Best streaming sticks and devices: Get a smart TV without getting a smart TV

Smart TVs may be relatively ubiquitous nowadays, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should ignore the advantages of sticks or boxes when it comes to tapping into the ever-expanding world of streaming.

The best streaming boxes, sticks and dongles are a cheap(ish), hassle-free way of getting all of your favorite TV shows and movies from a single input.

Some smart TV platforms are pretty crummy, and many don’t have the latest apps, games and content available from the likes of Apple, Amazon and Google.

Or, perhaps you don’t have a smart TV, and, instead, you want to bring some internet-connected joy to your existing setup on the cheap, simply by plugging a top streaming stick into one of your TV’s HDMI ports.

You can also take a smart stick or dongle with you on your travels, allowing you to have access to all your streaming video services without the hassle of casting, logging in on hotel TVs or simply watching on your phone.

Whatever your reason, below are some of the best options you can buy right now. Jump down below for an overview of the likes of Google Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Best overall streamer: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amongst the barrage of new devices that Amazon unveiled at its big Devices & Services event at the end of last year was the company’s latest assault on the streaming stick market: the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

The 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max claimed the title of being the industry’s first streaming stick to support Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring blazing-fast connectivity.

It doesn’t skimp on audio and video quality either, supporting 4K Ultra HD and a gamut of formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and offering immersive Dolby Atmos audio.

Performance gets a significant boost from a more robust 2.0GHz quad-core chip. Navigating your content is now easier with the inclusion of an ‘Enhanced’ remote control featuring a dedicated Recents button.

Doubling the storage capacity to 16GB, you can store more content directly on the device.

Apart from the tweaked hardware, what sets the apart is its inclusion of the innovative Fire TV Ambient Experience, previously seen on Amazon’s Omni QLED TVs.

This feature transforms your TV into an Alexa-powered smart display, akin to the Echo Show, when you’re not actively streaming video content.

It lets you display art, photos, weather updates, calendar entries, and other smart home widgets. Additionally, it boasts an energy-saving capability that detects ambient light and occupancy, automatically transitioning to Standby mode after two minutes.

There’s also a non-Max variant that is a fraction cheaper but misses out on the Wi-Fi 6E and Ambient Experience action, but does still boast a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, delivering a 30% increase in power from the previous-gen.

It doesn’t compromise on visual quality either; offering 4K Ultra HD with HDR support from formats like Dolby Vision, HDR, HLG, and HDR10+, and is also Dolby Atmos equipped too.

What we love

• Great value
• Lots of features and services
• IR Alexa remote
• Wi-Fi 6E

What we don’t love

• Fire TV UI still needs work
• Netflix can be slow
• Too many Amazon adverts

Best for Apple users: Apple TV 4K 2022 (128GB)

Less of a streaming stick and more of an ultra-high definition Pandora’s Box, the latest – albeit ageing – Apple TV 4K is a seriously smart TV companion. It also plays a major part in the Apple ecosystem, as it can also be used as a HomeKit smart home hub.

As you’d expect from Apple, this richness comes from the host of apps, accessible from Apple TV’s own App Store. The majority of these include the full range of content streaming platforms, both free and paid-for TV shows and movies, live TV services and ported iOS games. You’ll also be able to control it from Apple devices such as your iPhone or iPad.

This 2022, 3rd-gen, model represents a relatively sizeable upgrade from the second-gen Apple TV 4K, with the company’s A15 Bionic processor running the show.

Apple indicates that the 2022 model is 50% faster as a result, while the GPU performance is said to be 30% speedier.

Those boosts help the entire experience run a bit more smoothly, as does the addition of support for HDR10+. Combined with Dolby Vision, this gives watchers even more options when it comes to streaming HDR TVs and movies.

Siri is also well integrated, offering more contextual options than you might think – even if, yeah, Siri still pales in comparison to Alexa and Assistant.

Apple TV plays nicely with AirPlay 2 as a receiver and sender, as well, so you can send the sound to an AirPlay speaker, or, preferably, a sound bar, by dragging down on the remote. And, if you’re streaming video on a Mac, iPhone or iPad, you’ll be able to ping those visuals over to your Apple box.

The reason we’ve been so specific in naming the 128GB model is that it has a Thread radio built in, which makes it useful in the Matter-compatible world. The 64GB version lacks Thread. The 2021 model also packs both though, so you may not need to upgrade if this is your main concern.

What we love

• Simple, intuitive interface
• AirPlay and HomeKit support
• Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
• Matter controller and Thread border router

What we don’t love

• Comparatively pricey
• Siri is still just Siri
• Pretty old now

Best for Google / Android users: Google TV Streamer (4K)

The new Google TV streamer was announced in August 2024 and is the latest streaming device from Google, replacing Chromecast with a faster, more premium solution.

It offers access to over 700,000 movies and shows, personalized content suggestions, and an ambient mode that will turn an idle TV into a work of art. 

AI assistant Gemini also offers full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content to make finding your next binge-watch easier.

There’s improved performance too, 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, as well as  connectivity support for Matter and a built-in Thread border router, designed to make the Google TV Streamer enhance the entertainment and smart home experience.

What we love

• Flexible 4K HDR streaming
• Google TV platform is great
• Google Assistant baked in
• Gemini AI smarts

What we don’t love

• Not as cheap as previous Chromecasts
• Assistant still a work in progress for recommendations
• Bulkier than a Chromecast

Best budget streaming device: Roku Express 4K

Roku has created a platform that offers you more for your buck and covers a range of price points, starting at less than $30 / £30 for the Roku Express; a budget dongle that can be powered entirely by USB.

Add $5 / £10 to that price tag and you also get 4K smarts with the Roku Express 4K model.

Unlike the old Express, the latest editions have been smoothed out with a more curved design, but it still has a relatively 90s-budget aesthetic going on.

Unlike the old Roku Express, the newer models can power directly from virtually any television with a USB-A port, so won’t require a separate power connector, and it draws power via Micro USB, while connecting to your television via HDMI.

As this model has an IR remote, it has to be placed in line-of-site, so it’s backed into a very tiny box that you can stick in front of your TV (or on your TV if you use the bundled sticky pad).

All of the major streaming services are available, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and HBO Max.

Given the fact it ships with a neat little remote, it’s more accessible than traditional sticks, and, in turn, could be an ideal choice for older users who don’t want their TV experience bound to a smartphone.

What we love

• Super simple to use
• Great price
• Great range of apps and services

What we don’t love

• No 4K
• No Dolby Vision
• Alexa and Google Assistant integrations aren’t the best

Streaming devices: Considerations before buying

1. Streaming services

The services you’re signed up to – or want to sign up to – are arguably the most important thing to consider when purchasing a streaming device.

While Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ remain dominant, many users are also flocking to platforms like Apple TV+, HBO Max (now rebranded as Max), and niche services like Peacock, Mubi, or Discovery+.

There are also local streaming services too, such as BBC iPlayer in the UK, Binge in Australia or Crave in Canada.

If you just want to get these services onto your TV, with no fuss on specs or resolution, you can pick up a bargain streaming stick and away you go.

If your goal is simply to stream these services to your TV without worrying about high-end features, there are still budget-friendly options like the original Chromecast or the lower end Roku and Fire TV stick.

However, if you’re aiming for a more refined experience with added features, such as voice control, a sleek home screen interface, or the ability to integrate with your smart home ecosystem, higher-end models like the Apple TV 4K or Fire TV 4K Max might be more fitting.

Consider your viewing preferences too – do you care about seamless voice commands for searching content or do you prefer navigating via your phone or app?

2. 4K, HDR and other specs

With 4K becoming the norm, and streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ offering UHD content, you’ll want to ensure your streaming device supports the latest formats.

Check for compatibility with not ony UHD 4K, but also the likes of HDR10, and Dolby Vision, especially if you own a high-spec TV.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) can make a significant difference in picture quality, so devices like the Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield TV, and the latest Apple TV 4K provide excellent support for these features.

Even if you don’t plan to upgrade to a 4K TV immediately, it’s wise to future-proof your device by ensuring it supports these advanced specs.

Gaming-focused streaming boxes like the Nvidia Shield TV also offer Android gaming support, making them a solid option for users who want a device that doubles as both a media streamer and a gaming console.

Plus, with more services offering cloud gaming, the Nvidia Shield TV is ideal for those who want to game in 4K with a controller.

3. Streaming devices as smart home hubs

Beyond simply streaming media, your streaming device can also serve as the heart of your smart home, particularly with the rise of Matter – a new standard for smart home interoperability.

Matter enables – in theory at least – smart devices from different ecosystems to work together seamlessly, and many of the latest streaming devices are being designed to support this new standard.

For instance, Apple TVs can serve as a Matter controller, allowing you to control Matter-enabled devices from multiple brands via the Home app, making it an essential part of the Apple ecosystem for smart home integration.

Similarly, some of Amazon’s Fire TV devices and the latest Google TV streamer, also offer Matter support and are increasingly being used as Thread border routers.

Thread is a low-latency, low-power mesh networking protocol designed to enhance communication between smart devices, and with a Thread border router, devices can connect to your home network without relying solely on Wi-Fi.

By leveraging Thread and Matter, these streaming devices can help unify smart home control through their respective platforms – Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit.

When choosing a device, consider which smart home ecosystem you already use or plan to expand into, and look for streaming devices that support Matter and Thread to future-proof your smart home setup.

4. Content discovery and interface

A streamlined, user-friendly interface can make a big difference in your day-to-day streaming experience.

Devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV continue to offer excellent user interfaces that focus on content discovery. Roku, for instance, aggregates streaming services into one place, making it easy to browse and jump between services without leaving the home screen.

Similarly, the Google TV platform has evolved into a more personalized experience, recommending content based on your viewing habits, subscriptions, and preferences.

5. Connectivity and extras

With streaming devices, connectivity is key. Look for HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 support if you want to future-proof your device and ensure compatibility with your TV.

Some models, like the new Google TV streaming box, offer Ethernet ports for wired connections, which can provide a more stable internet connection for 4K streaming or gaming.

Additionally, check if the device offers Bluetooth for external speakers or controllers. This can be especially important for gamers or those who want an immersive audio experience without relying on your TV’s built-in speakers.

6. Voice control and smart assistants

Voice control has become an essential part of streaming experiences.

Whether it’s Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri, the ability to use voice commands to search for content, control playback, or manage your smart home devices is a major convenience.

Streaming devices that support these features allow for hands-free operation and easy integration with smart home ecosystems.

If you frequently use voice commands, consider a device like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max or the Roku Ultra, both of which offer robust voice search features through their respective remotes.

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