Ranking the 12 Best Streaming Devices Available in 2023

Streaming is about as common as cable TV these days. In fact, we’d be willing to bet that most households actually prefer app-based content over traditionally broadcast programming. And when it comes to how you get your Netflix and Disney+ viewing done, most folks will experience these platforms and others like them through a number of fantastic streaming devices.

The leaders in the market include Google with Chromecast, Apple with Apple TV, Amazon with Fire TV and Roku with its eponymous streaming devices. Each device offers its own benefits. Roku and Fire Stick are distinct in that they offer a user-friendly interface for your TV, and they come with a remote that can replace your TV’s remote. They basically allow you to turn a regular TV into a smart TV. However, these devices do not offer access to HBO Max, which is a major drawback if you were hoping to binge-watch Friends.

So what’s the best streaming device? That depends on your budget. If you don’t mind dropping $170 on a streaming device — on top of what you’ll pay for apps like Netflix and Hulu — then Apple TV is the way to go. If you’re looking for a cheap streaming device, then Roku has a few affordable options that easily unlock access to your favorite apps. Despite being a smaller brand, Roku can more than keep up with its competitors who are worth tens of billions of dollars (or even a trillion, in Amazon’s case). Roku is a popular option because it has an intuitive and uncluttered search menu, and it’s better optimized for 4K. However, if controlling your TV using a smart speaker is important to you, then Amazon’s Fire devices have a clear edge. And of course, if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, having a streaming device that syncs will all of your other Apple devices makes life super convenient. There are also more niche alternatives like the NVIDIA Shield TV, which is a great option for gamers.

To help you get the most out of your TV, we’ve rounded up the 12 best streaming devices for sale in 2023.

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Read More: Google Chromecast Gets Its First Price Drop

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Google’s Chromecast line of streamers has always offered the best bang for the buck, but the lack of a remote-driven interface always hurt its cause. Being able to load up videos with your phone is a great convenience to have, but as the sole method of control, it can feel a bit limiting. Chromecast with Google TV changes this in a major, major way. You can still cast videos from virtually any streaming service using your phone or laptop, but now there’s a remote and Google TV, which is essentially a redesigned and overhauled update to Android TV. This means you can install apps, receive curated recommendations, load up live TV via a seamless Youtube TV integration, and even give Google Assistant voice commands to control your smart home.

But when it comes to specs, the Chromecast with Google TV is also built to compete with the best streaming devices. You have access to 4K streaming in HDR10 or Dolby Vision, support for Dolby Atmos sound and the remote can be used to power your TV on and off, change the volume and switch input sources. On top of that, all of the services you could ever want are available on Google TV. This includes Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Criterion Channel, Twitch and HBO Max, which is still — somehow — only available on Google and Apple streaming devices. But the thing that really puts this little streamer on top is the fact that it’s offering these top-of-the-line features at a price well below the premium offerings from other companies.

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Read More: Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire Sticks, and Rokus On Sale

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2022 saw the release of two brand-new Apple TV 4K streaming devices, one with 64GB of onboard storage for $130, and a second unit with 128GB and a Gigabit Ethernet port for $150 (only $20 more). And if you’re planning on downloading a ton of movies and TV shows, or plan on doing a bunch of HDR streaming, we recommend you go with the 128GB model. But for overall value, we’ll be sticking with the 64GB unit for the rest of this breakdown.

Apple doesn’t rest on its laurels, with the new generation of Apple TV 4K devices capable of delivering both the visuals and audio with stellar HDR playback, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos support, and the new and improved A15 Bionic chip for improved performance and Siri responsiveness across the board. It may not be a cheap streaming device, but if you’re looking for a device that will control your smart home ecosystem, let you stream with AirPlay 2, and download your favorite movies and shows, the Apple TV 4K (2022) is the way to go.

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Read More: The Best 4K TVs for Gaming and Streaming

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Roku has been a go-to name in the world of streaming devices for quite some time, and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ may just be one of the best peripherals the company has ever made. Designed to plug directly into your TV’s HDMI port, the Streaming Stick 4K+ features improved Wi-Fi performance over previous Streaming Stick generations, and comes with Roku’s handy Voice Remote Pro, which allows you to search for content and perform certain actions using voice commands. And for the Apple devotees out there, you’ll even be able to use the Streaming Stick 4K+ to mirror content from your iPhone using Apple AirPlay 2.

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Read More: Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Review

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Amazon’s original Fire TV Stick 4K Max was already a blistering-fast streaming device, but the company notched things up even further with the release of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Not only will you be able to enjoy the amazing assortment of apps that all Fire TV devices will offer, but the 4K Max also features improved performance (Amazon claims that the 4K Max is 40% faster than the Streaming Stick 4K), Wi-Fi 6 support, and incredible HDR capabilities, including compatibility with HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. And best of all: the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max can usually be found for less than $50!

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Read More: The 14 Best TVs of 2022

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The Roku Ultra was hard to come by for a decent period of time, but the company surprised the streaming market with the release of the new and improved Ultra in 2022. Featuring an upgraded processor, the latest Ultra will stream faster than ever before, especially if you use the Ultra’s Ethernet port to connect it to directly to your router. That’s on top of some rock-solid 4K HDR capabilities, support for Dolby Atmos, and the inclusion of Roku’s Voice Remote Pro with a built-in headphone jack for private listening. While it’s a bit more expensive than the rest of the competition, the Roku Ultra (2022) nearly equals the many accolades of the Apple TV 4K (2022), but without all the onboard storage and Siri optimizations.

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Read More: The Best Streaming Services with Free Trials in 2022

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When you need a streaming device to do the bare minimum, the Roku Express goes a step further by granting users the kind of experience more akin to the performance of the Roku Streaming Stick+ series, but stepped down a couple of pegs. So if you don’t mind the fact that you won’t be doing any 4K HDR streaming with this bad boy, and can deal with a slightly slower processor, the Roku Express is the perfect streamer to opt for when money is a concern, or if you simply don’t need your streaming gear to deliver next-level HDR picture. After all, we don’t all have 4K TVs yet.

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Read More: Google’s New Chromecast Is Its Cheapest Yet

Google’s Chromecast started as an experiment, setting out to offer a cheap and easy way to stream content in your living room. That experiment was so successful that Chromecast quickly became Google’s top priority as far as its streaming products go. Unlike the Chromecast with Google TV, this doesn’t have a remote, so you absolutely need a device like your phone, tablet or laptop to stream content to your TV. After it’s set up, a casting icon will appear on your streaming apps. By clicking it, the streaming apps will cast to your TV as you control them using your smartphone or tablet. If you don’t mind casting, it’s actually a pretty nifty streaming device. Using your phone as a remote takes some getting used to, but this is an affordable solution if you have an older TV.

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Read More: The Best Streaming Services of 2022

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A streaming device with gamers in mind, the NVIDIA Shield not only has the ability to stream 4K content, but it also has over 200 games onboard via Android TV. And gamers will appreciate the fact that both Xbox and PlayStation 4 Bluetooth controllers are compatible with this streaming device. It even allows PC gamers to stream games to their TV in beautiful 4K. For casual streamers, all of the heavy-hitting apps are still available, and you can easily search for them thanks to Google Assistant.

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Read More: Amazon Fire TV (3rd Gen) Review

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Amazon’s original Fire TV Cube was a formidable, Alexa-powered piece of streaming equipment, but the latest generation of the device brings a few changes to this smart streamer. With its bountiful array of apps to choose from, excellent web performance, and built-in Ethernet port, the Fire TV Cube is clearly marketed for more advanced streamers, but accessible enough for pretty much any user willing to give it a try. We also love the added HDMI input for passthrough applications like connecting your cable box directly to the Cube, allowing you to use Alexa to control certain connected devices.

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Read More: The Best Gaming Laptops You Can Buy in 2022

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Voice commands, HD upscaling and a remote locator are only a handful of the amazing features that come standard with the NVIDIA TV Shield. While NVIDIA isn’t as well known as Fire TV or Roku when it comes to home streaming, even the best streaming devices can’t match this product in terms of picture and sound quality. The NVIDIA Shield can let you stream 4K HDR video and is compatible with your Dolby Atmos surround sound speakers. With this powerful streaming device, you’re a TV wizard, deftly flipping back and forth between streaming titans like Prime and Netflix. Customers can control Shield using voice commands via Google Home or Alexa. The NVIDIA is also a particularly great option for gamers and audiophiles, allowing you to stream PC games directly to your 4K TV.

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Read More: Amazon Fire TV Omni Is Big on Alexa, Short on Wow Factor

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Amazon’s standard Fire TV Stick Lite may not have the same 4K streaming and full-fledged Alexa support, nor can its remote control your TV like other Fire TV devices. But this is the absolute cheapest way to stream if you want to use an Amazon device. Unlike the similarly priced third-generation Chromecast and Roku Express, this 1080p streamer supports HDR10, as well as Dolby Atmos, which will give your content a little extra life if you TV and speakers support these standards.