There are endless streaming services nowadays, and while they might make for one of the easiest ways to view your favorite content, the hassle of finding which one of the services offer what you're trying to watch is an added hassle. Sometimes your show is on Netflix, and then it switches to Hulu. Luckily, with a streaming device, it's easy to search (sometimes even by voice) and find exactly where to watch your favorite movies and TV shows. Plus, it's easy to swap these compact devices into different TVs, often giving them smart capabilities they may not have had.
The best streaming devices deliver high-quality image and audio signals to your TV and speakers. This means you can actually make the most out of your 4K TV and home theater setup. They also streamline finding the content you want to watch and get it playing quickly. Though the streaming device market isn't insanely saturated, yet, it's still important to find one that works best for your home. We've put many of these streaming devices through rigorous testing and narrowed down the field to only the best. So, if you're looking to get a quality device, you need to look no further than what you see here – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Streaming Device:
- Roku Ultra
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- Nvidia Shield TV
- Apple TV 4K
- Chromecast with Google TV
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
1. Roku Ultra
Best Streaming Device
If you want the best streaming device sitting under your TV, you need the Roku Ultra. This box comes in at a reasonable price that really sends its value through the roof. It's ready to take on your high-end 4K TV as its HDMI 2.0 port supports 4K UHD video output with HDR at up to 60fps. That means you're getting superb video quality. There's even support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision HDR formats, which helps ensure a match for the technologies supported by your TV. Besides the killer HDR support, the Roku Ultra also supports some high-quality audio formats, too. You'll be able to enjoy DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Atmos depending on what you're watching and what the TV or soundbar supports. As an added perk, you can pair it with a speaker setup wirelessly over Bluetooth.
You'll probably find one of the best parts of the Roku Ultra is the remote. It provides easy navigation of the Roku interface and supports voice commands to make pulling up your favorite content a breeze. And, when you inevitably lose the remote deep in the couch cushions, you simply press a button on the streaming device to make the remote play a sound. You won't need to turn over the entire house to find it. The remote also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, letting you plug in your headphones to watch your TV without having the audio disturb others in your household.
2. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Best Budget Streaming Device
You don't need to spend a lot to add smart and streaming capabilities to your TV. Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks provide an affordable way to turn any TV or display with a free HDMI port into a smart one with all the benefits of Amazon’s Fire TV operating system. You get easy access to a ton of content plus all the smarts for finding that content with Amazon’s Alexa voice. Every major streaming service is available for download on the device, including HBO Max, which we know was an issue a few years back. Plus, it can be used in conjunction with your other smart home devices, so you can pull up the doorbell camera on your TV or ask Alexa about the weather.
Our favorite of the Amazon lineup is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It provides all of that at an impressively affordable $55 price. It makes the most of your TV with support for 4K video at up to 60fps and wide HDR format support — HDR10+ and Dolby Vision included. Dolby Atmos audio is also supported. And, on top of some internal upgrades to the processor and memory that help the Fire TV Stick 4K Max run faster than its predecessor, this new stick also has Wi-Fi 6. This means you're in for a faster and more stable connection with a supported router, making it easier to get those high-definition experiences.
3. Nvidia Shield TV
Best 4K Streaming Device
Nvidia's Shield TV is a pricier option, but it's easily the best 4K streaming device on the market. Heck, it's one of, if not the only, streaming device to have a built-in upscaling technology. Using a process Nvidia calls "AI-enhanced upscaling," the Shield TV can turn anything you watch into a 4K video. That includes everything from blockbuster movies to Twitch streams and YouTube Videos. There's also support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision as well as DTS-X surround and Dolby Atmos for audio. Plus, you have access to a ton of different streaming services and the Google Play Store, since it's running on the Android TV platform. It even doubles as a Chromecast, so you can stream to your TV from your phone or tablet.
The remote the Nvidia Shield TV comes with is also fairly smart. It's motion-activated, so when you pick it up the buttons light up. Plus, there is a voice search, an IR blaster, and a built-in lost remote indicator. The most impressive feature of the Nvidia Shield TV, however, is you can game with the device. There are two different ways; if you have an Nvidia graphics card you can also stream games from your gaming PC to your 4K TV at 60fps. Alternatively, you can stream games directly from Nvidia's servers using GeForce Now, which currently gives you the power of a Turing-based desktop over the air.
4. Apple TV 4K
Best 4K Streaming Box for Apple Households
If you’ve got iPhones, an iPad, a Mac, and Apple HomeKit gadgets populating your home, you’re going to want the latest Apple TV 4K living beneath your television. This model comes with some serious upgrades over its predecessors' thanks to the inclusion of an Apple A12 Bionic chip, which boosts the performance considerably. It also totes a new and improved remote with a touch-enabled clickpad for easier navigation of your favorite streaming apps. You can also always pair the streaming box with a Bluetooth controller to play games on Apple Arcade, too.
With the Apple TV 4K, you’ll be able to watch 4K UHD footage at 60fps with HDR support, including Dolby Vision. That’s great for anyone with the iPhone 13, as that’s exactly the spec its cameras are capable of recording, so you’ll have the perfect platform for viewing your captured footage. And, the inclusion of AirPlay means it's simple to view all the photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad or Mac on your TV. Using the smarts of the Apple TV 4K and the advanced sensors in the Face ID-enabled iPhones, the Apple TV 4K can also automatically calibrate its output video to tune the color, contrast, and brightness for better viewing on your TV. Plus, if you're curious about what's going on around the house but don't want to get off the couch, you can get a live view of your HomeKit-enabled cameras right on your TV.
5. Chromecast with Google TV
Best Android TV Streaming Stick
Chromecasts have long been a great way to add a bit of smartness to your TV. They let you use all your favorite smartphone apps to choose what you want to watch and then have the Chromecast stream that choice to your TV. Now, the Chromecast with Google TV has made Google's option for smartening up your TV a whole lot better. It has its own Android TV-like interface built-in, so you can install your favorite streaming apps directly onto the device, and then get smart recommendations for what to watch from Google. It's also easy to see where certain things are streaming, so you don't accidentally select an option only to find you're not subscribed to the service.
The new dongle still plugs straight into the back of your TV with an HDMI connection, where it can deliver 4K/60Hz video signal with HDR. Just like older Chromecasts, you can use your phone to cast media to it or opt for the new built-in interface. The Chromecast with Google TV also has Bluetooth, so you can pair it with a Bluetooth speaker. A serious bonus of this kit is the included controller, which can be set up to control the Chromecast, your TV, and your sound systems. It features Google Assistant for voice control of not only the Chromecast but smart home devices as well. Just get ready to power this device with its own adapter, as it requires more juice than the USB port on the back of your TV is likely to offer.
6. Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
Best Streaming Stick
Roku’s products tend to balance high-quality capabilities with an affordable price. At $70, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ is delivering a 4K/60fps capable streaming stick with support for the most popular HDR formats as well as DTS and Dolby audio signals. And, since this is a stick rather than a box, you just plug it directly into the HDMI port of your TV, keeping it hidden behind the TV. Don't worry though, it still does everything a streaming box can do.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ comes with Roku’s Voice Remote Pro, which lets you search for content using just your voice. You can also use your favorite smart assistants as it supports Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. The remote comes with a headphone jack, so you can watch TV and listen privately with your favorite pair of wired headphones. And, you won't lose the remote, as you can call out to Roku to find the remote, and it’ll play a sound. Also, unlike most remotes, Roku's is rechargeable, so you won't be scavenging for batteries late night when you just want to watch your favorite sitcom before bed.
Where to Get the Best Streaming Box in the UK
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
