Are you looking to replace your snail-slow cable? Want to clear out the clutter and get rid of the satellite boxes? You would want to get one of the best streaming devices. Not only do they come with a range of built-in apps, but they also have dedicated support for all your streaming services.
What’s more important is that the best streaming devices are pain-free to install. And they come with tons of customization features that let you tailor your streaming experience according to your preference. Not all streaming devices are equal.
For example, some devices will have high-end hardware to meet demanding streaming needs, such as viewing 4K HDR content. On the other hand, some will be very basic.
Want to make the right pick? Below, you’ll find descriptions of some of the best streaming devices that you can find in the market.
Roku Express 4K Plus – Best Overall Streaming Device
If you’re looking for the best streaming devices that can do 4K streaming but don’t have a hefty price tag, the Roku Express 4K Plus is the right pick. Even though this streaming device is cheaper than some of the 4K-compatible ones, it doesn’t cut too many corners.
To be exact, the streaming device does 4K streaming exceptionally well. More importantly, thanks to the snappy and powerful hardware inside, it can easily handle 4K HDR content.
The Roku Express 4K Plus also comes with a very user-friendly remote. Compared to some other devices, you don’t need a direct line of sight or point the remote directly to the streaming device.
However, note that it doesn’t come with Dolby Vision. There’s no support for Dolby Atmos either. But if Roku integrated those into this streaming device, it would’ve been quite expensive. So, for the price, the Express 4K Plus is a great pick.
Main Highlights
- Superb 4K HDR performance
- Comes with a user-friendly remote
- Features an intuitive UI
Chromecast with Google TV 4K – Best Streaming Device for Google Ecosystem
Own a Google Pixel? Have other Google devices at home? In that case, you’re deep into the Google ecosystem. And for you, getting a streaming device that’s not from Google wouldn’t make much sense.
But the Chromecast with Google TV 4K is not just any regular streaming device. It also comes with excellent live TV integration, which will let you get easy access to all the channels you used to see with your cable or satellite connection. There’s a large section of free TV section too.
You can also access Sling, Philo, YouTube TV, and other paid live TV services through this streaming device. Even though the Chromecast with Google TV 4K isn’t as minimalist as the previous Google Chromecast device, it certainly can replace your TV remote. Its remote control has everything you need.
That said, the performance of the Chromecast with Google TV 4K can be regarded as average at best. The menus can feel very slow in some cases. However, you should note that Google is constantly updating this streaming device to improve its performance.
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Main Highlights
- Has Free live TV
- Comes with a versatile remote
- Compatible with tons of streaming services
Nvidia Shield TV (2019) – Best Android Streaming Device
Even though the Nvidia Shield TV is a pretty old streaming device, it still has what it takes to meet power users’ demands. And if you’re someone who wants to stream games to the TV, the Nvidia Shield TV is basically a no-brainer pick.
So, what really makes this streaming device so good? Well, it has powerful internals that can handle UHD 4K content without issues. And as it comes with Android TV, you have access to thousands of apps. To be exact, with the Nvidia Shield TV, you practically have everything you could watch.
Let’s not forget to mention how cool the design is. It looks unlike any other streaming units that are on the market. It has an easy setup process too. Also, the Nvidia Shield TV comes with a remote control, which is very easy to use. It even has an illuminating feature, letting you easily see the buttons in the dark.
However, the streaming device can’t really properly upscale images even though it claims to be flawless. Also, it’s a bit on the expensive end.
Main Highlights
- Smooth game streaming
- Offers great UHD content performance
- Has support for all the apps you need
Apple TV 4K (2022) – Best Streaming Device for Apple Ecosystem
If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem and you’re looking for the best streaming devices, you should stop your search here. The Apple TV 4K (2022) is basically what you’ve been looking for all this time!
One of the very first highlights of this streaming device is that it packs an Apple A15 Bionic chipset. Yes, it’s the same SoC that Apple used in the iPhone 13 lineup. That means the Apple TV 4K (2022) is basically as powerful as an iPhone 13. As a result, you get the fastest performance.
In addition to that, the Apple TV 4K (2022) comes with HDR10+ support. This feature will take your movie-watching experience to the next level. Also, the remote control is now much easier to use than its predecessors. It finally charges through USB-C and not Lightning. There’s also support for tons of apps.
However, the Apple TV 4K (2022) is a bit on the expensive end. If you don’t really need its features and are okay with other streaming units, you can consider the Roku Express 4K Plus.
Main Highlights
- Comes packed with a powerful Apple A15 SoC
- Seamless streaming performance
- Has support for loads of apps
