If y'all want admission to all the biggest streaming apps such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime number Video and more, and so y'all don't need to fork out loads for smart TV. All you need is a niggling gadget that plugs into a HDMI socket.

They go past many names - streaming sticks, streaming boxes, media players and more than - but they all do the same affair. Plug into your Boob tube via HDMI and connect to the net so you lot watch a wealth of content. Many of them also have the ability to run other apps and fifty-fifty games.

With many devices costing under £l/$50, they are i of the best value smart home devices you tin can go.

Hither, we circular up the best media players and streaming sticks and boxes you lot can purchase that let you spotter endless Tv shows and films.

Best streaming stick and box 2022

1

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max - Best overall

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

  • Pros
    • Broad range of apps
    • Alexa support
    • Dolby Vision and Atmos support
  • Cons
    • Lots of Amazon self promotion
    • PiP but works with Band doorbells
  • Best Costdue south Today:

The 4K Max is the best Fire TV Stick yet, with improvements including Wi-Fi half dozen, a faster processor and support for picture-in-picture. If you accept a Ring doorbell, the video volition appear when someone presses the push, besides.

It will deliver 4K resolution at 60Hz, with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and other HDR and surround-sound formats.

The 3rd-gen remote adds more than buttons for more Television set control, while behind-the-scenes improvements (such as an upgrade to the underlying Android version) hateful you'll at present go Atmos from Netflix, and you can control the volume of Bluetooth headphones and speakers using the remote control.

It doesn't have hands-free Alexa similar the more expensive Fire Tv set Cube, but for only £5/$v more than than the 2018 Stick 4K, it is the all-time choice if you have a 4K Television set. If you lot only have a 1080p panel, opt for the tertiary-gen Fire Stick.

At that place are ads on the home screen, and heavy promotion for Amazon-owned content from Prime number Video and IMDb TV. Just, with a well-stocked app store containing all pop streaming services, it's non difficult to recommend.

Read our full Amazon Fire Boob tube Stick 4K Max review

two

Roku Streaming Stick 4K - All-time Roku streamer

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

  • Pros
    • 4K streaming for less
    • Smooth operation
    • Cracking remote
  • Cons
    • No HDMI extension cable
    • No headphone jack
    • Homepage non as detailed as Amazon's
  • Best Prices Today:

The Streaming Stick 4K from Roku brings 4K streaming for an affordable price. The device has a lot going for it including an easy-to-apply interface, smoothen functioning and a decent remote with controls for both the book and power and voice support.

Roku also offers thousands of hours of free content with The Roku Channel, and a huge range of streaming apps such as Netflix and Disney+.

The Streaming Stick 4K doesn't have a headphone jack directly on the remote, and the lack of an HDMI extension cable may make setting upwardly a little tricky. However, it does accept support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Amazon's Fire Tv set Stick 4K Max however has the edge hither due to a more tailored and comprehensive homepage. Roku needs to get improve at suggesting content and making shows readily available without users having to become direct into apps.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K review

3

Chromecast with Google Boob tube - Best Chromecast

Google Chromecast with Google TV

  • Pros
    • Slick interface
    • 4K with broad HDR support
    • Google Assistant
  • Cons
    • Can't switch users
    • No headphone jack on remote
  • All-time Prices Today:

The Chromecast with Google TV is the firm's best always streamer. It's at present upwardly in that location with the best from Amazon. Even if you're not because rivals, it's worth upgrading from an older Chromecast - peculiarly considering that this now has support for Dolby Atmos.

The remote control with Google Assistant and the splendid Google Tv interface combine to create a bully way to browse and discover content from a range of services and in 4K with broad HDR support, too.

In add-on, the device at present has support for Google Stadia, so you can use it for gaming as well as streaming.

Whilst the remote doesn't have a headphone jack, you tin connect Bluetooth earphones for private listening. Y'all also can't switch users on this device.

Read our total Google Chromecast with Google TV review

4

Apple tree TV 4K (2021) - Best for Apple users

Apple TV 4K (2021, 32GB)

  • Pros
    • Redesigned remote
    • Slick OS
    • Improved processor
  • Cons
    • Expensive
    • No increased storage
    • Not all apps back up remote functions
  • Best Prices Today:

If yous have an iOS device, and then the latest Apple tree Television 4K is a compelling selection. The upgraded A12 Bionic chip brings support for high framerate HDR content, and the OS is simple and slick.

The redesigned Siri remote is easy to utilise, with a mix of click-based controls and swiping. Siri is also included on the remote, so y'all can command via your phonation. There'due south also the choice to play sound via the HomePod, should y'all prefer.

However, there's no escaping the loftier price, and competition from other media streamers is stiff, too. But, if you lot're an iPhone, iPad or Mac user, you lot'll love the AirPlay back up the Apple tree TV offers, assuasive you to wirelessly stream content from your phone or tablet to the big screen instantly.

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2021, 32GB) review

5

Amazon Fire TV Stick (2021) - Corking streamer with Alexa support

Amazon Fire TV Stick (2021) 3rd-gen

  • Pros
    • HDR & Dolby Atmos support
    • Broad range of apps
    • Alexa back up
  • Cons
    • Lots of Amazon cocky promotion
    • Not much cheaper than the 4K Max
  • All-time Pricesouthward Today:

The 3rd-gen Amazon Fire TV Stick is a great-value media streamer if your TV doesn't take all the apps you need.

It has back up for HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos content, and has an easy-to-employ interface with a broad range of apps, including Twitch - which isn't available on other rivals such as Roku. Of course, Amazon could do with toning down the self-promotion.

The inclusion of Alexa voice support, volume buttons and power buttons on the remote also requite you much more control over your TV than the Fire Stick Lite. That said, in that location's no 4K back up, and the 4K Max Stick doesn't toll much more.

Read our full Amazon Fire Idiot box Stick (2021) 3rd-gen review

6

Nvidia Shield TV (2019) - Best high-quality streaming

Nvidia Shield TV (2019)

  • Pros
    • [email protected] HDR10 support
    • Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision
    • Google Assistant
  • Cons
    • Expensive
  • Best Prices Today:

The Nvidia Shield TV offers the well-nigh complete media streamer experience on the market right now, although it's non the cheapest gadget in our chart past a long shot.

It features [email protected] playback, like its predecessor, but the new Shield TV takes things a pace further with AI-based 4K upscaling that makes even 360p content look sharp and well-baked. It's non equally good equally native 4K content, just it'due south certainly the next best matter.

Couple that with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support beyond Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, Google Assistant support, access to AAA gaming via GeForce Now and a new triangular remote with backlit media keys and yous've got a truly premium media streaming feel.

Read our total Nvidia Shield TV (2019) review

7

Manhattan T3-R - Best for Freeview

Manhattan T3-R

  • Pros
    • Easy to use
    • Corking option of UK on-demand apps
    • PVR capabilities
  • Cons
    • No Netflix or Amazon Prime number
    • Expensive
    • Limited access to 4K content
  • Best Costs Today:

If y'all yet primarily sentinel TV over streaming services, the Manhattan T3-R is a great option. Information technology offers Freeview Play, complete with 85 channels (fifteen of which are HD), and you'll also detect catch-upwardly apps from all the main U.k. broadcasters if you lot miss something on TV.

Boasting a 500GB or 1TB HDD, you've also got the selection of pausing, rewinding or recording TV shows, with the ability to record two channels while watching a third simultaneously. And, nearly importantly, the software is elementary, like shooting fish in a barrel to use and stutter-free.

The simply complaint? The lack of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video apps, significant at that place's a lack of 4K content beyond what's available on YouTube and BBC iPlayer.

Read our full Manhattan T3-R review

8

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd-gen) - Best for hands-free Alexa

Amazon Fire TV Cube

  • Pros
    • Built-in Amazon Echo speaker
    • Hands-free control
    • Dolby Vision and Atmos back up
  • Cons
    • Expensive
    • Prime Video heavy promotion
  • Best Tolls Today:

If you're looking to combine your media streamer with a smart speaker, then the 2nd-gen Amazon Burn Television set Cube is one to consider. Whilst it'south more expensive than other streaming sticks, it has all the apps y'all need and offers a built-in Amazon Repeat speaker, which can be used for multiple things.

Yous can navigate your Fire Telly interface easily-free (something none of the Amazon sticks offer) and employ it to bank check weather condition forecasts, get news updates, set timers, reminders, control smart home kit and more. There's also back up for motion picture-in-picture with Ring doorbells.

Speaker capabilities aside, the Fire Tv Cube has support for 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that it is not really a useful device if y'all already have an Echo speaker. If that'southward the case, you lot may as well save some cash and buy a Fire Tv stick instead.

Read our total Amazon Fire Telly Cube review

9

Amazon Fire TV Stick Low-cal - Best budget streamer

Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

  • Pros
    • Affordable Price
    • Make clean layout
    • Alexa vocalisation support
  • Cons
    • Heavy Amazon promotion
    • No ability button or book controls
    • No 4K
  • Best Tolls Today:

If yous but want all the streaming apps for a low price, then the Fire TV Stick Lite is the one for you. All the primary free and paid catch-up and on-demand streaming services are catered for, and Amazon'south interface is easy-to-use - even if information technology is a little heavy on the cocky-promotion.

With Alexa voice support directly available on the remote, it'south piece of cake to search for what yous need. Information technology's also quick and piece of cake to set-up, with a refined design that sits unobtrusively backside your Television. Nevertheless, there are no volume or power buttons on the remote, something you exercise go on the more expensive Amazon sticks.

Streaming maxes out at 1080p FHD at 60fps, and so if you are looking to enjoy 4K or HDR10 content instead, look to the Amazon Fire Idiot box Stick 4K Max instead.

Read our full Amazon Burn down TV Stick Lite review

10

Roku Streambar - A groovy all-in-i entertainment package

Roku Streambar

  • Pros
    • Convenient interface
    • Decent sound
    • Huge range of content
  • Cons
    • Older TVs without HDMI-ARC/Toslink not supported
    • Expensive
  • All-time Tolls Today:

If you like the sound of the Roku organization with its roster of grab-upward TV and streaming apps, games and high-cease features like AirPlay two support, and also want to upgrade your TV sound organization at the same time, the Roku Streambar is a capable and budget-friendly option.

Offer the capabilities similar to that of the Roku Streaming Stick+, including 4K HDR support, it's a fully-fledged Roku streamer embedded within a great-sounding, compact soundbar that'll sit in front of your TV. It's a huge upgrade over your Goggle box's born speakers and, with AirPlay support, it'due south a particularly corking buy for Apple users.

Even so, information technology is at the high end when information technology comes to streaming boxes.

Read our full Roku Streambar review

What should I consider when buying a media streamer?

Fifty-fifty if you have a so-chosen 'smart Goggle box', it'due south likely to offering an junior feel - not to mention a arrears in content - compared to the media streamers we've reviewed hither.

The content available through each streamer is the nigh important factor for a lot of people. This is why it's crucial to check that the services you lot want are available. It's rare for one device to offer everything, but many have a wide range, with hundreds or fifty-fifty thousands of apps to choose from. Amazon-owned app Twitch isn't available on devices such equally Roku, for example.

Streaming stick vs box

The departure here is minimal but a stick is what yous'd imagine; a stick-like device that plugs directly into your TV. Designs have changed a lilliputian over time so some, like the Burn Stick, take a small cable and tend to be called dongles.

Streaming boxes like the Apple tree Idiot box are, well, boxes and they tend to sit down underneath your TV and then connect via an HDMI cable.

There are no huge benefits to either unless you lot have a wall-mounted TV and accept nowhere to sit down a box. In this case, get a stick so it tin exist hidden backside your set.

Chromecast with Google TV

Primal specs and features

When ownership a streaming device, bank check information technology has the specs and features y'all demand. Not all support 4K Ultra HD resolution output and you'll besides desire to cheque for HDR for a more vibrant film.

The design of the remote is also something to consider. Some take the ability to control your Television set (normally power and volume) and might even have a headphone jack so you tin can easily listen privately. Others might support vocalism search via Alexa or Google Assistant.

Gaming

Gaming is a bonus feature on some media streamers. You can play casual games such as Tetris on Roku and Amazon devices, or opt for the Nvidia Shield Television set for something a little more than console-esque. You lot can fifty-fifty buy optional gamepads for some if you lot're serious about wanting to play like that.

In that location's also Apple Arcade, which the latest generation of Apple tree TV 4K is plenty capable of running. Google Stadia is one of the about popular options for deject gaming, which you can get straight on Chromecast.

Do Roku devices take YouTube?

Yeah - Roku was set to lose YouTube on 9 Dec 2021. Even so, a last-minute bargain betwixt Roku and Google has reversed these plans and ensured that the YouTube app will remain on Roku streaming sticks and boxes for at to the lowest degree a few years.

In add-on, the new deal reinstated YouTube TV back onto Roku devices - this app had been gone since Apr 2021. The inclusion of the YouTube app on Roku devices has at present been reflected in the order of our nautical chart.