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The best TV streaming device available do tend to change from time to time. And that’s why we are here to help you find the best device for you. Whether it’s an Android TV device, Amazon Fire TV, Roku or something else. We’ve used all of these devices in our own home, and know why they are good, or why they aren’t so good.
There’s so many great streaming devices on the market these days, though they all run on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV/Google TV, Roku or Apple TV. So here are the best streaming devices you can buy today.
Best TV Streaming Devices
This list of the best TV streaming device includes a number of different options, and different platforms. So you can choose the best TV streaming device for your needs. Whether you want to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Or use Android TV or Roku. There’s something here for everyone. Prices range from as low as $30, to as much as $200. So depending on your budget, we have something for everyone.
Best Streaming Device overall
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021)
- Price: $49
- Buy: Amazon
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.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K (2021) - Amazon
Best streaming device to keep it simple
Chromecast with Google TV
- Price: $49
- Buy: 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
Best Apple TV Device
Apple TV 4K
- Price: $149
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming TV devices out there, and also one of the most expensive. But that’s because it is very powerful compared to some others on this list. Apple has included the A12 Bionic chipset here, which was the chipset that powered the iPhone XS, yes pretty old at this point, but still powerful. It also comes with a ton of storage at 32GB or 64GB.
Now the downside with the Apple TV 4K is that it does not work if you don’t have an iPhone or iPad. You won’t even be able to set it up without one. But it does have support for all of the major apps: YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV+, and many more. There’s also great features like, no ads (except for a few banners in the TV app), as well as the ability to hook up a pair of AirPods or Beats with ease, and much more. It’s expensive, but worth it.
Best Amazon Fire TV Device
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- Price: $54.99
- Buy: Amazon
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is now the best Fire TV device that you can buy. It takes everything that the Fire TV Stick 4K was already able to do, but makes it a bit faster. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max has WiFi 6 support, allowing for faster speeds for streaming different shows and movies.
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.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max - Amazon
Best Android TV streaming device
Xiaomi Mi TV Stick
- Price: $49.95
- Buy: Amazon
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
- Price: $199
- Buy: Amazon
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
- Price: $79
- Buy: Amazon
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.
There is also support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. So you can use whichever one you want with the Roku Ultra. On top of that, it also has Google Cast, allowing you to Cast your favorite content to your TV with ease. Which is a really popular feature.
Best budget Amazon Fire TV device
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
- Price: $29.99
- Buy: Amazon
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is not only the cheapest Fire TV device on this list, but the cheapest streamer period. It comes in at just $29.99 and does all of the basics. So don’t expect anything crazy from this one, like 4K HDR.
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.
Since it runs on Fire TV, you still get access to most of your favorite apps. Including YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ and much more.
Best cheap Android TV Stick
onn. Streaming Stick
- Price: $14.88
- Buy: Walmart
Walmart has been making a lot of its own electronics lately, a lot like Amazon does with Amazon Basics. And onn. is their own brand. Which also makes an Android TV streaming stick. This streaming stick is just $15, making it the cheapest on this list.
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.