power, tons of fun: Compact and power-packed, youll stream your favorites with ease, including movies and series on HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video
- Setup is a cinch: Plug it in with the included Premium High Speed HDMI Cable, connect to the internet, and start streaming—it’s that simple
- Simple remote: It’s got everything you need to start streaming, plus shortcut buttons to popular streaming channels
- Always up to date: Get the latest features, newest channels, and more with automatic software updates
- The free Roku mobile app: Control your Roku device with a second remote, search with your voice, enjoy private listening with wireless headphones, and more on your iOS or Android device
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
- Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
9. Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Best streaming device for TV
- Our most affordable Fire TV Stick - Enjoy fast streaming in Full HD. Comes with Alexa Voice Remote Lite.
- Great for new users - Start streaming with access to over 200,000 free movies and TV episodes from ad-supported streaming apps like IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, and more.
- Easy to set up, stays hidden - Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
- Press and ask Alexa - Use your voice to easily search and launch shows across multiple apps.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Live TV - Watch your favorite live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others.
- Listen to music - Stream on Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others. Subscription fees may apply.
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How to choose a streaming device
The convenience of connecting a small device to the back of the TV is hard to overestimate. So, what are the questions you should ask as you decide which one to buy?
What channels do you want to watch?
Among most streaming sticks (and boxes, for that matter), there are popular channels that are common to most. For example, you will find Disney +, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and recovery services like BBC iPlayer on many devices. Some boxes and sticks also have Apple TV +, the other great source of premium content.
Of course, in addition to purchasing the hardware, you need to pay a subscription for each service. Some sticks, like Roku’s, offer literally thousands of services (which it calls channels).
So why not settle for the apps on your TV?
Good point. After all, many new smart TVs have apps like Netflix built in or easily downloadable. Some even have a dedicated Netflix button on the remote, for example. But the convenience of having the app built into your TV doesn’t mean it’s the easiest way to use it. Rewind and fast forward are important controls, and it’s often easier on a streaming stick remote than on the controller meant primarily for your TV.
Do you want microphone control?
Again, very few TV remotes have built-in microphones, while Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and others have smart remotes that, at the push of a button, let you control the stick with your voice. There are other benefits that no television has. For example, with Apple TV when you miss a snippet of dialogue, you can press the button and ask “What did he say?”. The Apple TV box responds by rewinding 15 seconds and playing the video with subtitles turning off again afterwards.
Should you pay for 4K or HDR?
Well, it depends on what TV you have. Of course, that’s not useful if your TV isn’t 4K or HDR compatible. On the other hand, there is often only a small surcharge to pay for future proof if you think you might be upgrading your TV soon. Oh, by the way, there are no 8K compatible boxes available, and they’re unlikely to be for quite a while.
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Do you want other apps besides TV channels?
For example, how about playing? Apple TV has a lot of games on board. It’s true that the Apple Remote isn’t ideal for gaming, but there is compatibility with different game console controllers that makes for the best of both worlds. Gaming is the main reason the Apple TV Box comes with different storage capacities, so you can download and archive games rather than just streaming them, like you do with movies. Aside from apps like Netflix, there are also services where you can rent or buy the latest movies or TV shows.
How much do you want to pay?
As always, this will be a key factor. Apple’s box is more expensive than most, while Amazon’s and Roku’s sticks are much more affordable, for example. In short, whatever your budget, you can find a highly capable streaming device.
Read more about this story
Every product on this list has been tested in real-life situations, just like you would use it in everyday life.
Sticks and streaming devices are something that multiple Pocket-lint team members use every day, so testing them against each other is pretty straightforward for us. We can’t wait to compare not only the image quality and sound performance each can bring to the table, but also to see how easy they actually are to use.
Price and value are a key consideration, of course, as are the broad compatibility of each device and the possible lack of key streaming services.
As with any roundup, it is not possible to provide a list that works for every type of user, but we rely on the experiences and opinions of the wider Pocket-lint team – as well as thoroughly evaluating the areas above – to make our own. best in this respect.
What we always tend to avoid when making these choices are useless comparisons of specifics and marketing lines; we just want to provide an easy to understand summary that gives you an idea of what it’s like to use each streaming stick. Our verdicts are concise, but this is purely in the interest of brevity.
Buy Streaming Devices – Shopping Guide and Tips
In this section for those who want to buy Streaming Devices, we have written a small buying guide . This contains the most important criteria in the form of a checklist, which should always be considered when selecting or purchasing. If you follow our expert checklist, you will surely find the best product in the Streaming Devices category.
- Manufacturer: Are there any reputable manufacturers or well-known brands for Streaming Devices?
- Products Overview: Do you have informative and grounded reviews on the topic?
- Customer ratings: Are the ratings available from people who have purchased and tested the product?
- Product dimensions: what dimensions are required or are they even possible?
- Consumption: What is the latest test result published by the consumer organization on Streaming Devices?
- Test results: Which models became test winners in the Streaming Devices product group?
- Price: How much budget do you have for Streaming Devices?
- Comparison: In conclusion, we recommend a comprehensive price comparison to find the best one!
In the checklist above, you should particularly consider the results of the Consumption test . Streaming Devices consumer test ratings and test winners can be an important piece of information in your search for the best product. Our recommendation: For product evaluation, you need to purchase more than one product in order to compare them directly with each other. This way, you can take your comparison test at home and identify your test winner individually.
Best Streaming Devices | Video Explanation
Conclusion and summary
Finding the best product is certainly not easy as Streaming Devices is sold by many brands But if you pay attention to the researched tests or Altroconsumo trial reviews, you will make a good selection. Because in the end, no one can decide for you which product yours should. So it is important to look at the ratings and reviews from different sources.
By the way, you can also check out the best lists of established trade magazines and their online presence, which are constantly updated. There too there are many tips and information about best streaming devices and the best test results. It is best to look at the current year rankings to make sure that the product is still available in the desired form. Reputable magazine editors often run their own tests so you can benefit from their expertise.
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