Top 9 Best TV Streaming Devices
Best Streaming Device overall
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K got refreshed for 2021, and it’s still the same great 4K Roku streaming device that you’ve come to know and love, thankfully. It supports 4K HDR as well as Dolby Vision. So you’re going to get a really great experience out of this one. This time around, it has up to 2x faster WiFi, so you’re going to be able to stream 4K content a whole lot easier and faster. Say goodbye to buffering. With The Roku Channel, there are now over 150 live streaming TV channels available to watch, among the many other apps that are available on Roku.
Best streaming device to keep it simple
Chromecast with Google TV
Price: $49Buy: Best Buy
Google unveiled the new Chromecast with Google TV last month, and it quickly became one of our favorite streaming devices. That is because it brings all the familiarity of Android TV, to a smaller dongle, with an actual remote. Which is something the Chromecast was always missing. Chromecast with Google TV runs Android TV, but it has a new user interface on-top called Google TV. Which works extremely well. It makes it much easier to find something to watch, and the recommendations will get better over time. Additionally, it has a “Live” tab for YouTube TV (other streaming live TV services will be added in the future, apparently), which makes it easy to see what is live on TV right now. Without jumping into the app, which can be a bit slower. The remote has all the buttons you’d want, including buttons to control your TV. Which makes the Chromecast with Google TV incredible, and worth buying. Chromecast with Google TV - Best Buy
It also boosts RAM to 2GB, and now supports Dolby Vision. Giving you a really great picture on your Dolby Vision-compatible TV. Which is always nice to see.
Best Android TV streaming device
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick
The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick is the best Android TV streaming device on the market right now. Though there aren’t many competitors to choose from. It doesn’t do 4K though, so if you want 4K, check out the NVIDIA SHIELD TV listed below. This stick from Xiaomi does the absolute bare minimum for Android TV, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s keeping things simple. As mentioned, it does 1080p only, it has a gigabyte of RAM and 8GB of storage as well. Which should keep it decently speedy. With Android TV running on the Xiaomi Mi TV Stick, you’re going to be able to watch all of your favorite movies and TV shows here. From apps like YouTube, Sling TV, Fubo TV, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix and much more.
Best streaming device for gamers
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro is the best streaming device for gamers, because it is also a gaming console and works with GeForce Now. So you can play your favorite PC games on the big screen. This runs on Android TV, as you might have expected, and that allows it to run a bunch of great apps. Like Fubo TV, Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, Disney+, HBO MAX and much more. There are hundreds of thousands of games available on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro. Of course, with it running on Android TV, you also get the Google Assistant here. So you can control your smart home products from your TV, find something to watch and much more.
Best Roku streaming device
Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra is the best Roku streaming devices without being the overall best. It offers some really cool features, but it’s more of a set-top box, instead of a streaming stick. It does do 4K HDR, and even HDR10. Giving you some really great looking content on your 4K HDR TV. It does also include a number of great apps, like Hulu, SHOWTIME ANYWHERE, STARZ, Philo, ESPN+, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube TV and much more. There are over half a million TV shows and movies available on the Roku platform. There’s also the Roku Channel, that allows you to watch all sorts of movies and TV shows which are ad-supported. But it does support 1080p HDR, with support for HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG. It also has Dolby Audio via HDMI pass-through. It’s a good streamer to use in a pinch, especially if you’re looking for something that can get the job done without spending a fortune.
Best cheap Android TV Stick
onn. Streaming Stick
Price: $14.88Buy: Walmart
It supports WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, so you’re going to get some fast speeds here. Which is needed for streaming at up to 2K resolution. Unfortunately, there’s no 4K available here, but that’s what you expect for a $15 streaming stick. onn. Streaming Stick - Walmart
