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The world is changing fast – including the world of home entertainment – and sometimes it takes a minute to catch up. So, if you’re still paying for cable or live TV because you assume that’s the only way you can access certain TV shows, we need to have a little chat. Gone are the days of needing cables and Blu-rays. Now, all the good stuff is available via streaming platforms, and you don’t need a TV or even a new TV for that.
All you need is a streaming device of some kind, like a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick. Connect it to your TV, and you can instantly watch movies, series, comedy specials, and just about anything else with the streaming service. Not sure about the best streaming device to buy? Below, we detail some of the best features — and share all the information to help you make the best choice for your smart home theater.
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Some of our favorite streaming devices are also among the more affordable devices that Roku makes. The software is easy to use with an intuitive home screen – so you don’t have to be a tech pro – and it’s compatible with a slew of different major streaming services – we’re talking Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, HBO Max, and more.
the Roku Express 4K+ It packs a lot of perks and functionality at a great price. It is one of the cheapest streaming boxes with 4K HDR capabilities, and it supports the Apple ecosystem and the Airplay format as well.
“I am incredibly impressed!!!” exclaimed the happy five-star review writer. “I have an old big Samsung TV in my bedroom that my dad got for free. I’ve had this TV with my older Roku for years. It started not working right and started very slow. I went out and bought a new, smaller Vizio “The Roku was doing really bad, and I return it in one day. I decided to try this Roku on my old Samsung TV. All I have to say is: Oh my God. It made this TV work like new and saved me a lot of money.” If you’re in a similar situation like me or looking for a great alternative, don’t hesitate, try this Roku. It’s incredible for the money, the picture and quality are like brand new, and it works really fast. I’m 21, and I don’t write reviews much, but I had to for this.
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If you love Roku devices but prefer the design of an HDMI stick, definitely get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+. The Streaming Stick offers all the features of Express 4K+, but adds Dolby Vision HDR support.
It also has a long range wireless receiver, so it works in rooms far away from your router. We also like the hands-free Voice Remote, which lets you use voice controls with your Roku. You don’t have to worry if you lose your TV remote in your sofa cushions either. You can search for it by phone by asking Roku where it is, and it will start beeping away.
One five-star review said: “I went from using my old Samsung Smart DVD player with a very limited set of apps to my Roku Streaming Stick 4K+, with virtually any app I could want. I love being able to add apps using my TV, computer, or phone. Low profile, and plugged into the HDMI port on the back of my TV. I didn’t realize until I handed it that it had to be plugged into its own power, however, I am able to power it using the USB port, which is also on the back of my TV. The remote control is also very impressive. It is simple and easy to use but also very capable. The price is very reasonable, especially compared to other streaming devices.”
The Chromecast dongle with Google TV is a great option for those who live in the Google ecosystem (for example, with Google Home products).
We absolutely love Google Assistant voice search on Google Chromecast; You can search for movies and shows by searching the names of the actors, for example. We also like that this Google TV integrates with Google Photos – where you can add your favorite photos to a rolling slideshow! If you love YouTube or YouTube TV, this is the streaming device for you.
“This was so easy to set up and install!” A. said Five star review. “I had a TV that didn’t even have a working remote, and this replaced my old Fire Stick, and now I can turn on the TV, watch all my streaming apps, and stream from my phone, both Android and Apple, to the TV with ease! Force mute and what To that…it all works with one device and one remote control!If you don’t have a Smart TV with streaming capabilities…buy this!You won’t regret it.
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If you live in Alexa’s home, you might want to use a Fire TV product instead. Our favorite of the Fire TV devices is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
It supports Dolby Vision and has a nifty picture-in-picture feature for viewing your security camera feed. And of course, the Amazon Fire TV Stick works with Amazon Alexa voice remote playback and search features. This is the best streaming device that you can get if you are a big fan of Amazon Prime.
“The new Fire Stick is a huge improvement over the older versions,” he said. One five star review. Easy to install, easy to transfer your content from your old Fire Stick. The price is great. I’d recommend swapping out the older version; once the swap is complete, the price isn’t bad at all. We highly recommend upgrading all older versions of your Fire Stick to the new and improved version. Wi-Fi 6 nice improvement, no buffering issues so far! The 4K HDR resolution looks amazing on my new LG 65″! I’m absolutely happy with this new Fire TV Stick. The remote has big changes! You can easily access the Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and of course Amazon Prime Video. Voice recognition is great – Alexa finds it for you.”
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For Apple fans, the Apple TV is a must-have. The user interface is sleeker than that of competitors, and the TV remote control has been updated to find your favorite shows more easily.
You can also ask Siri, “What did they just say?” While watching a movie, it will replay the scene with subtitles. The Apple TV is also a media streaming device for gamers via Apple Arcade, or if you want native support for Apple’s Fitness+ workout program.
“My experience with the regular Apple TV has changed my life quite a bit,” he said. An avid shopperWhich he calls a great Apple product. “Smart TV apps are basically lousy globally and don’t guarantee 4K quality (at least with LG), so I was instantly grateful the moment I got my 4K Apple TV setup. My TV finally got to live up to 4K! Setup” was surprisingly easy , as is generally the case across all Apple product lines. The new all-metal remote control design is thicker and heavier than the previous generation and feels good in the hand. The ergonomics of the buttons have also been improved. Great value, great product.”
If you have Amazon PrimeYou’ll get free shipping, of course. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those who don’t have it prime minister You can still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The revisions quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.