10 Best Streaming Devices for 2023

ilijiamiljkovac

Ilija Miljkovac is a Technopedia writer with 7 years of experience covering all things tech. He writes about everything from cybersecurity to ISPs, ensuring businesses…

Full Bio

View our Editorial Policy

Editor

Editor

Last updated: 23 May, 2023

Having the best streaming device will let you stream your favorite shows and movies directly on your TV. Many of the best devices will also have an intuitive modern remote or even a virtual assistant to help you navigate its Smart TV features and streaming app menus.

However, narrowing down the best media streaming devices for your home can be challenging, as a wide range of models and unique features are available. In this article, we’ve ranked and compared the best TV streaming devices to help you make an informed decision. Read on to learn why the Amazon Fire TV 4K is the best TV streaming device this year and what its competitors have to offer.

Top 10 Best Streaming Devices Ranked

Here are our top picks for the best media streaming devices this year based on their performance, resolution, size, and features:

1. Amazon Fire TV 4K — Overall, the best 4K streaming device this year, thanks to its Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.
2. Roku Express 4K+ — Highly customizable home screen and a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV content.
3. Apple TV 4K — Watch shows and movies from Apple TV+ and other popular streaming services, and gain access to Apple Music, Fitness+, and Arcade apps.
4. Google Chromecast — Stream content from more than 2,000 apps using just your voice or smartphone.
5. NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV — Next-gen AI upscaling technology for HD streaming and crisp, crystal clear picture quality.
6. Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Streaming Stick — Easy-to-use Android TV stick that fits in your pocket and allows you to forget about cable management.
7. Roku Streambar Pro — Fills your room with high-quality sound thanks to its four internal speakers and Dolby Audio support.
8. Fire TV Cube with Alexa Voice Remote Pro — Hands-free voice control and seamless navigation between your webcam, game console, and TV.
9. BXH Wireless HDMI Transmitter and Receiver — No software or WiFi connection is required for HD streaming from your devices with this transmitter.
10. TiVo Stream 4K — Provides a convenient centralized platform for browsing, searching, and creating watch lists, making it ideal for first-time users.

10 Best TV Streaming Devices Reviewed

Here, we’ll go into detail and review each of these streaming boxes individually to help you find the best streaming device for TV that suits your budget and needs.

1. Amazon Fire TV 4K — Overall, the Best 4K Streaming Device This Year

The Amazon Fire TV 4K unlocks a complete 4K Ultra HD streaming experience via its easy-to-install stick with a male HDMI connector.

It’s the best streaming device to replace cable because of its exceptional picture and sound quality. It provides unmatched immersion with its high-quality Dolby Atmos audio functionality, available on select titles from services like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.

As a Fire TV device, the Amazon Fire TV 4K uses the Fire TV OS. The home page features rows of apps and media picks, with content suggestions by Amazon. While most suggestions are Amazon-centric, you can personalize the menu and edit your preferences to prioritize other popular streaming platforms.

The streaming stick also features Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant to help you navigate the Amazon Fire TV 4K menu and answer general questions. Pressing the microphone button on your remote allows you to issue voice commands, such as pause, play, rewind, shut down, and more.

Thanks to its dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO), you can expect fewer connection drops and faster streaming. Unlike its predecessor, it doesn’t arrive with an Ethernet adapter, but it supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac networks and Bluetooth 5.0 with BLE.

The Amazon Fire TV 4K is cheaper than most TV streaming devices, even though it offers some of the best visuals and sound quality on the market. The best part is that you don’t even need an Amazon Prime subscription to use it, which makes it arguably the best streaming stick on our list.

2. Roku Express 4K+ — Highly Customizable Home Screen

The Roku Express 4K+ is a simple and affordable streaming device that effortlessly streams 4K HDR content, and it’s the best Roku streaming device available today.

Its front panel has an infrared receiver for direct Roku Voice Remote commands, but you can also use voice commands without needing a direct line of sight. The remote features a plus-shaped direction pad, a pinhole microphone, and volume, home, back, and power buttons. In addition, it has dedicated Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Apple TV buttons.

The Roku Express 4K+ is probably the simplest media streaming device on our list, thanks to its user-friendly RokuOS, which arranges apps and services into tiles on the home screen. The Roku stick’s Amazon Prime Video support is great, and you can get most major streaming services, including Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and Plex. However, gamers might dislike that Twitch is missing from its lineup.

iPhone, iPad, and Mac users will appreciate its AirPlay 2 support, which lets you mirror and stream content to the device. If you have an Android smartphone, you won’t be able to use Google Cast, but you can stream content through the Roku Android app, which also provides remote control functions.

With this Roku device for TV, you can expect videos to load instantly over a 5GHz home Wi-Fi connection. What we love about this streaming device is its multifunctional remote, which you can use to control your TV and Roku streaming box simultaneously.

Like most Roku devices, the Roku Express 4K+ doesn’t have a fully functional voice assistant like Amazon’s Alexa, as you can only use it to issue voice search commands.

3. Apple TV 4K — Watch Shows and Movies From Apple TV+

The Apple TV 4K might cost more than most of its competition, but it brings a few extra features to add value for your money.

For example, in .a Roku vs Apple TV comparison, a standout Apple feature would be its automatic TV color balance tweaking, which can drastically improve your TV’s color profile. These color changes make Apple TV content look more realistic, true to life, and closer to what the content creators envisioned.

The Apple TV 4K is more than just a streaming device, though, as it helps you connect and control all Apple and Smart Home devices. Thanks to its Thread Smart Home technology, it allows various gadgets in your home to work together, regardless of their manufacturer.

It also features an exceptional Siri remote that feels well-made and which responds well to all voice commands. If you aren’t a fan of using a remote to enter text on-screen, then you’ll appreciate its connectivity with iPhone that lets you type on your smartphone instead.

This feature-rich media streaming device is ideal for people who already own Apple products, but Android owners might find the price too high without being able to make use of its Apple-specific features.

Its smooth menu navigation and crystal-clear image quality make it a superb addition to any home, though, regardless of your other devices.

4. Google Chromecast — Stream Content From More Than 2,000 Apps

The Google Chromecast is an exceptional 1080p streaming device and the best streaming device for YouTube TV.

Besides YouTube, this Google streaming device allows you to enjoy shows, music, movies, sports, photos, games, live TV, and more from over 2,000 streaming apps. It works with almost every TV with an HDMI port and functions on a simple plug-and-play basis.

The Google Chromecast differs from our top picks by having no remote, as you control it via your smartphone, tablet, or PC. Although Google sells this product with Google TV, which includes a remote, this version offers the easiest-to-understand controls you can find in applications you are already familiar with, such as YouTube TV.

By installing Google Home on your smartphone or clicking the Cast option on your PC Chrome browser, you simply “cast” your favorite TV shows and movies onto your TV. Although it sounds like screen mirroring, casting offers a much smoother experience and allows you to use your phone regularly.

The Google Chromecast is a cheap alternative to buying a new TV for advanced streaming services, and it’s ideal for people who prefer to use their smartphone instead of a remote. Even though it offers richer colors and faster performance than its predecessors, the Google Chromecast can’t display 4K resolution.

5. NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV — Next-Gen AI Upscaling Technology

The Nvidia Shield Android TV combines advanced gaming and streaming features to deliver an impressive experience to its users.

It uses Dolby Vision HDR picture and Dolby Atmos sound to transform your TV into an entertainment center, and its AI Upscaling technology ensures crisp, clear video quality. The Shield TV Pro has two USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, a proprietary power port, and a 4K HDR-compatible HDMI port.

The Android-powered Nvidia Shield TV offers more than just crystal clear 4K content, as it has a built-in Nvidia GeForce Now cloud gaming service. That means you can play some of the most popular video games on your TV, even if you don’t own one of the best gaming PCs.

However, if you own a powerful gaming rig, you can use the Shield TV’s GameStream feature to stream almost anything to your TV. You’ll need a compatible and reasonably powerful Nvidia GPU to use this feature, and we suggest looking into the best WiFi routers if you want a smooth cloud gaming experience.

Besides advanced gaming features, the Shield TV has impressive streaming capabilities. The Dolby premium cinema features are a welcome addition, but its Android TV interface might take some time to get used to.

6. Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Streaming Stick — Easy-to-use Android TV Stick

The Xiaomi Mi TV Stick weighs less than 30 grams, and you can use it on any TV, monitor, or projector with an HDMI port, making it the best portable streaming device on our list.

This Xiaomi Mi streaming device is an ideal Amazon Prime Video and Netflix stick because of its dedicated buttons for these streaming services. It also has a dedicated Google Assistant button that lets you navigate its Android TV menu or control your Smart Home devices using voice commands.

With one of the best laptops, smartphones, or tablets, you can use its built-in Chromecast feature for HD streaming directly to your TV screen. However, it limits you to 1080p, making it a good option only if you own an older TV that could use some smarts.

7. Roku Streambar Pro — Fills Your Room With High-Quality Sound

The Roku Streambar Pro helps you complete your home theater with spacious sounds that move around the room and create an immersive audio experience.

This RokuOS-powered device lets you control your TV, streaming, and sound with a single remote, and its comprehensive streaming app can serve as an alternative.

Although expensive, the Roku Streambar Pro upgrades your TV’s image and sound quality, especially if you add Roku’s Wireless Bass or Bass Pro subwoofers and speakers. If you own one of the best gaming headsets, you’ll appreciate its headphone jack on the remote.

Comparing Roku vs. Google TV, for example, you’ll notice it lacks a multifunctional voice assistant such as Google Assistant, but Roku is compatible with Siri, Alexa, and Hey Google, allowing you to control your Smart Home devices via a third-party service.

8. Fire TV Cube with Alexa Voice Remote Pro — Hands-Free Voice Control

The Fire TV Cube is the best streaming box for hands-free voice commands, thanks to its built-in far-field microphones, which you can use without the remote.

This streaming box uses Amazon’s Fire TV media streaming platform, which offers a feature-filled interface geared towards Amazon Prime. However, it also supports other major streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max – which is becoming Max – and lets you highlight your favorite platforms.

Although it provides an impeccable streaming service, it lacks Apple AirPlay and Google Cast support, making it less suitable for playing content from your mobile devices.

The Fire TV Cube launches apps and helps you switch between input devices faster than most of its competition, thanks to its powerful octa-core processor, making it ideal for users that connect multiple devices, such as gaming consoles, to their TV.

9. BXH Wireless HDMI Transmitter and Receiver — No Software or WiFi Connection Required

The BXH wireless transmitter and receiver is a wireless HDMI streaming device that enables the transmission of high-quality audio and video from various devices, inducing computers, smartphones, and consoles.

With a resolution of up to 4K, the BXH transmitter and receiver deliver clear, crisp, uncompressed HD video and digital audio. Its portability and compact design make it ideal for a wide variety of contexts.

Although this device is easy to use, connecting a laptop that provides low power through the HDMI port, or using a low-input HDMI cable, may lead to connectivity issues. To resolve that issue, you’ll need a 5V2A adapter to power the transmitter and improve the signal strength.

Overall, the BXH transmitter and receiver’s wireless HDMI transmission and plug-and-play nature make it an exceptional solution for point-to-point streaming.

10. TiVo Stream 4K — Provides a Convenient Centralized Platform

The TiVo Stream 4K lets you compile your favorite TV shows, movies, sports, and more on a single screen, saving you from juggling between apps.

The TiVo Stream 4K streaming app runs on top of Android TV and provides various menus, including Home, TV Shows, Movies, Sports, and more. Opening Home, for example, shows you different recommendations for movies and shows across multiple services and live TV.

You can also create watchlists using content from more than one app, or enter a specific app, such as Netflix, to avoid other content.

Although this makes it the best device for streaming from multiple platforms, the menus can be confusing for first-time users, and some apps aren’t perfectly smooth at all times.

Best TV Streaming Devices Comparison Chart

Here, we have a streaming devices comparison chart to give you a clear overview of the best features, pricing, size, and other details of these products.

How to Choose the Best Streaming Device for You

Before you spend your money on it, you should determine what is the best streaming device supposed to do for your household or office based on your preferences and needs. For example, if your family is already used to Alexa, you should probably get an Amazon streaming device.

Here are some crucial factors to consider before you purchase a media streaming device:

Platform

You should buy a streaming device that fits well into your lineup of smartphones, computers, and Smart Home devices. For example, an Android TV stick will sync your playlists, interests, and other data from your other devices if they use Google Apps. Android and Windows users will benefit from buying devices like Nvidia Shield TV or Xiaomi Mi TV Stick.

On the other hand, Apple users will find that Apple TV 4K or an Apple TV stick are perfect for their home because of their advanced Apple-exclusive features. Apple TV 4K also lets you watch Apple TV+ original series and films and is compatible with popular apps like Apple Fitness+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Music.

Alternatively, you can pick a neutral platform, such as Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which has no bias toward Apple, Google, or Amazon ecosystems. It allows you to access a variety of platforms and works well with most voice assistant technologies.

You can also opt for Google Chromecast, which doesn’t rely on built-in apps and lets you cast your music or media from your smartphones and computers. However, it works best with a Google Home-powered household because of voice commands.

Similarly, an Amazon Fire TV streaming device pairs best with an Amazon Echo speaker and offers more features for Amazon Prime users.

Features

Every feature we’ve mentioned in our reviews is important for the quality of your audio and visual experience. However, a streaming stick capable of 4K resolution and HDR won’t change anything on a 1080p TV.

You should buy a streaming device that fits your TV’s capabilities, and we’ve included both 4K and 1080p devices on our list. For example, if you want a High Dynamic Range feature, which improves the color range of your picture and a better balance between light and dark areas, you’ll need a TV or monitor that supports HDR.

However, you shouldn’t pass on buying a 1080p streaming device if you don’t expect to buy a 4K TV soon, as these devices are affordable and can massively improve your old TV.

Besides the image quality, devices like Nvidia Shield TV offer gaming features, meaning you’ll need a powerful gaming rig to get the most out of this device. Some products stand out with bonus features, like the Roku Streambar Pro’s remote headphone jack that lets you watch content on a big high-quality gaming TV without interrupting others in the room.

Price

You’ll find that streaming devices with High Dynamic Range (HDR), premium Dolby, and unique features are usually more expensive than the rest. A 4K streaming box with powerful internal components will also cost more than a 1080p streaming device, but its speedy performance and advanced features justify the cost.

After you decide on a platform, you should buy a product that fits your budget and the specs of your TV.

Remote 

You should look for a streaming device that arrives with a remote with all the necessary buttons to control the playback on your TV. It should also have additional buttons, such as a dedicated volume control or a button to launch a specific streaming app. Some remotes can also control other devices in your home, such as your TV or soundbar.

Besides remotes, your media streaming device should have a dedicated streaming app as an alternative. These apps usually transform your smartphone into a remote and allow you to configure settings, which helps you avoid the tediousness of navigating the menu with a remote.

Finally, the best remotes have a built-in voice assistant, such as Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant. You can use the technology to start a movie or control the playback by issuing voice commands.

Best Streaming Device FAQs

Written by ilijiamiljkovac | Editor

Ilija Miljkovac is a Technopedia writer with 7 years of experience covering all things tech. He writes about everything from cybersecurity to ISPs, ensuring businesses and customers are educated about the latest products and services. He's written for publications such as Business2Community, TheTechReport, Comparitech, and more. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.

Read ilijiamiljkovac bio