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One of the many reasons for a happy 2024? Gone are the days of requiring a cable subscription and forking over untold hundreds of dollars for Blu-rays! Now, all the good stuff is available through streaming platforms, and you don’t need a set-top box or even a new TV to enjoy it. All you need is a streaming device. Connect it to your set, usually via a basic HDMI connection, and you can instantly set up and binge on whatever movies, series, comedy specials and the like your eyeballs can handle.
Ah, but which streaming device to buy? Lucky for you, we’ve tested a few of them on our own TVs to see which is the best of the best. Below, we share all the information to help you choose the best option for your smart home theater.
Roku
Some of our favorite streaming devices are also the most affordable – ie Rokus. The software is extremely easy to use, with a friendly home screen, and is compatible with all the major streamers – we’re talking Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, HBO Max and more.
$30 at Amazon
The Roku Express 4K+ packs tons of benefits and functionality at a great price. It is one of the cheapest streaming boxes with 4K HDR capabilities, and also supports the Apple ecosystem format and Airplay.
“I’m so excited!” said a happy five-star review writer. “I have a big old Samsung TV in my bedroom that my dad got for free. I have had this TV with an older Roku for years. It started not working properly and started really laggy. I went out and bought a new smaller Vizio TV, and it worked great, and I returned it in a day. I decided to try this Roku on my old Samsung TV. All I can say is: OMG. This made my TV perform like new and saved me a ton of money. If you’re in a situation like me or looking for a great alternative, don’t hesitate, give this Roku a try. It’s incredible for the money, the picture and quality is like brand-new, and it works very fast. I’m 21, and I don’t write reviews often, but I had to for this one.”
Roku
If you like Roku devices but prefer a stick design, this is the one for you. It offers all the features of the Express 4K + and adds Dolby Vision HDR support.
$40 at Amazon
One big plus of the Streaming Stick 4K? The wireless receiver is built for distance, so it will work in rooms not near your router. We also like the hands-free voice remote, which lets you use voice controls. No worries if you lose the TV remote in the couch cushions, either—you can search for it through Roku, and it’ll start streaming out.
One five-star reviewer said: “I went from using my old Samsung smart DVD player with a very limited app selection to this Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, with literally any app I could possibly need. I love that I can add apps using my TV. , computer, or phone The stick is out of sight; plugged into the HDMI port on the back of my TV I didn’t realize until I delivered it that it needs to be removed to plug in its own power, however, I am able to power it using the USB port, which is also behind my TV. The remote is also very impressive. It is simple and easy to use but also very there. The price is very reasonable, especially compared to other streaming devices.”
The Chromecast dongle with Google TV is a great option for those who live in the Google ecosystem. Also: It will give you a chance to say dongle on a regular basis!
$48 at Amazon
We love the Google Assistant voice search on Google Chromecast; you can look up movies and shows by searching for the names of the actors, for example. We also love that this Google TV device integrates with Google Photos – you can add your favorite pictures to a rotating slideshow! If you’re a fan of YouTube or YouTube TV, this is the streamer for you.
msgstr “This was easy to set up and install!” said this Chromecast customer. “I had a TV that didn’t even have a remote that worked, and this replaced my old Fire Stick, and now I can turn on the TV, watch all my streaming apps and cast from my phone, both Android and Apple. , to TV with ease! Instant mute power etc. … All work with one device and one remote control! If you don’t have a smart TV with casting capability… buy this! You won’t regret it.”
Amazon
If you live in an Alexa household, you might want to go with a Fire TV product instead. This is our favorite.
$60 at Amazon
The 4K Max supports Dolby Vision and has a neat picture-in-picture feature for viewing your security camera feed. And, of course, Alexa is on board to make your viewing choices and handle all your content search needs. This is the way to go if you are a big fan of Amazon Prime.
“The new Fire Stick is a huge improvement over the older versions,” said this happy shopper. “It’s easy to install, easy to move your content from your old Fire Stick. The price is great. I recommend trading in the older version; once the trade-in is complete, the price is not bad at all at all. Highly recommend upgrading all older versions of Fire Stick to the new and improved version. Wi-Fi 6 is a great improvement, no buffering issues so far! 4K HDR looks great on my LG 65″ brand-new! TV Stick. Remotes are big changes! Get easy access to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and of course Amazon Prime Video. Voice recognition is great – Alexa finds it for you.”
Apple
THE component for Apple device enthusiasts. As is typical of the brand, its user interface is much sleeker than its competitors, and the remote has been updated to streamline your on-screen navigation.
$147 at Amazon$129 at Walmart
You can also ask Siri, “What did they just say?” while watching a movie, and it will replay the scene with subtitles. Apple TV is also a media streaming device for gamers through Apple Arcade, or if you want native support for Apple’s Fitness+ exercise program.
“My experience with a regular Apple TV has been a bit of a life changer,” said one enthusiastic shopper, who calls it a great Apple product. “Smart TV apps are basically universally lousy and don’t guarantee 4K quality (at least with LG), so I was immediately happy when I got this 4K Apple TV set up. My TV lives up to finally its 4K potential! Setup The new all-metal remote design was thicker and heavier than the older gen and feels good in the hand Button ergonomics have also been improved. Great value, great product.”
If you have Amazon Prime, you get free shipping, of course. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (By the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The revisions mentioned above represent the latest versions when they were published.
