Best streaming devices in 2024
1. BEST STREAMING DEVICE FOR AMAZON PRIME USERS
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
PROS
- Great selection of apps
- Voice control via remote
CONS
- You’ll see sponsored ads
Amazon Prime members will make the most of this powerful streaming stick that’s a worthy rival to the Roku 4K on our list. It’s an ideal option to stash away behind your TV, and integrates well with the Prime Video and Music services – along with offering a wide selection of apps and services available through Amazon’s store.
The Max version adds extra capabilities like support for faster wifi speeds and a way to quickly check your video doorbell without stopping the film or show you’re watching. It supports 4K and HDR for high-end image quality, and it has a voice remote so that you can talk to Alexa and control the playback while pressing the button for the assistant.
On test, we found it straightforward to navigate and fast, but if you want to talk to Alexa without pressing a button you’ll need the more advanced Fire TV Cube.
2. BEST STREAMING DEVICE FOR GOOGLE USERS
Chromecast with Google TV
PROS
- Simple user interface
- Great casting abilities
CONS
- Bigger than some rivals
Unlike the original Chromecast, this version runs on the sleek Google TV platform (the successor to Android TV) and delivers a simple interface with a quick search function so you can get to the shows and films you want to watch with less fuss.
It’s a great value option that comes in at a similar price as the 4K Fire stick and the Roku at the top of our list while delivering many of the same features. For us, the better menu system from Google makes this a worthwhile pick, and you’re getting a lot for your money.
It delivers 4K HDR video quality, loads of apps and casting abilities. It also adds some Google-specific features, such as displaying your albums in Google Photos or controlling your smart home setup through Google Assistant.
3. BEST STREAMING DEVICE FOR HANDS-FREE ALEXA
Amazon Fire TV Cube
PROS
- Smooth performance
- Smart home control
CONS
- No built-in speaker
As the most advanced model Amazon makes, the Fire TV Cube offers up all the features of Amazon’s streaming devices and its Echo speakers in one compact box, and it delivers faster performance than all of the rest of the Fire TV range.
Because it works as a hands-free Alexa-enabled speaker, it’s also the ideal pick if you’re building a connected smart home and want to ask Alexa to turn your lights on or off, or to arm or disarm your security system.
When it comes to streaming videos and music, it offers a wide range of apps and services available on any Fire device, and full voice control via Alexa so you can ask it to play or pause the film you’re watching without having to press a button on a remote control to get the voice assistant listening.
4. BEST ALL-IN-ONE STREAMING DEVICE
Roku Streambar
PROS
- Great way to enhance your TV audio
- Works as a Bluetooth speaker
CONS
- Lacks Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support
When compared to the other streaming devices on our list, the Streambar is a bit of an anomaly, because it’s not just a dedicated streamer. It’s ideal if you’re considering enhancing the sound from your telly while also improving its connected capabilities, as it doubles up as a soundbar for all audio from your TV, not just for anything you stream (in 4K with HDR) via its Roku platform.
We have used it to handle the sound coming from the regular terrestrial TV, our Nintendo Switch or Blu-ray player, and it’s had no problem with any of it, whether channelling the audio through its HDMI cable (make sure it’s plugged into the slot marked ARC) or through an optical cable. While it’s smaller than some soundbars, it gets louder and more detailed than your existing TV speakers, and it works as a Bluetooth speaker too.
5. BEST VALUE STREAMING STICK FOR PRIME USERS
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
PROS
- Good value for money
- Speedy navigation
CONS
- Remote lacks dedicated app buttons
If you don’t need all the power and high resolution of the other Ultra HD Amazon devices on our list, you can make a big saving by picking this basic Fire TV stick variant.
It outputs in HD quality rather than 4K, but still includes the comprehensive app selection, speedy navigation and voice-control capabilities via the Alexa remote, which you can use to search for shows and films but not to control your TV or volume.
When on offer, this one is the best value device around, and we’ve seen it go for as low as £15 during sales events.
6. BEST STREAMING DEVICE FOR MOST PEOPLE
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
PROS
- Very easy to set up and use
- Compact design
CONS
- Remote is slightly dated
This Roku is the best option for most people looking for a future-proof media streamer because it’s super straightforward to set up and use, and it delivers a massive range of streaming services (including catch-up for all the major UK TV channels and the likes of Netflix, NOW, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and a lot more).
It has support for 4K quality – including “Dolby Vision” HDR, and we like how it’s compact, simple and speedy, and that the interface is uncomplicated and intuitive.
We had it fully set up within a couple of minutes and we also love how you can jump straight to Spotify, Netflix or Apple TV+ from its great remote control (which also offers voice search functionality).
7. BEST BUDGET STREAMING DEVICE FOR 4K
Roku Express 4K
PROS
- Great budget 4K option
- Lots of apps and services
CONS
- Lacks voice remote
You’ll have noticed that it’s rare to get 4K video quality without going for something over £50, but it’s not out of the question. Roku offers a basic Ultra HD player at a low cost with this variant of its budget Express model, and it’s a little box that you attach to your TV with an adhesive strip rather than a stick or chunkier streaming box.
Like any other Roku, it offers a huge selection of apps and services, along with improved speeds compared to the older Express. One difference between this and the top-end Roku Streaming Stick 4K is that it doesn’t come with the voice-control remote, but it otherwise has most of the same features and all the same apps.
8. BEST STREAMING DEVICE FOR VIDEO QUALITY
Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K HDR
PROS
- Excellent picture quality
- Ideal for gamers
CONS
- Much larger than rival streamers
When it comes to high-end streaming devices, there are two big names: The Apple TV and the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. Both players offer serious performance, 4K quality and HDR video with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos audio, onboard storage, and ethernet connections for reliable internet.
The Apple rival is best if you’ve got other Apple gadgets, but if you’re in the Android world and want some of the best upscaling (where the device makes HD videos appear as sharp as 4K), we’d recommend going for the wedge-shaped Nvidia.
It runs on Android TV and offers up a huge app selection and has built-in Chromecast and access to Google Assistant. Also, if you’ve got any gaming fans at home, it doubles up as a console with the GeForce Now service that enables you to play PC games on your TV.
