Remember when cable TV was all the rage? While many households are still tied into the greater broadcast world via coaxial and set-top boxes, the vast majority have switched over to smart TVs and streaming devices. This isn’t to say that cable is the wrong choice, but using a streaming device (or smart TV) definitely gives you more control over the content you’re watching.

The best streaming devices give you access to popular movie and TV show apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and many others. Some models will even let you mirror media from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop directly to your TV screen. If you’ve done any research on streaming hardware, you’ll know there are plenty of options out there, so we thought we’d help you whittle down your choices with this roundup of the best streaming devices you can buy today.

Steaming devices for your home entertainment setup

The Amazon Fire TV Cube isn’t just your typical streaming device; it also doubles as an Amazon Echo for your home. This device is twice as powerful as its predecessors and features the fastest streaming available today. In close competition with the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, and at only a fraction of the cost, the only thing preventing the Fire TV Cube from taking its place is the overwhelming number of ads. Of course, even cable TV has commercials and ads, so if that’s no big deal for you, you’ll get a lot out of this.

The octa-core processor allows seamless navigation between programs and channels without any delay. You’ll also find yourself fully immersed in every scene with the cinematic 4K resolution and support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos. The hands-free Alexa Assistant lets you control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers from anywhere in the room. You can also use your Alexa Assistant as a simple smart speaker. If you want a streaming device with it all, you can’t go wrong with the Amazon Fire TV Cube.

Most basic streaming devices often come pre-programmed with specific platforms and features already installed and ready to go, which is great for people who aren’t overly tech-savvy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, Nvidia’s Shield TV Pro is the best Android TV hardware you can buy right now. It’s not just a competent set-top box. It’s also perfect for game streaming and even running a Plex server, something its die-hard fans will be quick to tell you. It’s also running a stripped-down version of the Google TV UI if you’re after a Chromecast-esque experience.

Since the Shield TV Pro debuted in 2019, updates for this device have been few and far between, while other devices, such as the Fire TV Cube, are receiving more regular updates; this might be something you want to factor in. Overall though, this device can’t compare to many others due to the sheer differences in programming. But really, the only thing working against Nvidia’s top-tier Shield TV is the price. At $200, it’s hard to justify compared to gadgets that cost as much as ten times less.

Although it’s been a couple of years since we’ve seen a new device, Google has consistently kept its Chromecast up to date with software updates and bug fixes. If you already have a Chromecast, I’m sure you can attest that Google really seems to care about providing a quality streaming experience for all its users. So, when we heard talk about Google potentially releasing a new Chromecast device, it was almost like they listened to their users.

As of yet, we don’t have an official release date or too much information on this new device, but the well-known and loved Chromecast with Google TV 4K is still holding its own as a great all-around option for your home theater. Long-term usage has proven a couple of flaws — namely, a limited amount of storage space that can get bogged down with system files and apps — but that hasn’t stopped us from highly recommending Google’s latest puck-shaped gadget. With a great UI, an excellent remote, and support for all the audio and video standards you’d expect, it’s still a solid buy.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is proof that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a streaming device to lock down must-have features like lightning-fast performance and an immense trove of movie and TV show content. The new and improved 2023 version of Amazon’s flagship streaming stick also brings Wi-Fi 6E support to the table and manages to check all these boxes (and more) for less than $65! Not to mention, you can usually find it on sale for much less.

Admittedly, we’re dealing with the Fire TV OS, which has a reputation for being a bit Amazon-focused. While this mostly comes across as “stream this and that through Prime Video,” giving so much precedence to the brand we’re already using can get annoying. Beyond this single complaint, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also has excellent HDR support and can be used with Dolby Atmos systems as well.

If you’ve been thinking about getting back into gaming or simply want to upgrade from your Xbox One console, the Xbox Series S is an excellent direction to go in. Not only will you score a next-gen console that supports top-shelf codecs like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, but you’ll also get a blistering fast streaming box to enjoy all your favorite movies and TV shows with.

Considering most game consoles won’t deliver the sheer volume of apps that you’d find on dedicated streaming gear from the likes of Roku or Amazon, it’s good to go into this purchase knowing you’ll have access to big-name apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and many others. However, you may have to look elsewhere for more niche content.

The Series S also doesn’t support native 4K gameplay. If this is important to you, it may be worth climbing up one more rung to Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X, which also includes a disk drive and Wi-Fi 6 support.

Maybe you heard of TiVo a long time ago and didn’t realize they’re still hanging on, with a pretty solid grasp at that. TiVo was one of the first streaming devices to come to market, beginning as a DVR in 1999, and has advanced to a 4K media streaming device, the TiVo Stream 4K. This device may look small, but it packs quite a punch. Powered by Android TV, the Stream 4K uses a quad-core Amlogic processor to give you all your favorite channels at a super quick speed.

The TiVo Stream 4K is an Android powerhouse integrating some really great features like a built-in Chromecast to cast photos, videos, and music in an instant. In addition, you can use Google Assistant to control your shows hands-free and voice-controlled easily, and the remote also comes with a built-in Google Assistant button. The best part about the TiVo Stream 4K is that it comes at a fraction of the price of its many competitors. So, even though TiVo is no longer mainstream, their device is nothing to overlook and worth every penny.

Roku has dominated the field of low-cost streaming gadgets for many years, with countless variations available. The Roku Express 4K+ isn’t quite a streaming “stick,” nor is it a massive box; this device is small and oh-so mighty. The Express 4K+ is the best entry-level device that Roku makes today, featuring support for Alexa and Google Assistant, 4K and HDR10+, and improved networking compared to the standard Express. Software updates are automatic, so that is something you don’t have to worry about compared to other streaming devices.

Roku’s user interface is a love-it-or-hate-it affair, but all the usual services you’d expect to find in the competition are here for the most part. As for the remote, if simple is what you want, then simple is what you get. Unfortunately, that also means no voice control option, so you will have to search for everything by typing. Although the Express 4K+ is usually priced at around $40, it’s often discounted as low as $25, which is the perfect price for a guest or kids’ room TV.

The Roku Express 4K+ might be the best entry-level device that Roku makes today due to the sheer pricing factor, but the Roku Ultra knocks it out of the park in every other way. By introducing Dolby Vision and HDR10+, the picture quality alone is worth upgrading. Aside from picture quality, the integration of Apple AirPlay and HomeKit gives users more smart home control options, and the new and improved remote finally includes a voice command button. These differences might not seem significant, but if you’ve been stuck typing in all your movie searches, the voice command button might be a life changer.

With faster loading times, all-around better performance, and unbranded shortcuts, the Roku Ultra is worth the upgrade for most, especially if it is your main streaming device. However, if your Roku Express 4K+ is a secondary room device and is still going strong in the kid’s room, it might be best to let them learn to spell out their favorite shows. Who knows, they might learn a little something themselves.

We already know Nvidia has a very different approach to the overall operation of their devices, and the classic Nvidia Shield is no exception. This device has been radically redesigned from the non-Pro version of the Shield TV in 2019, switching to a tube-based look that’s easy to hide behind your television. Naturally, with Nvidia devices, the price does reflect the quality, and while the Nvidia Shield is slightly cheaper than its top-tier sister, you’re still looking at around $150 for the streaming stick. The Nvidia Shield does offer more storage and faster performance than the Chromecast, making it a solid upgrade, but this version won’t function as a Plex server.

Now if you’re searching for a basic streaming stick to watch all your favorite shows, you probably don’t need to shell out all this money for the Nvidia Shield. Alternatively, if you just can’t get on board with the basic Chromecast, Amazon, or Roku devices and you’re looking for more customization options and larger storage capabilities, the Nvidia Shield won’t let you down as a small but powerful device.

I know what you’re thinking: why would Apple TV make this list when it’s exclusive to Apple users? Well, that’s where the game is changing big time. While still in beta testing, Apple has recently announced its plan to bring the Apple TV collection to Android users. So, even though it will be a good while before anything is released to the public, we do have this avenue from Apple to look forward to.

The Apple TV 4K system is priced at around $180 and is arguably one of the most powerful streaming devices you can buy. It comes with an A12 Bionic, significantly boosting graphics performance, audio processing, and video decoding to create a quality entertainment experience right in the comfort of your living room.

Apple Arcade makes for a decent home console replacement, while the redesigned remote again includes a D-pad (after swapping it for a touchpad in previous generations). It is obviously missing Cast support, and Apple AirPlay won’t do much for many of our readers until the Android crossover is released. But if you have Apple devices, the Apple TV 4K is a decent and more cost-effective alternative to the Shield TV Pro.

If you’re in a toss-up between the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) and this model, we highly advise going with the former. But if you’re just looking for a reasonably-priced streaming device for a non-4K HDTV, or you can’t live without the Google TV platform, the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is still an excellent choice. Not only can you save yourself around $20 (compared to the 4K model’s pricing), but many of the higher-priced unit’s features are included in Google’s cheaper streamer.

As far as picture quality is concerned, the HD Chromecast is capped at 1080p and only supports HDR10 (the 4K model supports Dolby Vision as well). That being said, if you’re buying this streaming device for a smaller TV to begin with, you may not even notice a difference between HD and UHD content.

Walmart’s own streaming device, the Onn Android TV Box, is one of the most affordable and low-cost options for streaming devices. But with such a low price, it’s not expected to have many fancy features. Like Google’s Chromecast, this TV box supports Dolby Vision and includes a smart Assistant built into the remote. However, you will have to settle for a no-frills Android TV interface, and it’s missing some of the flourishes offered by Chromecast (Dolby Atmos and HDR10+, for example). That said, for a low-cost streaming device often on sale, the Onn Android TV box is a great option for multiple rooms. The TV box keeps you from shelling out tons of money for multiple streaming devices.

If you’re less of a fan of big and bulky TV boxes and prefer a small streaming stick, you have this to look forward to soon: According to reports from 9to5Google, Walmart plans to release a new 4K streaming stick to their Onn brand devices with some great features. In the meantime, if you’re looking to pick up a cheap streaming device, the Onn Android TV Box will have you well on your way to streaming your favorites.

Stream your favorite shows however you want

As streaming devices continue to improve, it can be difficult to keep up with all the progress. Fortunately, we’re always keeping an eye on these gadgets and will log our latest discoveries and deals in this rotating roundup. As of right now, we think the best streaming device for most folks is going to be the Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen). It’s plenty powerful, works seamlessly with Alexa, and can even be used as an HDMI control center for external components.

If you want to up the ante, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro is a mighty workhorse of a streaming device. It has an excellent app library and can even be used as a Plex hub for any photos, videos, and music files you’ve downloaded.

For those of us looking to score the best deal possible on a streaming device, look no further than the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Revamped for 2023, the latest generation of this plug-and-play peripheral adds Wi-Fi 6E support and enhanced stream speeds for all your favorite apps.