The Best Devices For Streaming: List Of 2019

The quality of the equipment can make or break the streaming experience. And as it is a natural tendency for streamers to yearn for the best possible, we have compiled a list of the most competent streaming devices to help you pick out the most suitable for every situation.

The Best: Amazon Fire TV Cube (2019)

Amazon Fire TV Cube is more than just a streaming device. With it, you will have better control of the whole entertainment system in your home. The remotes are nowhere near its capacity.

The Cube will be suitable for those who are looking for an Alexa-enabled experience with home entertainment.

The Roku device has long been the number one choice when it comes to streaming. It supports HDR and 4K playback and has an Ethernet adapter so that you can have the most reliable connection as possible. For the year 2019, Amazon Fire TV Cube comes equipped with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

In short, what makes the Cube so good for streaming is the Alexa voice commands, IR blaster, and HDMI CEC allowing for an all-in-one control.

The best streaming stick: Roku Streaming Stick+

Roku Streaming Stick+ is one of the best in its category, and it also comes at an affordable price. It is suitable for anyone who desires a simple interface and the ability to stream at HDR and 4K.

This small device can deliver Dolby Atmos Audio and 4K HDR videos. Its size is of a thumb drive and can be hidden behind the TV.

The support for wireless 802.11ac MIMO dual-band means that as long as it is in the range of your home’s Wi-Fi, it will be able to work.

The biggest draw of Roku Streaming Stick+ is the user-friendly interface, making finding what you need easier than on any other device. You will not have support for Dolby Vision here, but the voice search feature can definitely make up for that.

The best premium set-top streaming box: Roku Ultra (2019)

The Roku Ultra is perfect for those who wish to have all the features of a streaming stick but way more power and stability.

Here is the list of benefits you will have with the Roku Ultra: Dolby Atmos audio, 4K, HDR10, an Ethernet port, a MicroSD card slot for additional storage.

The Night Listening mode can adjust volume automatically so that you can watch anything at night without worrying that you may wake someone in the house up.

Roku offers a huge library of apps for you to choose from and the cross-channel search functionality.

The best budget media streamer: Roku Express (2019)

With a budget-friendly price, the Roku Express can provide most of what you need for streaming. It will be best suited for those who do not need Dolby Atmos and 4K.

What you have with it is 1080p full HD, and the setup process involves only two cables, one for power and the other for HDMI. Other features it lacks are MicroSD card slot, voice command, and USB ports, but with an excellent price, you cannot exactly ask for them.

The hardware might pack minimal features, but users still have access to the software library of Roku. What we are talking about are apps for both Android and iOS, which allow users to use the Express as a private listening accessory voice remote, and a content casting device.

The best media streamer for gamers: Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019)

With Dolby Atmos, HDR, Dolby Vision, and 4K, this streamer is especially suitable for streaming games.

Most of the streamers featured on this list focus on streaming videos, but despite having “TV” in its name, the Nvidia Shield actually leans toward the gaming side.

With this streamers, you have access to around 200 games to enjoy via Android TV. Many of them are exclusive on Nvidia Shield. Other advantages are dedicated media buttons, backlit remote control, Google Assistant, and storage of 16GB.

For an enhanced gaming experience, it packs the Tegra X1+ processor, which has a speed improvement of 25% in comparison with the X1.

The Nvidia Shield has support for Amazon Video, Netflix, UltraFlix, YouTube, and Vudu for 4K streaming. For HD, users’ choices are Twitch, Fox, Vimeo, HBO Now, and CBS.

The best media streamer for Apple lovers: Apple TV 4K

The selling point of Apple TV 4K is the seamless integration with other Apple devices. So if you have invested heavily in the ecosystem of the iPhone maker, its TV fits the bill.

Apple TV 4K features the A10X Fusion processor, so the only thing that comes in between you and a super-fast speed is the Internet connection. As a part of Apple’s ecosystem, users can copy login from their iPad, iPhone, or MacBook to the TV, thus reducing signing in time.

Apple has not yet developed an as diverse library as what we have with Roku; however, you will have Siri support and cross-platform searches. The list of supported services is Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Sling TV, Netflix, and more. However, you will feel that the support is not as smooth as that of other more established streamers on the market.

Plus, if you subscribe to Apple TV+, the Apple TV 4K is the best option for you.

The best casting device: Google Chromecast (2018)

If you have a TV that supports 4K HDR, the Chromecast Ultra is one of the best options.

It makes use of the streaming apps you have already had on your devices to find content and for playback control. All you have to do is to open the app and then push the cast button.

Just like Apple TV and the ecosystem of the iPhone maker, the Chromecast has a deep integration with Google’s system.