The best media streaming devices you can buy - Android

There’s no doubt about it. Lots of TV fans are ditching their old-fashioned cable and satellite connections. Instead, they are using their home internet network to stream TV shows and movies to their big-screen televisions. Cord-cutting has lead to the rise of media streaming devices of all types and price points. 

Streaming is becoming more and more important for the entire movie and TV industry. Netflix’s success served as the template for this trend. Other services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, CBS All Access and many others have continued to expand this audience. It’s only going to get bigger as Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus launch. Plus, we have HBO Max and Peacock, among others, in the wings for 2020. So, which of the current media streaming devices is the best as we get ready for all of these new services?

We have listed the best media streaming devices you can buy with budget, mid-range, and high-end models to choose from. As you can see, if you are interested in checking out the new streaming services launching this fall and into 2020, price will not be an issue. 

Best media streaming devices

Editor’s Note: We will be updating this list as more media streaming devices are launched.

1. Roku Express

Roku

Roku makes the most popular of the media streaming devices in the US. It offers access to perhaps the largest number of streaming services available. The best thing is that the company provides the cheapest and easiest way for non-smart TVs to join the streaming trend. The Roku Express, priced at just $29.99, is a small set-top box that you connect to your TV with an included HDMI cable. Once it’s connected to your home Wi-Fi, your TV can start streaming from thousands of Roku channels, including all the major services. That includes both the upcoming Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus, both of which will have native Roku apps. Streaming resolution is limited to 1080p with the Roku Express.

The UI is also easy to navigate, and also includes support for downloading new screensavers and themes, if you are into that sort of thing. Roku Express also includes a simple remote to control the device. If you want to use your voice, Walmart sells a special version of the box, Roku Express Plus, for $39.99. It’s the same set-top box, but it throws in a voice-support remote as well. It works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-based smart speakers. Both versions can also be controlled with the Roku app for iOS and Android smartphones.

2. Roku Premiere

Roku

The Roku Premiere is basically the same product as the Roku Express, with one major difference. The cheaper Express model limits streaming to 1080p resolution. The Premiere model boosts that stream up, and supports 4K and HDR picture quality. It has the same simple remote as the Express. The remotes on both models have quick buttons for popular services like Netflix and Hulu in case you just want to jump in. You can get the Roku Premiere for $39.99.

3. Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV family is perhaps the biggest rival to Roku in the media streaming devices race. The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the cheapest of the line at $39.99 and it comes with an Alexa voice remote. It allows you to search for shows, movies, actors and more with voice commands. In addition, you can watch live feeds from your security cameras, or control smart home devices with the remote as well.

Like the Roku OS, the Amazon Fire TV operating system has access to thousands of streaming channels. However, the Fire TV OS doesn’t have quite the amount of channel and streaming services options that Roku has. In fact, if you are looking for Disney Plus or Apple TV Plus support, Amazon’s Fire TV devices have not yet announced support for those upcoming streaming services.

4. Google Chromecast

Google doesn’t currently sell a product that directly streams media to a TV. However, it does sell two models of its Chromecast TV HDMI dongle. The cheaper standard model costs $35 and can connect to your Android or iOS smartphone. You can stream apps and media from those devices to your Chromecast-connected TV. Thousands of apps and games support Chromecast, with more added all the time. You can also connect your Chromecast to other Google smart devices. It can connect to your Google Home smart speaker so you can relay voice commands to your TV. It can also connect to your Nest video security device so you can see any suspicious activity outside your home on your TV.

In 2018, Google launched a third-generation version of its standard Chromecast, which now supports multi-room audio and video streaming at 1080p resolution at 60fps.

5. Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Roku

If you have a 4K TV, you will definitely want to get the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. It supports 4K video streaming for the services that support it, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube and others. The Plus model also has a more advanced Wi-Fi receiver compared to the cheaper Roku models. That means it has up to four times the wireless range, which means you can use it in more locations in your home. It also has the same voice remote as the Roku Premiere.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is priced at just $49.99, which is a permanent $10 price cut from its earlier $59.99 cost. Best Buy is also selling a version of the same stick for $59.99 that throws in a set of earphones that connect to the Roku remote. 

6. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, as the name suggests, boosts the video resolution up to 4K compared to the standard model. In addition to supporting 4K media, it also comes with an upgraded remote. It can still handle Alexa voice commands, but it also has buttons to turn your TV on or off, along with volume control and a mute button. It’s priced at $49.99.

7. Google Chromecast Ultra

The Chromecast streaming media devices get a boost with the Ultra model. It bumps up the video streaming resolution to 4K for those services that support it. More importantly, the Chromecast Ultra is the device to get if you want to access the upcoming Google Stadia streaming game service on your TV. You get the Chromecast Ultra as a bundle with the Stadia controller if you buy the Stadia Premiere Edition for $129. However, if you want to wait to get Stadia, you can buy the Chromecast Ultra now for $69, and then get the controller sometime in 2020 later.

8. Roku Ultra