The Best Streaming Devices of 2024

Just Buy This (All Around Best)

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

$34 at Amazon $43 at Walmart $35 at Home Depot

TL;DR: This Roku stick is an excellent streaming media device because it gives users almost everything they want—convenient access to 4K content, excellent Wi-Fi connectivity, intuitive search, and a compact, inconspicuous, portable form factor—all for a very reasonable price.

Why We Recommend This

One of the reasons the Roku Streaming Stick 4K stands out from the pack is that it generally gives users almost everything they want in a streaming media device. As the name implies, it can stream content in 4K (3,840 x 2,160 resolution).

It also supports technologies like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and new audio technologies like Dolby Atmos, a surround-sound audio format.

("HDR" stands for "high dynamic range," which allows your TV to display more details in both bright highlight areas, like clouds in the sky on a sunny day, and in shadow areas, like trees in a dark forest as the sun sets, of your movies and video.)    

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K has an intuitive, very easy-to-use interface. It also offers a lot of content for users to watch, including access to a wide array of premium subscription services, live TV services, and free channels. Moreover, its search feature is fast and does a great job of finding the titles you want to watch. This Roku stick version has a built-in, long-range Wi-Fi receiver to make it more powerful. 

Like most stick-style streaming media devices, it plugs into your TV’s HDMI port, making it less noticeable than the Roku Ultra, which is a set-top box and more conspicuous.

Additionally, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K  has a nicely designed remote control, which includes buttons for volume, mute, and power, which is quite convenient. The remote also features a built-in microphone that lets you use voice-control technologies, like Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, to control the device.

You can also download a mobile app to use your phone or tablet to control the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. 

It’s an excellent option for the price since it only has a few minor flaws. For instance, unlike the Roku Ultra, this Roku streaming stick lacks an Ethernet port. Aside from that, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an easy-to-use, portable, powerful streaming media device.  

• Who else recommends it? The New York Times Wirecutter, CNET, Tom’s Guide, and The Verge are among the media outlets that recommend the Roku Streaming Stick 4 K. 
• What do buyers say? On Amazon, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K has 93% four- and five-star ratings and has more than 77,000 global ratings. 

Best for Apple TV+

Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)

$149 at Walmart $150 at Best Buy $149 at Apple

TL;DR: Although it’s more expensive than most streaming media devices, the Apple TV 4K offers a lot of value for those who want a powerful 4K streaming media device that fits in well with Apple’s ecosystem of devices, particularly if you like to download lots of media, games, and apps.

Why We Recommend This

Like many Apple-branded products, the 3rd gen Apple TV 4K is very nicely designed with powerful performance, intuitive functionality, and straightforward, easy-to-use functionality.

What’s also nice is that if you’ve invested in many Apple products, this streaming media device integrates very well with them and services like Apple HomeKit, Apple AirPlay, and Apple Music.

Of course, this streaming media device follows Apple’s precedent of being more expensive than most in its class.

Like most top-notch streaming devices, it provides users with 4K resolution and support for HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. But one nice feature that sets the 3rd gen Apple TV 4K (2022) streaming media device apart is that it ships with more onboard memory (64GB or 128GB of storage) than most others.

That’s great if you intend to download many apps, media, or games. It also comes with Apple’s Siri Remote (3rd generation), which has a USB-C port for recharging. The remote allows you to control Apple TV 4K using the touch-enabled clickpad or the microphone to access Apple’s Siri voice-control technology.

Unfortunately, despite its high price, the Apple TV 4K doesn’t include a built-in Ethernet Port. However, for more money, you can upgrade to the 128GB version, which does. 

• Who else recommends it? Engadget, CNN, and TechRadar have all praised and recommended the Apple TV 4K as an excellent streaming media device. 
• What do buyers say? On Amazon, Apple TV 4K has 93% four- and five-star ratings across 2,900 global ratings. 

Best Amazon Fire TV Stick

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd Gen (2023)

$32 at Amazon $25 at Home Depot $50 at Dell

TL;DR: This is an excellent choice for those looking for an alternative to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, those who want an Amazon-centric stick-style device, or those simply looking for a rather inexpensive streaming media device. It may be cheap, but it’s packed with features.

Why We Recommend This

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, this version of the Amazon streaming stick will fit the bill. Like our recommended Roku streaming media stick, this Amazon Firestick plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port (generally on the back of the TV) and streams content in 4K (3,840 x 2,160 resolution).

It supports technologies like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and new audio technologies like Dolby Atmos.

But it’s also inexpensive, which is excellent for those on a budget.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K also includes an excellent remote control, although we like the design of the Roku remote a bit more, particularly the Roku Voice Remote Pro. 

But one of the standout features available on most Fire TV sticks and cubes is that it offers a new way to search using AI-enhanced search, voice technology, and Fire TV's extensive entertainment content and app library to quickly access the content you want.

Alexa uses a natural-language AI model to enhance the search, so you can now ask questions like, “Alexa, show me movies about dog and human friendships” or “Show me psychological thrillers with surprise endings.” Other options include requesting streaming content recommendations using topics, genres, plots, characters, actors, and even quotes.

Like all Amazon Fire streaming media sticks and cubes, this version integrates well with the Amazon Alexa ecosystem.

It allows you to control any Amazon or other types of smart home devices in various ways, including Amazon Alexa voice control. This version also comes with 8GB of internal storage for downloaded apps.  

• Who else recommends it? The media outlets that recommend the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K include Tom’s Guide and PCMag.com. 
• What do buyers say? On Amazon, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has 93% four- and five-star ratings across more than 35,000 global ratings.  

Best With an Ethernet Port

Roku Ultra

$90 at Amazon $99 at Walmart $100 at B&H Photo Video

TL;DR: Although the Roku Ultra is a tad pricey, it still gives you a lot of features and power for the money, including quick access to 4K content, an intuitive interface, and lots of connectivity options, including an Ethernet port.

Why We Recommend This

Like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, the larger Roku Ultra offers some of the best features of any streaming media device.

While it’s true it’s more expensive than stick-style streaming media devices and more conspicuous since it’s bigger, the Roku Ultra is an excellent set-top streaming media device for those who want snappy performance and various connectivity options, including an Ethernet port.  

It can stream content in 4K (3,840 x 2,160 resolution) and supports technologies like HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and new audio technologies like Dolby Atmos, a surround-sound audio format like the Roku stick.

It has the same intuitive, very easy-to-use interface as the Roku stick. It also offers a lot of content for users to watch, including access to a wide array of premium subscription services, live TV services, free channels, and excellent search features. But one nice extra available on the Roku Ultra is that it comes with an Ethernet port. 

It also has a lost-remote finder feature: You can find your remote in several ways, including pressing the button on the side of the set-top box, which makes your remote start whistling or beeping.

Additionally, the Roku Ultra has a useful private listening mode: Plug your headphones into the remote, and your TV will automatically be muted. It even comes with a pair of earbud-style headphones. 

• Who else recommends it? TechCrunch, Tom’s Guide, CNET, and Consumer Reports recommend the Roku Ultra as one of the best streaming media devices. 
• What do buyers say? On Amazon, the Roku Ultra has 90% four- and five-star ratings across over 10,000 global ratings.

Easiest on the Budget

Google Chromecast with Google TV HD

$29 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $30 at Best Buy

TL;DR: The Chromecast with Google TV HD is an ideal streaming media device for those on a budget and don’t mind a streaming media device that doesn’t stream in 4K resolution. And although it streams in just Full HD resolution, it’s still packed with features.

Why We Recommend This

The Chromecast with Google TV HD is a well-designed, full-featured streaming media device that plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port. It’s ideal for those on a budget who don’t mind a device that streams in just Full HD resolution, which is lower than what many devices stream (namely 4K resolution). 

There’s a lot to like about the Chromecast with Google TV HD. For starters, it’s very inexpensive, which is excellent for those on a budget.

However, this version streams in just Full HD resolution, which is lower than what many devices stream (namely 4K resolution). What’s nice is that it does support a high-dynamic range, or HDR, which, as we noted earlier, displays more details in highlights and shadows.

It’s also straightforward to set up and use. The remote is rather basic, but it does come with a built-in microphone, which allows you to search (using Google Assistant). Most of all, the interface is intuitive, with helpful features like presenting recently-watched content on your home screen.

This is convenient since it lets you avoid closing or opening various streaming apps to discover what you watched last. This version of Chromecast also comes with 8GB of internal storage for downloaded apps.  

Although it’s competent, it isn’t perfect: Aside from streaming in a lower resolution than most other devices, it also lacks an Ethernet port (although most stick-style streaming media devices don’t have an Ethernet port).

While it works seamlessly with Google Assistant, Google’s voice-control technology, which allows it to integrate well with Google’s Home ecosystem, you need to use workarounds to use Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa voice-control technologies. 

• Who else recommends it? Wirecutter, TechRadar, and T3 recommend the Chromecast with Google TV HD.
• What do buyers say? On Amazon, 92% of over 14,000 global ratings are four or five stars.