The best TV streaming devices, from sticks to TV boxes

Most phones, tablets and computers are capable of running the popular TV and movies streaming apps. These include Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video as well as Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max. Your viewing experience will be less than optimal if you don’t have a 4K TV streamer connected to your biggest screen at home.

A TV streaming box or stick is an excellent idea if you are serious about your entertainment and couch time. The models we’ve selected are among the latest, fastest and feature-rich devices on the market. You can do so much more with them than simply watch television. You can control smart devices like smart light bulbs and smart speakers. Some are also great gaming consoles.

Our team is always on top of curating the best TV shows and movies to watch, and now, this guide should help you find the gadget that’s best to view it all on. But first, if you’re new to this kind of technology, here’s a rundown of the main ways in which the options below differ from each other.

What are the best streaming TV sticks and boxes?

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV 4K has been hailed as the most advanced Apple TV yet. In addition to some performance improvements over the previous generation (which was already pretty speedy), Apple’s new streaming box offers more for less.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Apple doubled the base storage from 32 GB to 64 GB in the new $129 Apple TV 4K model, and — crucial for Samsung TV owners — its support for 4K HDR video playback finally includes HDR 10 Plus, on top of Dolby Vision and HDR 10 support. In terms of audio, it supports Dolby Atmos in content that supports it, although you’ll need a sound system compatible with that format.

Apple TV 4K comes with a free three-month trial of Apple TV Plus. For those who want to add more storage space, and enjoy some additional features, you can upgrade the Apple TV 4K 128 GB version for $149. This model also comes with an Ethernet port as well as Thread support, which transforms the Apple TV 4K in a thread hub that supports smart home accessories.

Apple TV 4K, as you might expect, is a great choice for those who have one or more Apple products. It’s currently the only streamer that can play Apple Arcade games (the PS5’s DualSense and Xbox wireless controller are both compatible), and it offers integration with HomeKit, Apple’s smart home protocol that lets Siri control other HomeKit-compatible devices connected to the same Wi-Fi. However, you’ll need to supply your own HDMI cable, as one isn’t included in the box.

• What is the best way to access shows and movies I purchased on Google?Sign into your account to access the content you purchased on Google TV and Google Play Movies. They’ll be waiting in the “Library” section of the app.
• What is the best way to access TV series and movies I purchased on Amazon? They’ll be waiting for you in the Prime Video app, once you log in on the Apple TV 4K.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Amazon Fire TV Cube

Amazon’s highest-end streaming device, the Fire TV Cube, is a fast and capable option that shares some — but not all — of the same features as the Apple TV 4K. The Fire TV Cube can play 4K movies and TV shows on any streaming service, including Apple. It also supports Dolby vision HDR, HDR 10 and HDR 10 plus, as well as Dolby atmos audio.

While the Apple TV 4K offers more internal storage for games and other downloads, that’s clearly not the focus for Amazon, as it has just 16 GB of storage. The Fire TV Cube, a cheaper alternative, offers more ports. It has an HDMI out, HDMI in, an ethernet, USB-A, for accessory devices like a camera, and a slot to connect an IR extension. It can also connect to faster Wi-Fi 6E routers. Note: The IR extender and HDMI cable are things you’ll have to purchase on the side.

In addition to being your TV streaming device, Amazon also intends that you’ll use it on the side like one of its Alexa-enabled Echo speakers. There’s literally a speaker inside of the streaming device. The remote included with the device and the Fire TV cube both have microphones. They can be used to pick up the Alexa wake words when asking a question or playing a song.

This streaming device can be used to play games with Amazon Luna. You can stream a wide range of video games to your TV.

• What is the best way to access shows and movies I purchased on Google?Sign in to the Fire TV Cube app using the Google TV account you used for your purchase. They’ll be waiting in the “Library” section of the app.
• What is the best way to access TV Shows and Movies purchased on Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you log in with your associated account.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Chromecast 4K with Google TV

Google’s newest Chromecast offers a lot of functionality at an affordable price. This HDMI stick costs $49, and notably, it’s the first model that ships with a dedicated voice-enabled remote (previous versions relied on your phone to serve as a stand-in remote). Google TV’s interface allows you to watch streaming content in HDR and 4K. It supports DolbyVision, HDR 10 or HDR 10 Plus. If you own a sound system that supports Dolby atmos, it can provide Dolby content.

Like previous Chromecast models this model allows casting content via multiple apps and through Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Android browsers. You can easily push audio and video from one screen onto another regardless of your operating system, be it Windows, MacOS, Android or iOS. As for smart home features, you can use it to play music with your Google Home speakers or smart displays. You can even pull up Nest video footage if your Nest security camera, doorbell, or home alarm is connected.

The Chromecast offers no extra ports; it plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, and it gets power through a USB-C port. It does support some Bluetooth game controllers, so you can connect one to play games. Google Play Store has Nvidia GeForce, Steam Link and other gaming applications, so that you can stream your games online. The model comes with 8GB of internal storage.

The operating system is sometimes a bit slow. The video is played back smoothly. Google has an ethernet power adapter available for Chromecasts if more bandwidth is needed.

• What is the best way to access shows and films I purchased on Amazon?Prime Video can be downloaded on Chromecast to access Amazon Prime content.
• What is the best way to access TV Shows and Movies purchased on Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you log in with your associated account.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Amazon Fire TV Stick Max

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers many of the same features as the company’s pricier Fire TV Cube, including its interface, but at a much lower cost. It’s a little more expensive than Chromecast but it has a couple of features that you might find useful. It’s faster, and it supports Wi-Fi 6 routers, which are ramping up in popularity and availability (the Eero 6 and the Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro are just a couple of examples).

These differences aside, the HDR standard support is identical, which includes Dolby vision, HDR 10 Plus and HDR 10 It can output Dolby Atmos audio, too. The Chromecast also comes with a voice-activated IR remote, but it only has 8 GB. It also includes an HDMI extender to make it easier to plug into your TV’s HDMI port, in case your TV is wall-mounted or it’s just tough to get behind it.

• What is the best way to access shows and movies I purchased on Google?Sign in to the app using the Google Account that you used for your Google TV purchases or Google Play Movies. They’ll be waiting in the “Library” section of the app.
• What is the best way to access TV Shows and Movies purchased on Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you log in with your associated account.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Roku 4K Streaming Stick

Roku’s high-end TV streaming stick offers value in places that its competitors can’t match. At $49.99, it’s a great deal if you want a capable HDMI stick that’s compatible with all of the major streaming apps, and has broad 4K HDR support so that every HDR-ready TV will shine. If you’re looking to stream content directly from an Apple, Android or Windows tablet or phone, the Roku version supports AirPlay, Google Cast and Windows screen mirroring.

Roku’s streaming devices offer more customization than what you’ll get from other companies. There’s a lot of free content to stream on demand (the quality of which varies wildly), and you can install one of many screensavers, including the ever-popular Roku City screensaver. If you have the Roku app installed on your tablet or phone, you can listen to TV audio in private by pairing wireless headphones or a wired pair.

• What is the best way to access shows and movies I purchased on Google?Download YouTube to your Roku device and sign in with your Google account. They’ll be waiting in the “Library” section of the app.
• What is the best way to access TV Shows and Movies purchased on Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you log in with your associated account.
• What is the best way to access shows and films I purchased on Amazon?Prime Video can be downloaded on Roku devices to access the content you’ve purchased with Amazon Prime.

Chris Welch/The Verge

Nvidia Shield TV

Nvidia’s lineup of Shield set-top boxes have remained popular options over the years, even though the company rarely releases updated models. That’s partially because they each feature Nvidia’s somewhat powerful Tegra X1 Plus chip, support storage expansion, and continue to receive software updates long after their 2019 launch.

Nvidia has currently two models available, which vary in size, price and capability. The tube-shaped Shield TV doesn’t stick out with its ability to play 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision and HDR 10 support (no HDR 10 Plus). However, it’s impressive that this small device has an ethernet port, a microSD card slot, and built-in AI chops to upscale HD content to 4K. The device also comes with a remote controlled by voice.

It runs on Google’s Android TV (similar to the newer Google TV interface), so you have access to the full catalog of Play Store apps, letting you pick from the most popular streaming apps, as well as access to Steam Link and Nvidia’s GeForce Now game streaming service. Shield is compatible with Amazon Alexa as well as Google Assistant, so you can integrate it into your home smart system if desired.

Shield TV Pro, which costs $199.99 and has a similar processor to the Shield TV tube model, offers more RAM (3GB as opposed to 2GB) for an improved experience. You can also add storage to the 16 GB that comes standard. Otherwise, there aren’t many other reasons to pay more for a bigger TV streaming device.

• What is the best way to access shows and films I purchased on Amazon?Prime Video is available on Nvidia products.
• What is the best way to access TV Shows and Movies purchased on Apple? They’ll be waiting for you in the Apple TV Plus app, once you log in with your associated account.