The redesigned remote control isn't our favorite among all the devices on this list, but it's definitely better than it used to be. It's available with 32GB of storage, or double that for just $20 more, which you should definitely do if you're already up in this price range. (Just ask anyone who's still happily using the original Apple TV 4K, released in 2017.) The latest model runs Apple's own A12 Bionic processor and sports Wi-Fi 6 for wireless and gigabit Ethernet if you prefer to plug in. What you get for that extra money is hardware that darn near should last forever. But what it does do, it tends to do better with fewer headaches. In fact, you can make the argument that it does a little less. And to be clear, Apple TV 4K doesn't do three or four or five times as much as its competitors. In the world of $50 streaming sticks that absolutely can get the job done and get it done well, it's perhaps a little hard to recommend something that costs three or four or five times as much. While those in the Apple ecosystem can make use of some of the extra features, it's not just for those with iPhones and iPads.

Who it's for: Anyone, really, so long as they have the cash to spend. And that's what you want if it's something you're going to use almost every day. Why you should buy this: It's the simplest, most consistent experience you can get, with a relatively open-ended shelf life. So without further ado, let’s get into it. We get paid to make some tough decisions here, though. And at that level, it’s really more about ecosystem and personal choice than anything else. Elsewhere, we’ll get into picks that are more comparable in price and function. They’re also the most expensive - by quite a good bit. Our top two picks are in a class of their own. And that's not even counting features like Chromecast or AirPlay 2, which make it simple to stream any sort of content you want from any Android, iOS, Chrome, or Mac device. Every one of them will give you access to all movies and shows that Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and more can throw at you, but it will come down to which is best for you and your budget, which typically ranges from as low as $30 to as high as $200.įurther compounding the issue is that if you have a smart TV from the past several years from any of the major manufacturers, there's a pretty good chance that you might not even need to plug in any other sort of smart streaming device, thanks to the built-in operating system and a plethora of available streaming apps. We know, that doesn't make your choice any easier, but on the bright side, you have choice. The major players in the streaming device game are duking it out for your hard-earned dollars, but we've got a bit of a secret to let you in on - Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Roku: There isn't one holy streaming stick or box that rules them all.

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