Best 2023 Streamers: Enhance Your Watching Experience with the Ideal Device!

Read update

• We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our picks for the best Roku streaming device and the best Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Streaming services make it easy to watch your favorite movies and shows, but it can be hard to stream them on your TV. Our streaming device recommendations will make it easy to put on Netflix and enjoy it hassle-free.

UPDATE: 09/20/2023

We’ve reviewed our recommendations and have updated our picks for the best Roku streaming device and the best Amazon Fire TV Stick.

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  Roku

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Best Streaming Device Overall
$44 at Amazon

• 
  
  Amazon

Fire TV Stick Lite

Best Budget Streaming Device
See at Amazon

• 
  
  Roku

Roku Streambar

Best Roku Streaming Device
See at Amazon

• 
  
  Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Best Fire TV Streaming Device
$80 at Amazon

• 
  
  Google

Chromecast with Google TV (2020)

Best Google TV Streaming Device
See at Best Buy

• See More

• 
  
  NVIDIA

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

Best Android TV Streaming Device
$199 at Amazon

• 
  
  Apple

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Best Apple TV Device
$159 at Amazon

How to Shop for a Streaming Device in 2023

If you have an older TV, but it works just fine, it can be hard to justify the price of upgrading to a smart TV . Even if you are upgrading, there are some issues with smart TVs to consider, from poor update support to the apps and services you use most potentially missing from the TV manufacturer’s supported app lineup.

Streaming devices and sticks are a straightforward way to get all of your streaming services to the most important place—your TV. All the streaming devices we recommended provide access to major streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max available from the get-go without all the hassle of dealing with a Smart TV’s UI.

One key factor to keep in mind with streaming players is that while all of these devices will have the most popular streaming services on them, you’ll want to make sure that the device supports less popular or more niche services (such as Viki or Philo). The interfaces for some of these devices can vary, but in general, they all work the same.

Almost all of our streaming device recommendations are 4K streaming devices. These devices are in the same price range (and sometimes even less) as their HD counterparts while allowing for HDR and 1080p streaming. Even if you don’t yet have a 4K TV, you’ll be able to use your streaming device when you do upgrade.

Now, let’s get into the best streaming devices today.

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Best Streaming Device Overall: Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Roku

When most people get a streaming device, they tend to get a Roku, and it’s easy to see why. Roku provides a variety of options at a really great price, and generally, they don’t skimp on what’s most important.

So, it’s no surprise that the best streaming device is a Roku, specifically the new Roku Streaming Stick 4K . For just $50, you’ll have access to all the popular streaming services and then some, all on one device. Setup is a breeze, and you’ll get HDR10+ and Dolby Vision-compatible content on your TV in a snap.

Roku’s remote control can also be programmed to work with your TV, so you can control the volume and turn your TV on and off just with the Roku remote. What this remote doesn’t have, however, are programmable streaming service buttons or the ability to find it via voice—you’ll need to pay the premium of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ to get those features.

Other than a few missing features on the remote, the only other downside to the Streaming Stick 4K is that you can’t play your own content from the device. While that isn’t a concern for most, if you want to be able to play your personal collection of shows and movies from a storage device, our best Roku streaming device pick will be a better choice.

For everyone else, though, you can’t beat the price and functionality of the Streaming Stick 4K.

Best Streaming Device Overall

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

$44 $50 Save $6

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a cheap and painless way to stream all your favorite movies and shows in ultra-crisp 4K resolution.

$44 at Amazon See at Best Buy

Best Budget Streaming Device: Fire Stick TV Lite

Amazon

If you’re looking to spend as little money as possible on a streaming stick, the Fire Stick TV Lite will be an alright bet. This streaming stick will plug effortlessly into your TV. All you need to do is turn everything on, and you’ll have your streaming services all in one place.

The Fire TV Stick Lite is only $30 at full price, making it the cheapest of the picks on our list. However, most of the other picks are only a little more expensive (our favorite of the bunch, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K , is only $50) and offer a variety of additional features. The Fire Stick TV Lite does not have 4K streaming capabilities, nor does the Alexa-enabled remote have TV controls on it.

Given the small price difference between the Fire Stick TV Lite and some of our other picks, we recommend giving some of the other devices on this list a read first. But, if you’re looking to spend as little as possible and know you’re not upgrading to 4K anytime soon, the Fire Stick TV Lite will get the job done.

Best Budget Streaming Device

Fire TV Stick Lite

Inexpensive, discrete, and providing plenty of streaming options, the Fire Stick TV Lite is a good way to upgrade a non-Smart TV without much fuss.

See at Amazon

Best Roku Streaming Device: Roku Streambar

Roku

Any Roku device can be great for upgrading your TV to a media streaming system, particularly the Express 4K+ and the Ultra . But if you’re going to upgrade your viewing experience, why not go the whole way and pick a streaming device that also boosts the audio quality?

The Roku Streambar might be the most expensive product they offer, but it’s also the one with the most features. It brings high-quality 4K and HDR streaming to any compatible television, combined with the sort of cinematic Dolby audio experience usually only found on high-end and more expensive media setups. It can even be mounted on a wall if you don’t use a TV stand.

Clever Roku OS software helps to boost volume and speech clarity beyond what might be expected from a soundbar as relatively small as this one and can even be configured to automatically lower the volume during commercials or boost it for nighttime viewing. If there’s nothing worth watching, you can use the Streambar as a standalone Bluetooth speaker, playing music from your phone, tablet, or any other connected device.

Unfortunately, you only get a standard Roku Voice Remote rather than the improved controller that comes with the Roku Ultra. If that’s a dealbreaker, you could opt for the more expensive Streambar Pro . It’s nearly double the price but includes the remote with a headphone jack, upgraded audio drivers, and virtual surround sound.

If you’re entirely happy with your TV audio, the Ultra might be the best Roku streaming device for you. But if your media setup could benefit from a sound boost, the Streambar is a great way to get it for just a few dollars more.

Best Roku Streaming Device

Roku Streambar

The Roku Streambar brings the most popular streaming service to your TV while vastly improving your audio experience. It combines a Roku streaming stick with a soundbar!

See at Amazon See at Best Buy

Best Fire TV Streaming Device: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon

Fire TV sticks are a popular choice among the varied streaming devices available, and for good reason. They’re cheap, easy to set up and use, and give instant access to a heap of free content if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. But if you want the best streaming experience, it’s worth looking beyond the basic Fire Stick models.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Amazon’s most powerful and capable small streaming device. For just a few dollars more than the Fire Stick 4K , you get full HD or 4K HDR streaming, access to Dolby Vision , Dolby Atmos audio, and extras like live picture-in-picture. But more importantly, in terms of performance and stream quality, it also lets you use Wi-Fi 6.

Of course, most of those features are also on the Fire TV Stick 4K. What sets the Max apart, even more so than the faster Wi-Fi connectivity, is the hardware upgrade. The CPU, GPU, and memory have all been improved significantly, and it shows. Amazon itself suggests that it performs 40% faster than the 4K, and it certainly feels that way when you use it. Apps load in a blink, navigating the menus is smoother and more fluid, and input lag has been reduced.

If you’re looking for your first Fire TV stick, it makes sense to start with the best on offer and the one that’s the most futureproof. Even if you can’t use Wi-Fi 6, spending a few extra bucks on the Max is definitely the way to go.

Best Fire TV Streaming Device

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max brings you all of the quality improvements of the 4K but with the addition of upgraded hardware and faster and more reliable Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.

$80 at Amazon

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Best Google TV Streaming Device: Chromecast with Google TV

Jordan Gloor / How-To Geek

In 2020, Google decided to take the minimal Chromecast to the next level with the Chromecast with Google TV . This Chromecast is actually a streaming device instead of older models simply casting your PC or phone screen onto the TV, so it’s a lot better for those who want a hassle-free, 4K streaming experience.

Google TV is a modified version of Android TV and comes with a few unique features. First, you can make a watchlist of everything you want to watch across all of your streaming platforms. This theoretically makes it easier to find what you want to watch. However, currently, there are no ways to organize the list you’ve made. While that’s no different than most streaming services, when you have a huge list of shows to watch from every service, what’s originally an annoyance turns into something more frustrating.

But it’s still easy to hop into any of your services and find what you want. And if you search via the Google TV UI or with Google Assistant, you’ll easily be able to figure out where the show or movie you want to watch is streaming or where it can be rented, without omitting competitor options. You can even find some niche options on Google TV, so you can stream everything you want to watch without issues or side-loading (though you still can ).

One thing to note about the Chromecast with Google TV is that it’s slow. The interface loads pretty slowly, which can be annoying to deal with when you just want to watch something. This isn’t a Wi-Fi issue, either, but instead an issue with the minimal RAM built into the Chromecast itself.

Best Google TV Streaming Device

Chromecast with Google TV (2020)

With a dedicated remote and the ability to stream directly from the device, the Chromecast with Google TV is leagues ahead of the minimal older models.

See at Best Buy

Best Android TV Streaming Device: NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro

NVIDIA

Do you want it all, and do you need it all on Android TV, specifically? There are admittedly not a lot of good options for Android TV streaming devices with Google TV taking over the market, but one of the few will do a lot. The NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro will give you beautiful Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision in 4K.

If you’re a gamer, GeForce Now will allow you to stream and play games on the NVIDIA Shield TV. If you’re just looking for something to watch movies and shows with, that won’t matter much, but for those looking to try game streaming a try, this is pretty neat.

The problem is that the NVIDIA Shield Pro is expensive for a streaming device. Very expensive. With a $200 price tag, this is the most expensive pick on our list.

In addition, this is a 2019 device, and while that means it doesn’t work as well as newer devices, it does mean that we might see an update soon. A new NVIDIA Shield TV may not be cheaper, but will likely have updated tech and just be better overall, so it becomes difficult to recommend a $200 purchase when this may be an issue.

On top of that, there’s no actual reason to go with Android TV over Google TV . Google TV is effectively a makeover of Android TV with Google’s name on it . Despite Google TV’s shortcomings, it will probably be supported in the coming months over Android TV.

But, if you truly want an Android TV streaming device that also gives you a bunch of great features you didn’t know you needed, you can’t go wrong with the NVIDIA Shield Android TV 4K Pro.

Best Android TV Streaming Device

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

The NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro is probably the most high-end, powerful Android TV device you can buy. It can scale all video to 4K in Dolby Vision and play games via GeForce Now.

$199 at Amazon See at Best Buy

Best Apple TV Device: Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

Apple

Sometimes, you just want an Apple device. If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem, picking up an Apple streaming device makes sense since you know it’ll work with everything you already have. Released in 2022, the Apple TV 4K is the device you’ll want to go for.

The Apple TV 4K comes with Siri Remote that can control your TV and the box easily. The A15 Bionic chip ensures a smooth experience in the UI and within apps, while Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 provides fantastic audio.

You’ll also get access to some Apple-exclusive apps like Apple Fitness+ and Apple Arcade , allowing you to use all of your Apple services in one place. However, Apple TV+ is available on other devices like Rokus, so if this is your only Apple subscription, you might want to consider a cheaper option—this is one of the more expensive streaming devices around.

You can also AirPlay from a Mac , iPhone, or iPad—although your smart TV may already have AirPlay built-in .

Overall, the Apple TV 4K is a solid streaming box, but unless you’re fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, it’s difficult to justify the high price tag.

Best Apple TV Device

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen)

You’ll get the full Apple experience with this streaming device. The A15 chip provides great hardware for all of your apps, Apple-exclusive or otherwise.

$159 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target See at Apple

FAQ

Do I need a streaming device with a smart TV?

The answer here depends on what services come preinstalled or are able to be installed on the smart TV you have. For example, most smart TVs come with Netflix preinstalled, or the ability to download the Netflix app. However, a smaller service like Discovery+ may not be recognized by your smart TV off the bat.

In the first scenario, you do not need a streaming device. In the second case, your smart TV will need a streaming device that supports Discovery+ if it isn’t natively recognized.

How do streaming devices work?

You can think of a streaming device (or streaming stick) as a little hotspot for your TV. It connects your TV to the internet, allowing it to talk to streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO Max.

How do I know which streaming services are available on a streaming device?

Some streaming devices offer thousands of channels for sports, movies, and news. The easiest way to find out which services come with your streaming device is by checking its website or app. For example, Roku has a “What can I watch? “ section that gives you a full breakdown of the channel list, and the Apple TV app lists the channels and services available to you.

Can AirPlay or Chromecast’s Cast stream to multiple devices?

When it comes to audio, the answer is yes, you can stream to multiple devices at once using AirPlay 2 and Chromecast . Video, on the other hand, is a much more involved process that requires multiple receivers, or an HDMI splitter and two screens that are close enough together to tether with cords.

Do streaming devices have monthly fees?

No, the streaming sticks themselves do not come with monthly fees. However, you will still have to pay for the streaming services themselves (for example, Hulu’s monthly fee starts at $7.99/month).

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