Best media streaming devices in 2023

Media streaming devices are genius. They are an amazing option for those looking to get the best out of their old TVs, or projectors, as getting a new smart TV may not always be the most affordable or the smartest way to enjoy your content if you already own a TV with a large display. And they are also a great way to change how you navigate your favorite content, in case you don’t love the experience that comes with your smart TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Editor’s Choice

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device is a perfect option for those who want to make their smart TV smarter and faster with Wi-Fi 6 support, faster app starts, and a very friendly user experience.

Pros

• Faster and more powerful than its predecessor
• Wi-Fi 6 support
• 4K resolution with HDR Support

Cons

• Amazon?s most expensive streaming stick
• Not the best option if your router doesn?t support Wi-Fi 6

Amazon’s most powerful streaming stick is the perfect option for those who want fast and fluid navigation, faster app starts and the convenience that comes with Amazon’s Fire OS. This media streaming device is 40% faster than the Fire TV Stick 4K thanks to its powerful processor, which makes it great for those interested in high performance 4K streaming. You also get support for Wi-Fi 6, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision and HDR for improved and vivid picture quality.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also easy to use, and even easier to set up, as you will only need to plug the device directly into your TV, then to the wall outlet, connect it to internet and start streaming your favorite content. You will also be able to install a VPN and sideload apps to get all the action you need in your TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

Budget Friendly

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite is the best option for those who want a new media streaming device on a budget, as you can still stream your favorite content from your favorite apps.

Pros

• Amazon?s most affordable option
• Same benefits that come with Fire OS

Cons

• Streaming quality only available in Full HD
• No volume controls

The Fire TV Stick Lite is another fantastic streaming device from Amazon, but it makes some sacrifices to achieve its low price tag. For example, it only supports streaming content in up to Full-HD resolution, and doesn’t have onboard decoding of Atmos or any other Dolby format. You will also get an Alexa Voice Remote, but this version does not control the volume of your TV.

The device runs on the same platform as Amazon’s 4K stick, so you get the same experience, same apps, same live TV options, and Alexa support. Unfortunately, there is no Dolby Vision support, but you get HDR10 and HDR10+.

Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)

The Best for Android fans

Google’s Chromecast with Google TV is the best streaming stick for hardcore Android fans. You can get the HD model for as low as $30 or 4K support for $50. Either way, you will get a product that’s easy to install and compatible with almost any TV.

Pros

• Supports 4K, Dolby Vision and Atmos
• A reasonably priced option

Cons

• Need a Google account for it to work
• Google TV may get slow when changing apps

Chromecast with Google TV is the best streaming device for most people. It runs on the Android TV 11 platform with the Google TV interface. The interface, which is still available on a limited number of devices, is one of the highlights of the device. It takes a content-first approach, and its recommendations are actually helpful.

You get access to pretty much all streaming services, live TV via YouTube and Sling, and cloud gaming support via Stadia. Moreover, you can still cast content from your smartphone or computer. On the technical side, the device can stream 4K content, and there is support for HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.

Lastly, the bundled remote has a microphone for Google Assistant, which you can use to open apps, find content, and do other Assistant stuff.

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen., 2022)

The Best for Apple fans

The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) is a feature-rich media streaming device that will provide access to all your favorite streaming services for movies and TV as well as music, fitness, gaming, photos, and more. It’s simple to connect to a TV and operate via the included remote. But you can use your phone to control it, too.

Pros

• Excellent, fast performance that works great in Apple?s ecosystem
• Outstanding audio and video quality
• More affordable than its predecessors

Cons

• Some features are only available for Apple users
• No USB-C or HDMI cable in the box

If you are invested in the Apple ecosystem and are ready to pay the premium for an Apple-branded media streamer, the Apple TV 4K is your best bet. In a typical Apple way, the device offers an overall excellent experience. It has a clean and easy-to-use interface and provides access to all popular streaming apps, as well as live TV.

In addition, you get support for Apple Arcade for games, Fitness+ for workouts, and HomeKit to control smart home devices. There are many other nifty features like the ability to color balance what you watch, and audio sharing to AirPods.

On the technical side, Apple TV 4K can stream 4K content and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Atmos. Unfortunately, there is no HDR10+ support.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Best Value

Amazon’s Fire TV stick 4K remains one of the best streaming devices out there. It offers an impressive set of features and unlocks a variety of content to stream.

Pros

• Best Bang for Your Buck
• Fast and fluid navigation with 4K content support
• Voice Remote with Alexa and volume controls

Cons

• Not as fast as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max
• Hands-free voice control requires an Alexa enabled speaker

Amazon is also a big player in the smart TV space. The televisions with the built-in Fire TV platform may not be the best on the market, but the Amazon Fire TV streaming devices are terrific. The company offers a host of streaming devices, but we recommend the Fire TV Stick 4K for most people.

The Fire TV OS also takes a content-first approach and suggests content that you might like to watch. It offers access to all popular streaming platforms, and you will be able to watch live TV via YouTube, Sling, and other services. Being an Amazon product, it comes with Alexa voice assistant that you can use to control the device or the compatible smart home devices.

Roku Express 4K+

Reliability and simplicity

Roku’s Express 4K+ is the best and most affordable 4K solution from Roku. It comes with a Roku Voice Remote with TV controls, and support for the latest and best streaming apps.

Pros

• Fast and fluid navigation with 4K content support
• Includes premium HDMI cable in the box
• Convenient and versatile voice remote

Cons

• Voice search could be better
• No support for Dolby Vision

The Roku Express 4K+ is another excellent streaming device, as it was conceived with simplicity and affordability in mind. The Roku platform is arguably the most straightforward smart TV platform on the market, and it brings access to pretty much all popular streaming services and live TV via the Roku channel.

Roku’s built-in search is one of the platform’s highlights and makes it super easy to find what you want to watch. On the technical side, as its name suggests, the Roku Express 4K+ can stream content in 4K, and it’s a very affordable option that won’t break the bank. The best part is that the device works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and includes Alexa and Google Assistant, but you will need to use the remote for voice control.

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Streaming with voice commands

The Fire TV Cube packs all the features you’d want from a Fire Stick but offers an improved processor and more features.

Pros

• Controls your TV and any other smart device with Alexa support
• Fast and snappy navigation
• Excellent microphones will pick up voice commands even in loud conditions

Cons

• Not the best sound to play your favorite tunes
• Dust and fingerprint magnet
• Ads can get annoying

Getting hands-free voice control over your smart devices usually requires you to have a smart speaker. However, there are ways for you to get a new streaming device and an Alexa-enabled smart speaker in the same package as Amazon’s latest iteration of the Fire TV Cube. This amazing hands-free streaming device with Alexa will be a great addition to your smart home, as it will help you control all your smart devices and stream your favorite content to your TV.

The Fire TV Cube is currently Amazon’s fastest streaming media player, allowing it to launch your apps almost instantly, and it’s two times as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The best part is connecting this product with your other Echo devices to create a powerful home theater experience. Of course, Wi-Fi 6E is also part of the package, so you won’t have to wait for your content to load, and if your wireless connection isn’t great, you can also connect your Fire TV Cube to your network via an Ethernet port. And don’t worry about image quality, as the Fire TV Cube will deliver beautiful 4K content and support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos audio.

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

Best for Gamers

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro costs $50 more than the regular model but it comes with some additional features to add more value to the overall package.

Pros

• Jaw dropping image quality and automatic 4K upscaling
• Insanely fast performance
• Comes with GeForce NOW Cloud Gaming

Cons

• One of the most expensive options on the market
• Not the best set up experience for most people

The Nvidia Shield TV is one of the most feature-rich media streamers on the market. It’s also the best streaming device you can buy if you like to play a lot of games because the Shield TV gives you access to Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. In addition, you can play tons of Android games on the device or use it to stream games from your GeForce RTX or GTX-powered PC. Steam Link support is present as well.

The Shield TV runs on the Android TV platform, which gives you access to all popular streaming services and live TV options. The best part is that it can stream content in up to 4K resolution and includes an AI-powered engine to upscale lower-resolution content to 4K. So if you don’t like your TV’s upscaling, the Shield TV can help. The device also supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. Like the Apple TV 4K, it’s missing HDR10+ support.

Roku Streambar Pro

Roku’s Streambar Pro comes with quality audio, Roku’s easy-to-navigate software, and support for the best streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and more, to help you watch your favorite movies and shows.

Pros

• Easy Installation
• Great Cinematic sound with Dolby Audio
• Comes with Roku?s user-friendly interface and voice remote

Cons

• No Chromecast support
• Bass could be better
• Only one HDMI port

Suppose you’re not only looking for great visuals, but you’re also interested in great audio quality. In that case, your best option may come from Roku, as the Roku Streambar Pro will let you stream your favorite content in 4K resolution while giving you an amazing cinematic experience with powerful sound. And if you’re not interested in sharing, or you don’t want to wake up the kids, you can also use your Roku Voice Remote with a headphone jack for private listening. The Roku Voice Remote also includes personal shortcut buttons, and it will let you control your TV, so you don’t have to deal with multiple remote controls at the same time.

Roku’s Streambar Pro is a powerful soundbar with built-in 4K streaming capabilities to let you enjoy a brilliant 4K HDR picture on any TV. Great sound will complement your cinematic experience with an expanded frequency range and support for Dolby Audio. The soundbar comes with four internal speakers that also feature auto-speech clarity to ensure you understand every dialogue, and they will automatically lower the volume of loud commercials and optimize the sound for night listening with simple volume modes. And the best part is that you also get to enjoy Roku OS.

onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box

Android Alternative

Walmart’s onn. Google TV Streaming Device is another cool alternative for those looking for 2K resolution TV streaming that runs on Android TV

Pros

• Very affordable 4K streaming
• Supports private headphone listening,

Cons

• No support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, or HDR10+
• Remote can present connectivity issues

If you don’t want the Fire OS or Roku OS, Walmart’s Onn brand offers an inexpensive streaming device that is simply called FHD Streaming Device, and it runs on the Android TV platform. As the name suggests, it can stream in full-HD resolution.

There is no Google TV interface on the platform side, so you get the original Android TV UI, which is okay but not as refined as the new interface. But you get the same apps, same live TV options via YouTube or Sling, and Google Assistant. You can also use the device to cast content from your smartphone or computer. Unfortunately, there is no Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support, but HDR10 is available.

Choosing the best media streaming device for your TV will eventually be determined by finding a user interface that makes things easier. It’s also essential to decide how much you’re willing to spend to give new life to your “dumb TV” or to change the OS on your current smart TV. That being said, we’ve decided that Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is the best option to go for, as this option is very affordable when compared to other products in this selection, and Fire OS offers fast navigation, a massive app library, and you can also sideload apps to watch almost anything you want.

Suppose you do not love the experience received with Fire OS. In that case, you can also get your hands on a Chromecast with Google TV or pick up Roku’s Express 4K+, as both options are very affordable and will deliver a great viewing experience, with tons of apps to choose from and support for the best and latest streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and more.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

This updated Fire TV Stick supports Wi-Fi 6 and 4K video.