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Patrice Mieczkowski
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.
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.
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.
The 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.
Like its predecessor, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) loads apps almost immediately, and navigating around the system is swift and smooth. Even better, the Max offers Wi-Fi 6E and nearly all the latest playback standards, including Dolby Vision. For people hooked into the Amazon ecosystem, the new Ambience mode can include up-to-date delivery information on your TV screen. Though it's only a little better specified than the original Max, the second gen is now officially the best Fire Stick on the market today.
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.
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.
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.
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, HD HomeRun integration and much more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anytime I try streaming Netflix Instant Queue on the Wii, every other device has problems. The Wii works fine but everything else's connection is destroyed. Streaming through the Xbox doesn't create any issues for other devices.
This could be related to a problem people experienced with their Apple devices (iPad, iPhones, etc) in conjunction with OpenWRT/DD-WRT based routers. In that instance, the Netflix app was setting off DNSmasq, a service designed to stop DNS rebinding attacks. If you happen to have a router running custom firmware, updating to the latest version might solve the problem.
I pulled this chapter together from dozens of sources that were at times somewhat contradictory. Facts on the ground change over time and depend who is telling the story and what audience they're addressing. I tried to create as coherent a narrative as I could. If there are any errors I'd be more than happy to fix them. Keep in mind this article is not a technical deep dive. It's a big picture type article. For example, I don't mention the word microservice even once :-)
Given our discussion in the What is Cloud Computing? chapter, you might expect Netflix to serve video using AWS. Press play in a Netflix application and video stored in S3 would be streamed from S3, over the internet, directly to your device.
Another relevant factoid is Netflix is subscription based. Members pay Netflix monthly and can cancel at any time. When you press play to chill on Netflix, it had better work. Unhappy members unsubscribe.
The client is the user interface on any device used to browse and play Netflix videos. It could be an app on your iPhone, a website on your desktop computer, or even an app on your Smart TV. Netflix controls each and every client for each and every device.
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