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One of the many reasons for a happy 2024? Gone are the days of needing a cable subscription and spending hundreds of dollars on Blu-rays! Now you can get all the good stuff via streaming platforms and you don’t need a set-top box or even a new TV to enjoy them. All you need is a streaming device. Usually connect it to your set via a basic HDMI connection; You can quickly get used to it and start watching all the movies, TV series, comedy specials and the like that your eyeballs can handle.
Ah, but which streaming device to buy? Lucky for you, we tested some of them on our own TVs to see which one is the best of the best. Below we share all the information that will help you make the best choice for your smart home theater system.
roku
Some of our favorite streaming devices are also some of the most affordable; i.e. Rokus. The software is extremely easy to use, has a user-friendly home screen and is compatible with all major publishers; We’re talking Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, HBO Max and more.
$30 on Amazon
Roku Express 4K+ offers 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 and Airplay format.
The author of one happy five-star review wrote, “I’m incredibly impressed!!!” he exclaimed. “I have an old, big Samsung TV in my bedroom that my dad got for free. I’ve been using this TV for years with an old Roku. It stopped working right and started lagging really hard. I went out and bought a new, smaller Vizio TV, and it performed terribly and within a day I returned it. I decided to try this Roku on my old Samsung TV. All I have to say is: OMG. It got my TV performing like new and saved me a ton of money. If you’re in a similar situation to me or looking for a great alternative, don’t hesitate, try this Roku. It’s amazing for the money, the picture and quality are brand new and it performs 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 the stick design, this device is for you. It offers all the features of Express 4K+ and adds Dolby Vision HDR support.
$40 on Amazon
One big plus of the Streaming Stick 4K? Its wireless receiver is designed for distance, so it works in rooms that aren’t near your router. We also like the hands-free voice remote that lets you use voice controls. Don’t worry if you lose the TV remote control in the sofa cushions; You can make voice calls through Roku and it will start beeping.
One five-star reviewer said: “I switched from my old Samsung smart DVD player, which had a very limited app selection, to this Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ with literally any app I could want. I love being able to just add apps using my TV, computer, or phone.” The stick is out of my line of sight; it’s plugged into the HDMI port on the back of my TV. I didn’t realize it needed to be plugged in for its own power until I got it delivered, but I can power it using the USB port on the back of my TV. The remote control is also very impressive. It’s simple and easy to use but also “Very capable. The price is very reasonable, especially compared to other streaming devices.”
The Chromecast dongle with Google TV is a great choice for those living in the Google ecosystem. Also: This will give you the opportunity to say: dongle regularly!
$48 on Amazon
We absolutely love Google Assistant voice search on Google Chromecast; For example, you can search for movies and TV series by searching for the names of the actors. We also like that this Google TV device integrates with Google Photos; you can add your favorite images to a rotating slideshow! If you are a fan of YouTube or YouTube TV, this streamer is for you.
“This was easy to set up and install!” said this Chromecast customer. “I had a TV that didn’t even have a working remote, and this replaced my old Fire Stick and now I can turn on the TV, watch all my streaming apps, and broadcasts from both my Android and Apple phone.”
Amazon
If you live in a home with Alexa, you can choose the Fire TV product instead. This is our favorite.
$60 on Amazon
It supports 4K Max, Dolby Vision and has a beautiful picture-in-picture feature to display your security camera feed. And of course, Alexa is here to fulfill your viewing preferences and meet all your content search needs. If you’re a big Amazon Prime fan, this is the way to go.
“The new Fire Stick is a huge improvement over older versions,” said this happy customer. “Easy to set up, easy to move your content from your old Fire Stick. Great price. I recommend trading in the old version; once the swap is complete the price isn’t bad at all. I highly recommend upgrading any old version of Fire Stick to the new and improved version. Wi-Fi 6 great improvement, no buffering issues so far! 4K HDR looks amazing on my brand new 65” LG! I’m completely happy with this new Fire TV Stick. There are big changes in the remote control! Easily access Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and of course Amazon Prime Video. Voice recognition is great; Alexa finds it for you.”
Apple
An indispensable component for Apple device enthusiasts. As is typical of the brand, the user interface is much sleeker than its competitors’, and the remote has been updated to make it easier for you to navigate the screen.
$147 at Amazon $129 at Walmart
You can also ask Siri “What did they just say?” you may ask. While watching a movie, it will replay the scene with subtitles. Apple TV is also a media streaming device for gamers via Apple Arcade, or if you want native support for Apple’s Fitness+ workout program.
“My experience with a regular Apple TV has been somewhat life-changing,” said one enthusiastic customer, who called it a great Apple product. “Smart TV apps are actually universally terrible and don’t guarantee 4K quality (at least on LG), so I was instantly pleased when I set up this 4K Apple TV. My TV is finally reaching its 4K potential! Setup was incredibly easy, overall Apple “As with the product line. The new all-metal remote control design is thicker and heavier than the previous generation and feels good in the hand. Button ergonomics have also been improved. Great value, great product.”
If you have Amazon Prime, of course, you get free shipping. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for your 30-day free trial here. (By the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the latest versions at the time of publication.