In this post:
- The Best TV Streaming Devices in 2024
- Best Overall Streaming Device for TV - Roku Ultra
- Best Budget Streaming Device - Roku Express
- Best for Apple - Apple TV 4K
- Best for YouTube - Google TV Streamer 4K
- Best for Amazon Prime - Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- Best for Alexa - Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Runners Up
- Are TV Streaming Devices Worth It?
- What Other Customers Are Saying
- Factors To Consider When Shopping
- Final Thoughts About Streaming Devices
- FAQs
Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Peacock have just about phased out traditional cable television, allowing you to watch what you want to watch when you want to watch it without being locked into a large monthly bill. While smart TVs usually include apps for the most popular streaming services, you can often do more with a streaming device, like take it with you when you travel or access a broader selection of streaming apps.
We’ve researched multiple best streaming devices and found that the Roku Ultra is the best all-around pick. Its quad-core processor makes streaming faster than with previous Roku models and its support for Wi-Fi 6 can help you maintain a reliable connection when you’re watching your favorite shows and movies.
The Best TV Streaming Devices in 2024
| Product | Amazon Price | Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roku Ultra | $99.99 | Quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 6, remote finder, wireless headphone support, backlit buttons, rechargeable remote battery | Best Overall Streaming Device for TV |
| Roku Express | $29.49 | Budget-friendly, app shortcuts, easy setup, remote with instant replay | Best Budget Streaming Device |
| Apple TV 4K | $149.99 | 64GB storage, 4K Dolby Vision, Siri remote, Apple HomeKit Hub support | Best for Apple Users |
| Google TV Streamer 4K | $99.99 | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, voice control, minimalistic design, YouTube integration | Best for YouTube |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max | $59.99 | Alexa voice control, compact size, Amazon Luna cloud gaming for Prime members | Best for Amazon Prime |
| Fire TV Cube | $139.99 | Octa-core processor, Alexa smart home hub, free Amazon cloud storage | Best for Alexa Users |
Best Overall Streaming Device for TV – Roku Ultra
- Faster streaming, 4K & Dolby Atmos support
- Voice Remote Pro with backlit buttons
- Rechargeable remote with hands-free voice control
- Easy access to apps and entertainment
Our pick for the best streaming device for TV is the Roku Ultra 2024, a brand-new streaming device that takes the place of the previous 2022 version of the Roku Ultra. The newest version got a few upgrades, including a quad-core processor for speedier maneuvering when closing and opening apps and loading content. It also offers a wireless headphone connection, a remote finder to help you track down a lost remote, and support for Wi-Fi 6 for a less laggy experience.
If you opt for this device, you’ll get all the other perks you expect from Roku, like a sleek, compact design that stays inconspicuous on your TV stand, cinematic streaming quality to watch your shows and movies the way they were meant to be watched, and a no-fuss setup process that can have you streaming in just a few minutes.
You’ll notice a few helpful updates to the remote, though, like a rechargeable battery so you can skip replacing AAA batteries every few weeks and backlit buttons to easily see the remote buttons when it’s dark during movie night.
Best Budget Streaming Device – Roku Express
- HD streaming, quick setup, broad channel selection
- Remote with essential buttons and popular shortcuts
- Free live TV channels, premium options available
- Automatic updates ensure latest channels and features
The Roku Express is an excellent budget-friendly streaming device for people who want a place to store and access their streaming apps without all the bells and whistles. Despite being an affordable option, the Roku Express still offers the must-haves for a TV streaming device, like a quick, guided setup, a remote with an instant replay function and app shortcuts, and access to hundreds of streaming apps.
The package comes with the Roku standard remote with batteries, a USB power cable, and an HDMI cable, so you’ll have everything you need to get started.
Be careful not to confuse the Roku Express with the Roku Express 4K+, which upgrades the Roku Express to 4K picture quality for optimized video quality. That one’s only about $10 more, which is still a good deal if you’re looking for an inexpensive device. But if your TV doesn’t support 4K, you’ll be paying extra for something you can’t use.
Best for Apple – Apple TV 4K
- Access Apple TV+, Netflix, live TV, and more
- Thread mesh network compatibility
- High-quality 4K, HDR visuals
- Integrated with iOS devices
- 64GB or 128GB built-in storage options
Although many streaming devices play relatively well with Apple iPhones and iPads, the Apple TV 4K is designed specifically to work with other Apple products, so it integrates seamlessly with the lineup. It includes a Siri remote to use for controlling the device using your voice and you can use it in place of an Apple HomeKit Hub to control it and other Apple devices from anywhere inside or outside of your home. With that said, if you don’t primarily use Apple products, this one may not be your best option.
Let’s look at a few of the Apple TV 4K’s best features. For starters, it supports 4K Dolby Vision for cinematic viewing and it works with today’s most popular streaming apps, including YouTube TV and Prime Video. You’ll also get 64GB of storage space, which can easily hold dozens of apps, or you can pay about $40 more to upgrade to 128GB of storage.
The Apple TV 4K comes with a one-year limited warranty from Apple.
Best for YouTube – Google TV Streamer 4K
- Redesigned remote with voice control and customizable button
- Add shows and movies to your watchlist from any device
- Supports Dolby Atmos for immersive audio
- Easily locate lost remote by making it ring
- Smooth navigation and fast app switching
If you’re looking for a streaming device for YouTube or YouTube TV, check out the Google TV Streamer 4K. Because Google owns YouTube and Android, it integrates well with Google-owned products and services, like YouTube, Android devices, and the Google TV operating system, similar to how the Apple TV 4K cozies up to Apple products.
Of note, the Google TV Streamer 4K has just 32GB of storage, which is half the amount the smallest Apple TV 4K offers. Still, it leaves enough room for all of your favorite apps.
This streaming device has a unique, minimalistic design that won’t stand out or take up space. Its remote is just as sleek and simple, although it includes everything you’d expect, like app shortcut buttons and voice control. You’ll also get 4K HDR with Dolby Vision for high-quality streaming optics, whether you’re catching the latest show, watching a movie with friends, or scrolling through YouTube videos.
Best for Amazon Prime – Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- Powerful processor for fast app launches
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gaming, no console required
- 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
- 16GB storage, double other Fire TV sticks
- Over 2,000 artworks in Ambient Mode
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max lets you watch your favorite movies and shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and other top streaming services in 4K for movie theater quality. It also includes an Alexa-powered voice remote and a compact design that’s no larger than a USB flash drive, making it incredibly portable and easy to find a space for.
It also comes with a special benefit for Amazon Prime members: the Amazon Luna cloud gaming app, which is free for Prime members. It offers access to free-to-play games, like Fortnite and Stardew Valley, as well as Luna+ games available on a monthly subscription. With Amazon Luna installed on your Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you can play your games directly on your TV without adding a console or extra equipment.
Best for Alexa – Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Fast streaming, octa-core processor
- Alexa, hands-free voice
- Switch to cable, games, streaming
- Wi-Fi 6E support, smooth
- 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, Atmos
Amazon’s Fire TV Cube is both a TV streaming device and a smart home hub built specifically for the Alexa ecosystem. It’s about twice as speedy as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max thanks to an octa-core processor. Although it has the same amount of storage space (16GB), it lets you access free cloud storage through Amazon.
With this device, you can control your entire TV and sound system with Alexa voice control and connect other devices, like your gaming consoles or webcams, to also control them. It also has a full dashboard for your connected smart home devices, so you can view and change settings for each of them using your TV.
Runners Up
The following didn’t make our top list but deserve honorable mentions.
Roku TV Streaming Stick 4K
Amazon Price: $49.99
The Roku TV Streaming Stick 4K falls in the middle of the two Roku devices that made our top list. It’s compact, simple to install, and fast while offering a budget-friendly price point for those who are buying their first TV streaming device or want an affordable upgrade from an older version. With 4K support, voice search, and compatibility with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri, it’s an excellent option if you don’t care to shell out extra cash for the Roku Ultra 2024’s new features.
NVIDIA Shield Pro
Amazon Price: $199.00
NVIDIA Shield Pro is one of the most powerful TV streaming devices on the block, despite its age. Although it’s a few years old now, it still remains one of the most robust of its kind, offering two USB ports for storage expansion, 4K HDR support, and the Nvidia Tegra X1+ processor. However, with the last software upgrade released in 2022, it’s not conclusive how long this device will remain relevant enough to warrant its higher-than-average price tag.
Walmart Onn. 4K Pro Google TV
Walmart Price: $49.88
The Walmart Onn. 4K Pro Google TV is a new-for-2024 device with 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Vision, 32 GB of storage, and a USB 3.0 port for additional storage, all at a relatively affordable price. It’s designed to work seamlessly with Google TV and the Google OS, so you can sync it to your Google account with ease. While Google Assistant is built in, you can still set up the device to work with Alexa if you prefer. It also runs on Wi-Fi 6 for fast and reliable streaming.
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K
Amazon Price: $49.99
Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K is an excellent option for Google Home users, especially if you’re looking for a no-bells-and-whistles type of device. With support for 4K HDR, you’ll enjoy the imagery you expect from your must-watch shows and movies. The device also offers personalized viewing suggestions, kids’ profiles for family-friendly viewing, and a plug-and-play setup.
Are TV Streaming Devices Worth It?
If you want to save money at home by cutting the cord and switching from cable to streaming, you’ll need to use streaming apps, either on a smart TV, on your mobile device, or through a TV streaming device. With most cable bills costing around $100 or more each month, switching to streaming services could be cost-effective, especially if you stick with those that are around $17 or less each month, like Netflix and Hulu.
With a streaming device, you can add whatever streaming services you use to gain freedom over the channels you can access and the content you watch. Plus, some services have exclusive content you can’t get on other streaming networks, so you’ll almost always have something new to enjoy.
However, adding multiple streaming services to watch on your streaming device can quickly become costlier than a cable plan, so make sure you’re regularly reviewing your monthly or annual subscriptions to see what’s more cost-effective for you.
If I have a smart TV, do I need a streaming device?
Smart TVs usually include apps for the most popular streaming services, like Disney+ and Netflix. However, even if this describes your smart TV, adding a TV streaming device for YouTube, Hulu, and other services you love to watch does have a few benefits compared with only using your smart TV.
For starters, smart TVs aren’t as portable as streaming devices. Take the Roku Stick, for example, which is a simple USB plug-and-play device that stores all your apps and can easily move from one TV to another. If you travel, you can take your streaming device with you to access all your apps on compatible TVs.
Streaming devices also tend to have more robust features, like a remote with voice control, better captioning, or more storage space. It can also be more difficult to keep your apps updated on a smart TV, whereas the process is often automatic with streaming devices.
What Other Customers Are Saying
Want to know what others are saying about streaming devices, like what their go-to device is and why they love it? We dug into Reddit to find out:
Factors To Consider When Shopping
If you’re new to the TV streaming device space or it’s been a while since you’ve bought one and you’re not sure what to look for in an upgrade, here are important factors to consider:
Basics or extras? You can save a lot of money if you just want a basic device without extras, like 4K quality, smart home control, or super-fast processing. However, if you’re looking to create a top-tier entertainment system, it could be worth shelling out the extra cash to upgrade to a better device.
Platform integration: Do you have a lot of Alexa devices or is Siri more your style? Consider what smart home assistant a device integrates best with. For example, the Apple TV 4K works seamlessly with other Apple devices, while the Fire TV Cube is geared toward Alexa.
Available streaming services: Do a review of TV streaming services available on the devices you’re considering to make sure the device supports the services you watch most often. Most devices support the must-haves, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount+, but it’s still a good idea to check that all your favorites are available.
User interface: The UI of each device differs, and one may be easier for you to use than others. Look for reviews that specifically point out UI features or search for UI images of each device you’re considering to get a better idea of how it functions.
Wi-Fi version: New TV streaming devices are beginning to support Wi-Fi 6, which can offer faster speeds than previous versions. If you don’t have a Wi-Fi 6 router, this won’t matter, but if you do, you can make the most of its boosted speeds by choosing a TV streaming device with the proper support.
Final Thoughts About Streaming Devices
The best streaming device options in this guide provide entertainment — all your favorite shows and movies can be available at your fingertips via your go-to streaming platforms — while letting you save money compared to an expensive cable bill. Some can even work like a hub, giving you access to the smart home devices on your network, cloud gaming, and more.
Read through the options on our list as you think about what features are most important to you in a TV streaming device to find your best solution.
FAQs
Fiber internet is the fastest connection, which is available through providers like Frontier, Verizon, and AT&T. Fiber is also highly reliable, which can ensure a consistent connection for your streaming needs. Read our review to find the best internet service for your needs.
Google TV Streamer 4K and other Google TV devices typically offer the most free channels. They include Google TV, which offers over 800 free channels, like its proprietary channels, and those offered through other free services, like Tubi.
Roku has more than 350 channels available on The Roku Channel. These channels are free and don’t require you to subscribe to a streaming service to view them.
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