Best streaming devices
There are more user-friendly and effective streaming devices on the market today than ever before. They range from high-powered devices meant for HD gaming to compact streaming sticks that tuck behind a TV for a streamlined appearance. Some are especially user-friendly and are ready for use out of the box, while others require some configuration before use.
It’s important to keep in mind which features your TV and receiver support, such as HDR and HDMI ARC connectivity before selecting a device. Additionally, many streaming services require special subscriptions to take full advantage of 4K resolutions, which could limit which devices are available.
Streaming device operating systems
The streaming device operating system is the most important consideration for most users. A good operating system makes it easy to navigate menus, select settings and find shows. Good software also ensures that features and apps work correctly so you can take advantage of your paid subscriptions at their highest quality levels.
You don't need an advanced piece of equipment for a good entertainment experience, as budget-friendly options like the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite offer convenient interfaces and reliable connectivity. Alternatively, more powerful versions do make the experience a lot smoother and support more advanced protocols like HDR10+.
Roku is another popular operating system, and it's widely hailed as the easiest to use. Roku releases regular updates to its wide selection of streaming devices, which come in a variety of formats and price levels. There are also quite a few models that run Android TV, although Android TV sometimes sees complaints that it stutters with resource-heavy apps and videos.
If you're really into DIY electronics, you can always build your own streaming box based on a high-efficiency Linux fork like LibreELEC. These are designed around one of several powerful single-board computers and are very often used with the Kodi app, frequently in conjunction with network-attached storage. One thing to keep in mind with open-source DIY streaming systems is that they don't always play nicely with premium, paid subscription accounts. If you prefer to stream from your own collection of Ultra HD media, building a Kodi box from something like the Odroid N2 can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience.
What internet speed do I need for streaming?
Thanks to modern compression/decompression algorithms, streamed movies take up considerably less space and therefore need a lot less bandwidth than the raw video stored on UHD Blu-rays. In general, services like Netflix require about 25Mbps minimum for 4K content, although some content providers recommend as much as 40Mbps. While a lot of people have access to that kind of broadband speed, there are plenty of folks stuck on DSL or with extremely limited cable provider options. Thankfully, you only need about 10Mbps of throughput for a consistently good full HD experience, which most consumers outside of rural areas can access.
The most important bandwidth consideration is your actual ISP and account type, so you can stream 4K video using even a budget-friendly router like the TP-Link Archer A6. On the other hand, there are quite a few more advanced routers from which to choose. Their newer, more powerful hardware offers features such as tri-band connectivity and Quality of Service prioritization that can minimize stuttering and bandwidth-hogging, even if multiple people in a household are streaming UHD content at the same time.
Top streaming devices of 2021
Nvidia Shield TV Pro: available at Amazon
If you’re looking for high performance and impressive versatility, this is the one for you. It’s built around the Nvidia Tegra X1+ chipset and designed to deliver a premium experience in every respect. Its high-end hardware allows it to support the vast GeForce Now game streaming service, and it will receive support for the similar Google Stadia in late 2021.
It will also soon see an update from the Android TV platform to the next-generation Google TV operating system, which promises to be smoother and even more user-friendly than the old OS. The Shield TV Pro isn't cheap, but it's not that much more expensive than the base Shield TV model, and it is the perfect choice for households with wide-ranging entertainment needs. It's also engineered to work perfectly with both Plex and Kodi.
Roku Express 4K+: available at Amazon
Compact, easy to use and affordable, Roku’s latest 4K model is about as straightforward as they come. This is a solid choice if you want to take advantage of the full Ultra HD resolution of a mid-range TV without spending a fortune or navigating a confusing setup process. It’s compatible with HDR content, but it doesn’t utilize the Dolby Vision protocol like some of the company’s more expensive models.
Roku Ultra: available at Amazon
This is one of the top offerings in an immensely popular family of streaming boxes. It’s designed for peak convenience, and it is remarkably easy to use out of the box. Roku’s Plex app is especially well-engineered and makes it easy to use for those without a lot of tech knowledge.
It’s compatible with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, two highly capable modern protocols for premium HDR and audio experiences. Other nice-to-have features include audio streaming from Bluetooth-enabled devices, a lost remote finder and robust voice control support.
Roku Streambar: available at Amazon
While it has basically the same feature set as the Roku Ultra, this model adds four microphones in stereo that make it a surprisingly effective soundbar. It’s a particularly good choice for older setups thanks to its optical audio input, which allows the unit to receive audio even if your current TV doesn’t have HDMI ARC. Because early 4K TVs are notorious for poor speaker performance, the Streambar is an effective upgrade.
Fire TV Stick 3rd Gen: available at Amazon
The 2021 version of Amazon’s HD Fire TV Stick is every bit as easy to use as its predecessors. Although technically based on the Android operating system, Amazon has done a great job streamlining the experience and allowing hassle-free access to a wide range of apps. The convenient voice remote and small size are also of note, which means you can plug it into the back of many TVs and never have to waste valuable shelf space.
Apple TV 4K: available at Amazon
Outfitted with Apple’s in-house A12 Bionic chipset, this is one of the most powerful options on the market and will work smoothly even with resource-intensive apps like YouTube. The Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 ensure consistent high-speed connectivity.
The device supports low-latency Bluetooth audio transmission, which means you can connect it to compatible speakers and headphones. It comes in HD and 4K versions with 32 or 64GB of storage. However, it lacks any physical storage expansion, including USB ports, and it’s also pretty costly. If you use other products in the Apple ecosystem, it’s definitely worth considering.
AWOW AK41 Micro PC: available at Amazon
A full-fledged Windows PC, this device requires significantly more configuration than almost any other model, but it is also considerably more versatile. The Intel Celeron J4125 sports four cores and is powerful enough to decode 4K video without missing a beat. The 128GB SSD and 8GB of DDR4 RAM make for a relatively quick Windows experience.
There are 3 USB slots, one of which is Type-C, and both HDMI outputs allow for 4K transmission at 60Hz. It’s especially great for network-attached storage users who own huge collections of media. Aside from requiring a decent amount of tech-savviness, the only other drawback is that the Awow is quite a bit more expensive than a typical streaming stick.
Pendoo X12 Pro: available at Amazon
The Pendoo is not the cheapest model, but it works with a large variety of apps including the ever-popular Kodi. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage and also supports microSD cards and USB drives. Thanks to its relatively powerful components, it’s compatible with modern compression formats like H.265 and is capable of resolutions better than 4K at a refresh rate of 60Hz. Even includes a standard hand-held remote plus a wireless mini keyboard.
Chris Thomas is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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