The Best Streaming Devices for 2019

Right now, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is our favorite streaming device. It boasts a near-endless collection of top-tier streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix — all of which can be controlled using the streamer’s integrated Alexa voice assistant. Plus, the latest model now supports Dolby Vision, giving the Fire TV Cube all it needs to take over your living room.

We’ve been testing streaming devices ever since the first Apple TV hit the shelves back in 2007, so with more than a decade’s worth of experience under our belt, we know a thing or two about what makes a good one.

We know the Fire TV Cube won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, though, so we rounded up six alternatives that excel in different departments, including the Apple TV 4K, Roku Ultra, and Google Chromecast. But if you’re after the most well-rounded streaming device on the market, the Fire TV Cube is the way to go.

At a glance

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2019)

The best

Why should you buy this? The Cube isn’t just an excellent streaming device — it can control your entire entertainment system better than your remotes can.

Who’s it for? Those looking for a streamlined, Alexa-driven home entertainment experience.

Why we picked the Amazon Fire TV Cube:

It was going to take a lot to knock a Roku device out of our top spot, but the Fire TV Cube has snatched the crown of the streaming device kingdom. That might be a surprise, especially since the device was originally announced as little more than the first Fire TV box to have standalone Alexa support  — no external Echo speaker necessary. In reality, however, it’s loaded with powerful tech and features that will allow you to control just about everything in your entertainment center with minimal need for a remote.

Thanks to HDMI CEC- and HDMI ARC-capable ports alongside included IR blasters, you’ll be able to use voice commands to turn on your TV, swap between apps, and even switch inputs over to other connected devices like gaming consoles, A/V receivers, and Blu-ray players. You can walk into the room with the TV and all other devices off, and direct Alexa to do things like “play Stranger Things,” and the Cube will switch on the TV and sound system and immediately start up the show on Netflix — all without a remote. Using the Cube like this is pretty much the closest we’ve felt to talking to the computer on the Starship Enterprise. While Alexa will require specific voice commands out of the box, the A.I. assistant will learn to recognize your input style. Amazon has also promised to continually update Alexa’s recognition abilities and tune the assistant to meet the needs of users, meaning simple, even vague speech may be recognized as more people use it.

The Cube’s nature as a home theater control hub may be its biggest selling point, but it is also just an excellent streamer. The black box is capable of 4K and HDR playback and comes with an Ethernet adapter for the most reliable data connection possible — something sorely lacking from other Fire TV devices. Speaking of upgrades, the Fire TV Cube features a much more open and platform-agnostic interface than what we’ve seen from other Fire TV releases. In the past, using a Fire TV meant you were funneled to content on Amazon’s platform, with other apps and services buried or excluded. Thankfully, that’s much less of an issue here. Plus, as of July 9, 2019, The Cube (and most other Fire TV devices) get an official YouTube app — something that’s been missing from the platform for years.

New for 2019, Amazon released a refreshed model that added Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which was a big knock on the original. With that, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is better than we ever imagined it could be. The onboard Alexa integration, Ethernet adapter, and more open ecosystem solve our biggest issues with previous Fire TV devices, but it’s the all-in-one control afforded by HDMI CEC support, the IR blaster, and Alexa voice commands that earned it the throne.

Read our full Fire TV Cube review

Roku Streaming Stick+

The best streaming stick

Why should you buy this? It’s the best streaming stick on the market, and it’s affordable to boot.

Who’s it for? Anyone who wants to stream 4K and HDR through an easy-breezy interface.

Why we picked the Roku Streaming Stick+:

The Streaming Stick+ delivers one of the best features-to-price ratios among streaming devices out there. You’ll be able to experience 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos Audio through this tiny device that looks like a USB thumb drive and easily hides behind your TV.

The discreet design extends beyond just its physical profile. Thanks to powerful 802.11ac MIMO dual-band wireless support, you’ll be able to set it up anywhere within your home’s Wi-Fi range — no Ethernet required. The only actual requirement with the Streaming Stick+ is a TV or any display with an HDMI port and USB. Just plug the stick into the HDMI port and the power cable into one of its USB ports (or an adapter if it doesn’t have one), and you’re done.

One of our favorite things about the Streaming Stick+ is a feature shared by all Roku devices: An awesome user interface. Roku OS uses an app-agnostic approach, which makes finding the best place to watch what you want easier than with almost any other device on the market. Despite lacking Dolby Vision support that newer devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K possess, we still prefer the Roku’s voice search and easy-to-use interface. As far as we’re concerned, it’s the best streaming stick on the market.

Read our full Roku Streaming Stick+ review

Roku Ultra (2019)

The best premium set-top streaming box

Why should you buy this? It’s a powerful, well-rounded set-top streaming box bolstered by Roku’s excellent interface and app support.

Who’s it for? Those who want the features of the Streaming Stick+, but desire a little more horsepower and stability.

Why we picked the Roku Ultra (2019):

The Roku Ultra brings with it a slew of awesome features. Like any high-end streamer, it supports 4K, Dolby Atmos audio, and HDR10 (Dolby Vision and HDR10+ aren’t currently compatible), but that’s just the beginning.

Like the Fire TV Cube, the Ultra sports an Ethernet port to help improve connection speeds and even adds a MicroSD card slot to store even more apps or work as a source for pictures and video. It also has a USB port, so you can view content from any compatible device. The box also features a “lost remote” button that will trigger a tone from the remote (even though we all know it’s under the couch). The remote has both a headphone jack for private listening and dedicated power/volume buttons that can control TV volume, depending upon the model.

New for 2019, the remote now has two customizable shortcut buttons that are a snap to program: Simply speak a voice command while holding the microphone button, then hold the shortcut button until you hear a beep. The Ultra is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant-powered smart speakers, and Roku’s Featured Free menu option makes finding free content to watch incredibly easy.

Night Listening mode automatically adjusts volume scene-by-scene to avoid waking up the kids, and the included JBL headphones should offer better sound for headphone playback as well. As you probably already surmised from our look at the Streaming Stick+, we love the Roku OS. From the biggest library of apps (aka “Roku channels”) to incredible cross-channel search functionality, there is no digital ecosystem that competes.

Read our full Roku Ultra review

Roku Express (2019)

The best budget media streamer

Why should you buy this? It’s got everything you need for streaming the best free and premium content, for a rock-bottom price.

Who’s it for? People who don’t care about features like 4K or Dolby Atmos and just want a simple and inexpensive media streamer.

Why we picked the Roku Express (2019):

If you don’t need 4K, or HDR, or even Dolby Atmos, why should you have to pay extra for a device that does all of these things? The Roku Express is minimalism at its best: Just as easy to use as every other Roku streamer thanks to the excellent remote and user interface, it does away with all of the frills, leaving you with a tiny device that fits anywhere, and way more money in your pocket.

It delivers 1080p full HD video which still looks great, and the two-cable set-up (one for power and one for HDMI) is dead easy. You won’t find MicroSD card slots or USB ports or even voice commands here, but that’s the whole point. If you want those features, Roku has many other excellent streamers to choose from as you can see on this roundup.

Despite its minimal hardware feature set, you still get all of the software enhancements that continue to make Roku a killer streaming platform like its free app for iOS and Android that acts as a remote, a content casting device, a voice remote, and a private listening accessory. Add to this Roku’s awesome line-up of free streaming content from the Roku Channel and other sources and you can see why this is $30 incredibly well spent.

Read our full Roku Express (2019) review

Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019)

The best media streamer for gamers

Why should you buy this? It offers 4K, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos paired with premium gaming features.

Who’s it for? Those who prefer their streaming with a healthy side of gaming.

Why we picked the Nvidia Shield TV Pro:

Most of the products on this list are squarely focused on streaming video, but despite the “TV” in its name, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro takes a different approach. The device features 4K resolution and HDR streaming capabilities based on the Android TV platform, but at its heart, the Shield TV Pro is designed with gamers in mind.

More than 200 games are available to play via Android TV, with many exclusive to the Shield TV. If you’re a PC gamer, the ability to stream PC games to your Shield TV while you kick back on the couch makes it an even more attractive option. It’s got 16GB of storage, a voice-capable, backlit remote control with dedicated media buttons (something the previous generation lacked), and it has Google Assistant onboard.

The new Tegra X1+ processor is 25% faster than the X1, which will deliver even better gaming performance. You can buy an Nvidia-designed wireless game controller, but it’s no longer included in the box. Instead, Nvidia suspects most buyers will opt to use an existing Bluetooth controller, including Sony’s DualShock 4 and Xbox One controllers.

For 4K streaming, Netflix, Vudu, UltraFlix, Amazon Video, and YouTube are all supported, with HDR support available on select services. New for 2019 is Dolby Vision support, which users have been asking for. For HD streaming, many more options are available, including HBO Now, Twitch, CBS, Fox, and Vimeo — basically, anything in the Google Play store — and live TV is available via Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV. Many of these apps can easily be searched using the built-in Voice Search feature.

NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW service — which is currently offered as a free beta but expected to command around $10 per month at some point — allows users to stream games to their Shield at up to 4K resolution, but performance is dependent upon internet speed. On the audio side, the Nvidia Shield TV supports 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, as well as Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound. High-resolution audio is also supported, with some formats supported natively and others supported via passthrough. If you’re a Plex user, you’ll really appreciate that the Shield’s Plex client is one of the few that supports Dolby TrueHD with Atmos, and is powerful enough to play 4K HDR movies without server-based transcoding.

Apple TV 4K

The best media streamer for Apple lovers

Why should you buy this? The Apple TV 4K provides a seamless TV experience across all your Apple devices.

Who’s it for? Users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Why we picked the Apple TV 4K:

After spending two years as an afterthought in the streamer market due to a lack of 4K support, Apple TV is back and better than ever. With a bevy of cool features, it’s a good choice for Apple devotees and a solid (if spendy) competitor of high-end offerings from Roku, Amazon, and Google.

The Apple TV 4K has a few tricks up its sleeve, beginning with its super-fast A10X Fusion processor. Put it this way: The only thing holding this box back speed-wise will be your internet connection. There is also a cool option that allows users to copy login info directly to the Apple TV from iPhones, iPads, and Apple laptops, which drastically reduces the amount of time spent entering passwords. Plus, if you have a third- or fourth-generation Apple TV, it will automatically sync your previous TV OS layout to make life simpler.

You can use Siri to search for content, including cross-platform searches, though Apple’s library of apps isn’t as diverse as Roku’s. You can also send images, video, and audio via AirPlay 2 from a supported iOS device. You still have access to heavy hitters like Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, and more recently, Amazon Prime Video (though the app is half-baked compared to other apps on the device). Plus, you’ll have access to the iTunes store and your entire iTunes library. You can also use intuitive questions and statements for voice-controlled search (“Show me 4K movies on Netflix”) instead of resorting to awkward jargon.

With Dolby Atmos, 4K, and HDR in both Dolby Vision and HDR10, it’s got the support you need to watch and listen to the newest formats, though beware: It is super picky about which HDMI cables you’re using, and might well prevent you from seeing Dolby Vision if your cables aren’t rated for ultra-high-speed connections. Is the Apple TV 4K worth its hefty price tag? We’re on the fence there, but if you’re one of those “all-Apple-everything” types, this is the streaming device for you.

One last thing we want to point out: Apple TV 4K will most likely be the best device for Apple TV+, the company’s premium streaming service. Select Samsung TVs and Roku devices have it (via the Apple TV app), as well as select Amazon Fire TV devices, but you’ll probably get faster updates and better OS integration with Apple TV. Keep that in mind if Apple TV+ is important to you.

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

Google Chromecast (2018)

The best casting device

Why should you buy this? The Chromecast syncs with your phone or other media devices for simple streaming.

Who’s it for? Anyone who just wants a simple, affordable HD streamer.

Why we picked the Chromecast (3rd generation):

If you don’t have a 4K HDR-enabled television, you don’t need to spend extra cash on devices that stream in 4K. The Chromecast is a tiny, simple streaming device that works in tandem with devices you’re already using — namely your phone or tablet.

Frankly, the 2018 update for Google’s aging HD Chromecast doesn’t add much at all, but the fact that you can’t buy the older model anymore makes this the de facto choice. The new device does have a slightly faster framerate (60 frames per second) for 1080p content and a new look, but other than that it’s pretty much the same old Chromecast, offering the same primary appeal: Dead simple streaming on the cheap.

If you do have a 4K HDR-capable TV, and you just love casting, the $70 Chromecast Ultra — which supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR — will be your best bet. That said, you can get more for your money elsewhere in streaming, including the Roku Streaming Stick+ listed above, as well as the new Roku Premiere+, which costs just $50.

Unlike other streaming devices, Chromecasts (including the Chromecast Audio and the Ultra) use the apps you’ve already got on your phone to control playback and search for content. Simply call up your supported streaming app, click the cast button, and you’re ready to watch. Google Home also makes search snappier and more convenient than before.

The Chromecast is also deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem — or at least it can be — and supports Google Assistant, as well as any Google smart home devices. For Android and Google die-hards, this is likely going to be a key feature. Users of iOS, Mac, and Windows devices can still get plenty of use out of the Chromecast, though, as each of them supports casting across tons of apps.

Read our full Chromecast (2018) review

Other information

How we test

We test our streaming players over a period of days or weeks, replicating exactly how you’d use them in real-life scenarios. That includes testing them for speed, convenience, intuitiveness, and a variety of features. Accessibility to a wide variety of apps is also crucial — after all, most TVs and Blu-ray players are already set up for basic streaming — so a designated streamer should offer something more.

A streamer might have the best hardware in the world, but this won’t matter if you can only watch content from one streaming service. In order to meet our standard, a streaming media player ideally supports all or most of the major content providers, as well as a wide variety of newer features like 4K Ultra HD and HDR. Finally, we look at how much quality and how many features you get on a dollar-by-dollar scale to ensure each of our top streamers is not only a great experience, but also a great value.

Is now a good time to buy?

Whether now is the time to jump on one of these streaming media devices depends on what catches your eye. For Amazon, now is the time to buy, specifically the Fire TV Stick 4K, which was launched in October 2018 and remains one of the only streaming devices to support Dolby Vision. Sure, there are two other Fire TV devices available, but the Cube is better than either of them in myriad ways. Plus, no other streaming device offers the control and consolidation that the Fire TV Cube does.

Then we have the Chromecast. Google launched the third generation of the device in 2018, so the model here is the most recent version. The 4K-capable Chromecast Ultra offers advantages in the way of improved hardware and network performance, but the baseline model is still plenty capable for those who have yet to upgrade their pixel count.

It’s a slightly different situation for Roku models. As long as you’re looking specifically at the models and price ranges covered here, you’re safe making a purchase now. Upcoming models will likely have better specs in some way, but will also likely cost more. Roku is historically adamant about delivering as many of the latest features it can to each device, so there’s little to worry about in terms of long-term support.

Likewise, Apple launched the latest edition of its Apple TV in 2017, bringing 4K and HDR support to the platform. Since then, the company has added new features, including Dolby Atmos support. If Apple was planning a new version of the Apple TV 4K, its Apple TV+ event would have been the logical time to do so, but it didn’t. As with Roku, if any Apple streamers hit the market in the latter half of the year, we’ll be sure to provide an update.

While we’ve seen new streaming devices show up, and we’re waiting to see what else the year may bring, we’re confident that the Nvidia Shield TV isn’t going anywhere. Nvidia had been planning a successor to the Shield TV, but it dropped those plans and we haven’t heard anything since. Still, this streaming box packs plenty of horsepower and continues to gain more features with every software update. Considering it’s likely to remain a viable in-home gaming streaming option for some time, we expect this iteration of the hardware to stick around.

Platform differences

Roku: Roku’s interface is common across every model, whether you’re talking the top-of-the-line Ultra model or the entry-level Express. There is also a certain look to Roku apps, and you won’t find interface differences across different apps as much as you might on other platforms. As we’ve mentioned before, you’ll find nearly every streaming service or channel you care about represented here, and unlike certain other platforms, you won’t find any gaps, with the notable exception of iTunes, which is only available on Apple streamers.

Amazon: Amazon offers three Fire TV models — the Fire TV, the Stick, and the Cube — but the interface is a little different for each, with the Cube having the most egalitarian search results and app presentation overall. Some app interfaces differ on Fire TV compared to those found on other devices, and this can be a benefit. PlayStation Vue, for example, currently offers a much more intuitive interface on Fire TV devices. However, there are some missing services here: Google Play isn’t available (there is a workaround), nor is Vudu. Both are available on Roku devices, and Vudu is available on every other streamer listed here.

Apple TV: The Apple TV user interface lies somewhere between the Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Apps have a fairly consistent look, but you’ll always be able to tell when you’re watching on an Apple TV. Apple would prefer users to buy and rent content via iTunes, so you won’t currently find an app for Google Play, though an Amazon Video app has finally arrived. There is a fairly easy workaround, however, as Google Play offers a mobile app that allows content to be streamed to an Apple TV via AirPlay.

Android TV (Nvidia Shield): Android TV is a little different than the other options here, in that manufacturers can put their own spin on the interface, similar to phone manufacturers with Android. You’ll find that many apps exhibit plenty of individuality on Shield TV, which contrasts with the visual in-app consistency with Roku apps. Amazon Video isn’t available out of the box outside the US, though it can be cast or sideloaded if you want to dive under the hood. Or, you can wait a few months: Amazon has committed to providing full Prime Video support for Android TV devices later this year.

Chromecast: As the name might imply, Chromecast runs entirely on the magical power of casting — i.e., beaming content from one device wirelessly to your TV. Everything about the Chromecast is controlled via your casting device — including app search, content playback, and even private listening modes — whether that’s an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, a Windows PC, or a Mac. Instead of accessing everything from one portal, you use each respective app’s Cast feature to find and play your content over the air. This is obviously a major difference between its competitors, which have their own operating systems, user interfaces, and dedicated versions of apps.

Words and terms you need to know

• 4K Ultra HD: While no longer the highest resolution available (that title goes to 8K), 4K Ultra HD is the highest resolution with significant support from content creators and distributors. At around four times that of 1080p HD (3840 x 2160), it’s the standard for new TVs.
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi: The most recent and fastest Wi-Fi standard — not as fast as Ethernet, but faster than 802.11n.
• Android TV: A smart TV platform powered by Android and available across smart TVs, set-top boxes, and more.
• Casting: A term, popularized by Google, for making content found on a mobile device or PC and appear on a TV.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR): Short for High Dynamic Range, HDR offers better contrast and more colors than standard dynamic range. It’s considered by many to be a more notable visual improvement than 4K Ultra HD resolution itself.
• HDR10: One of the two most popular HDR formats, and an open standard backed by Samsung, Sony, LG, and other companies.
• Dolby Vision: One of the two most popular HDR formats. Proprietary, and less popular than the other format, HDR10, Dolby Vision has advantages, such as the ability to gauge your HDR TV’s capabilities and tailor the HDR experience.
• Dolby Atmos: A technology that allows sound designers to specify the positioning of audio in an immersive, 3D soundstage. Sounds can be placed anywhere around a room, bringing you deep inside the action on-screen. Requires height speakers, either in-ceiling or speakers that bounce sound off of the ceiling to play sound from above.
• Single Sign-on (SSO): A feature that allows users to use a single login to automatically sign in to all linked apps, provided they support the feature. This is supported by each of the devices we’ve picked here but requires an account through a paid TV provider.

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