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Roku Express 4K Plus
Best streaming device overall
$30 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Roku Express 4K Plus (Black, 2021)
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Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Second-place runner-up
$40 at Best Buy
Price alerts on for Roku Streaming Stick 4K
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Chromecast with Google TV 4K
Third-best streaming device overall
$50 at Best Buy
Price alerts on for Chromecast with Google TV (Snow)
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Chromecast with Google TV HD
Best HD streaming device
$30 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Fastest streaming device
$40 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
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Roku Ultra
Best for convenience
$70 at Roku
Price alerts on for Roku Ultra (2022)
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Apple TV 4K (2022)
Best for Apple fans
$124 at Amazon
Price alerts on for Apple TV 4K (2022)
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Roku Streambar
Best soundbar-streaming combo
$100 at Roku
Price alerts on for Roku Streambar
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Nvidia Shield TV
Best for gamers
$145 at Amazon
Price alerts on for NVIDIA Shield TV
Show More (4 items)
Many smart TVs come with some kind of operating system that is capable of downloading streaming apps, but add-on streaming devices often have simpler remotes, more apps, better search and more frequent updates than the OS built into your set. They’re a much more affordable alternative to upgrading your entire TV, and they usually offer faster and higher-quality streaming.
We’ve reviewed nearly every streaming device and major smart TV system available today, including Roku, Google Chromecast, Amazon and Apple TV. We’ve also made some new changes to our list in response to recently released products. Google’s latest offering bested both Amazon and Roku in one of our categories, while Apple’s 2022 update to the Apple TV 4K manages to lower the price of one of the most expensive streaming devices on the market.
Read on as we break down the best streaming devices available now.
Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2023
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Express 4K Plus
Best streaming device overall
Roku is our favorite streaming system, with the most streaming app options, the simplest streaming platform interface and the best search. It also has a content-agnostic platform that doesn’t push any one media streaming service provider, like Amazon Prime Video or Apple, over another. The Express 4K Plus streaming media player is one of the cheapest streaming TV options with 4K HDR. (Even if your current TV doesn’t support those formats, your next one probably will.) Thanks to the AirPlay update, this Roku device is one of the least expensive ways to connect your iPhone or other Apple device to your TV. It is cheaper than the company’s Streaming Stick 4K Plus and other 4K HDR streaming devices, and it’s our top pick for best streaming device overall.
Read our Roku Express 4K Plus review.
$30 at Amazon$30 at Best Buy$40 at TargetYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Express 4K Plus (Black, 2021)
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Second-place runner-up
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K features the same simple interface, large app selection and impressive search function found on all Roku devices, but also offers Dolby Vision support. Along with a stick-like design, Dolby Vision HDR is the main difference between the Streaming Stick 4K and the Express 4K Plus, and is ostensibly why the Streaming Stick 4K is more expensive than its sibling. While we think the Streaming Stick 4K is a great device, we’re just not sold on the Dolby Vision upgrade — mostly because we generally don’t think that it provides a major image quality upgrade over standard HDR. But if Dolby Vision is important to you, this device will not disappoint.
Read our Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.
$40 at Best BuyGet Price AlertsYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Streaming Stick 4K
David Katzmaier/CNET
Chromecast with Google TV 4K
Third-best streaming device overall
The Chromecast with Google TV 4K isn’t quite as good as the Roku Express 4K Plus, but it comes closer than any other device on the market. Chromecast outdoes Roku by adding Dolby Vision compatibility, but its biggest smart device strength is Google Assistant voice search, which works well for finding stuff to watch. We also like the impressive integration with other Google services such as Google Photos and YouTube TV. The interface is more evolved-looking than Roku, but ultimately we prefer Roku’s simpler approach, no-nonsense search results and lower price. That said, the new Chromecast is a better smart streaming device choice for those already living in Google’s world.
Read our Chromecast with Google TV review.
$50 at Best Buy$50 at Target$29 at eBayYou’re receiving price alerts for Chromecast with Google TV (Snow)
Sarah Lord/CNET
Chromecast with Google TV HD
Best HD streaming device
The brand new Chromecast with Google TV HD is far and away the best HD-only, entry-level streaming device you can find. If you’re looking for a cheap streamer for your HD TV, this is the one to get. It’s speedy and offers the same form-factor and remote as the Chromecast with Google 4K, which means that it doesn’t need line-of-sight to work and can seamlessly control your TV’s power, volume and inputs. It also comes with a built-in button to access the Google Assistant.
Other entry-level HD streaming devices skimp on hardware features in order to sell their players at a lower price. For example, the remote that comes with Roku’s entry-level streamer, the Roku Express, lacks voice control or the ability to adjust the volume, never mind being able to turn the TV on or off. Amazon’s Fire TV Lite isn’t much better. It offers Alexa support, so you can use your voice to control the TV, but it still lacks physical volume, mute and power buttons.
It might ultimately make more sense to spring for a 4K streamer, especially if you have a 4K TV or might get one. That said, this is an excellent HD option for those who just want something cheap.
Read our Chromecast with Google TV HD review.
$30 at Amazon$30 at Best Buy$30 at TargetYou’re receiving price alerts for Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
Sarah Tew/CNET
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Fastest streaming device
If you’re looking for a speedy device, look no further than the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Max loads apps almost immediately, and navigating around the system is swift and smooth. Even better, the Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and nearly all the latest playback standards, including Dolby Vision. The downside to the Max is its Fire TV platform and the fact that ads are featured prominently throughout. We just don’t appreciate the TV becoming a giant rotating billboard for content or ads when in screensaver mode. But this is a good choice for those looking for a fast device or those hooked into the Amazon ecosystem. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best Fire Stick on the market today, and it’s worth the extra money over the standard Fire TV Stick 4K.
Read our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review.
$40 at Amazon$40 at Best Buy$40 at TargetYou’re receiving price alerts for Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Ultra
Best for convenience
Roku’s most expensive streaming box is more than twice the price of our top streaming device pick, but maybe you’ll appreciate its extra features enough to want the upgrade. The 2022 model is almost identical to the previous versions, but now comes bundled with the excellent Voice Remote Pro.
But if you really love the remote and want to save a little money, you could try Roku’s other bundle, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, which also includes the Voice Remote Pro. The Streaming Stick 4K’s processor isn’t quite as beefy as the Ultra’s, but it can do nearly all the same tricks such as Dolby Vision HDR.
Otherwise, the Ultra continues to deliver Dolby Vision video, faster responses than the Streaming Stick 4K, improved Wi-Fi and a wired Ethernet port — particularly welcome if your home Wi-Fi is overloaded.
Read our Roku Ultra (2022) review.
$70 at Roku$92 at Amazon$100 at Best BuyYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Ultra (2022)
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
Apple TV 4K (2022)
Best for Apple fans
The brand-new 2022 Apple TV 4K streaming device just got a little cheaper. It now starts at $129, $50 less than its previous version. It also has a faster A15 Bionic processor under the hood and an updated Siri Remote that swaps out the proprietary Lightning connector for USB-C. If those changes sound minor, that’s because they are. When using the device, it’s hard to see any real difference compared to last year’s model.
But it continues to be a good choice for those who want an Apple device to use Apple Arcade for gaming or take full advantage of their Apple One subscription bundles. Video purists will appreciate its flexible HDR and TV calibration feature.
For most people, however, Apple’s venerable remote control streaming device just isn’t worth the money, especially now that Roku has nearly all the major apps and AirPlay. If you really want Dolby Vision, you can find that on the Roku Streaming Stick 4K at a fraction of the price.
Read our 2022 Apple TV 4K review.
$124 at Amazon$130 at Best Buy$129 at AppleYou’re receiving price alerts for Apple TV 4K (2022)
Sarah Tew/CNET
Roku Streambar
Best soundbar-streaming combo
2023
Soundbars with streaming onboard may be a relatively recent development, but Roku’s new Streambar nails it. It has the Roku interface we know and love, complete with 4K HDR with improved sound for any TV, especially dialog. It’s smaller and more affordable than its predecessor, the Roku Smart Soundbar, but we think the new Streambar media streamer device makes more sense for most people.
Read our Roku Streambar review.
$100 at Roku$113 at Amazon$130 at Best BuyYou’re receiving price alerts for Roku Streambar
Sarah Tew/CNET
Nvidia Shield TV
Best for gamers
Sure, it’s an expensive media device — and that’s before adding a game controller — with 8GB of storage and 2GB RAM, compared to 16GB of storage and 3GB RAM, but if you want a jack-of-all-trades video streaming player, the Shield is it. In addition to 4K streaming and HDR, it offers a robust library of games, both console-level and Android, Steam Link, built-in Google Assistant complete with smart home control, NAS access, Plex server capability, HDHomeRun integration and much more.
Read our Nvidia Shield TV review.
$145 at Amazon$150 at Best Buy$149 at eBayYou’re receiving price alerts for NVIDIA Shield TV
How we test streaming devices
Every streaming device we review receives hours of hands-on testing. Typically, this involves installing the device on multiple TVs, evaluating the setup process, adding popular streaming channels and using the product as if it were our own. We use all of the major features available on the platform and note how they stack up against the competition. To do this, we hook rival streaming devices to the same TV so we can switch back and forth easily to compare the experiences.
Our metrics that we look at to rate a device include: hardware design and features, remote capabilities and design, overall platform ease-of-use, effective layouts and design, search capabilities, privacy settings, the number of apps and their performance, and the overall speed and reliability of the system.
Sarah Tew/CNET
FAQs
Do streaming devices have monthly fees?
No. Streaming devices themselves do not have any monthly fees. However, channels that you can watch on the streaming devices, like Netflix, HBO Max and Hulu, do require users to pay monthly fees in order to access their content.
Do you need a streaming device with a smart TV?
Not necessarily. Many smart TVs come with their own streaming platform where users can download popular apps like Netflix and Hulu. Samsung’s smart TVs offer fairly robust options. Also, TVs now come built-in with more mainstream streaming platforms such as Roku, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV.
Problems can arise when your TV’s interface lacks some of the content you need. For example, Spectrum users who have an LG smart TV will not be able to find the Spectrum app through LG’s platform. Instead, they’ll need to pick up a Roku, Apple TV or Google Chromecast in order to stream their cable package. Generally speaking, streaming-centric devices from Roku or Amazon tend to have more available apps than a streaming platform from a TV manufacturer. Of course, as you’ll see below, there are some exceptions.
Can I get all the channels I want on any device?
Every streaming device has major streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and Amazon Prime. That said, not all services have access to every streaming channel in existence. Once again, the Spectrum TV app proves illustrative. It is available on most platforms, but is not on any Amazon Fire TV device. It might be a good idea to double check which device has the apps you’ll need before making a purchase. Otherwise, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise when you find out that your device doesn’t have an app for one of your favorite services.
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