There are over a billion apps available for download to your phone, tablet, or computer. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which ones are worth your time and attention.
We’ve rounded up our top picks for the best apps for Superbox below. If you’re looking for something new to do on your weekly lunch break, or just want some more information about our company, you’ll find what you need here!
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Superbox
An Android TV Box can give you the best smart TV experience. It uses Android as an operating system which means you can install any app from the Google Play app store. In this article you can find a list of the 9 best apps for Android TV Box, feel free to share more ideas.
The 9 Best Apps for Android TV Box
So, our best apps list is:
Kodi media center is one of the best apps for android tv box
Kodi – Media Centre
Kodi is the must-have app! It’s for sure one of the best apps for Android TV Box and it normally comes pre-installed.
Kodi is a free and open-source media player software application. Kodi allows you to stream any kind of media, such videos (including movies, TV series, documentaries, TV Channels, sports streams, videos from the internet, etc), music (music libraries, radio, etc), and podcasts.
To enjoy the most of Kodi you will need to install some cool Kodi free addons. There are video addons to watch movies, TV series, documentaries; addons to watch TV Channels from all over the world, addons to play music; you can find addons to stream any kind of media!! You can even upload an IPTV list with your favorite TV Channels and stream them from Kodi (XBMC).
Click to find the Best Kodi addons
Kodi website
popcorn time is one of the best apps available for android tv box
Popcorn Time – Watch movies and TV Series
Popcorn Time it’s a free software BitTorrent client with an integrated media player. This is one of the best free apps, an alternative to paid video streaming services such as Netflix.
You will find Popcorn Time a very easy to use platform with thousands of HD movies and TV Series. You can filter them by genre, trending, popular, top-rated, release date, year, and A-Z. After you select the movie / TV series that you want to watch, you will find the synopsis, rating, trailer, and more info about it. You can then also select the quality (480p, 720p, 1080p) and subtitles language if you need subtitles.
Once you click to play, it will start to download a small percentage of the video (torrent) upfront and then it starts streaming while the download it’s happening on the background. When you close the app, it will delete the download from your device.
You don’t need to learn anything to use this app, it’s even easier than Netflix.
How to install?
Just visit our Popcorn Time Install Guide
Chrome is the browser that usually comes pre-installed on any android TV Box as an app
Chrome Browser
Chrome it’s the native Android Browser and it normally comes pre-installed in the Android TV Boxes.
With chrome and an Android Box, you will be able to navigate on the internet using your TV.
Skype logo android tv box app
Skype
Making video calls through a TV makes very much sense right? Be seated on the sofa, without a laptop in your lap or holding a smartphone and watch your friends or family on the big screen!
For that, you will need a webcam and a micro compatible with Android or you can buy an Android TV Box with Webcam and micro built-in.
YouTube for android tv box
Youtube
As youtube its a video streaming service it makes sense to use it in your TV. You can play some videos using Full-HD 1080p or even UHD 4K and the experience it’s obviously much better than play it in your smartphone or laptop.
Games
Do you play fancy Android games on the big screen? With an Android Box, you can install any game from Google Play Store!
If you are a big fan of games, NVIDIA just launched an Android TV Box for fans of games and streaming! The box has wonderful specs and allows you to use NVIDIA GRID streaming service and NVIDIA GameStream™! His name is NVIDIA Shield and it’s not expensive for a box that you can use for streaming and gaming! Check our NVIDIA Shield review!
TVPlayer is one of the best apps to install on Android TV Box
TV Player
With an Android TV Box, you don’t need TV service or a Freeview box to watch UK Freeview channels. There are many options to watch TV and one of the most reliable is the TV Player that allows you to stream free view TV Channels and more. BTW, it’s totally legal and FREE!!
TV Player channels:
BBC 1
BBC 2
BBC three
BBC four
BBC Red
ITV
Channel 4
Channel 5
REALLY
BBC News
Yesterday
Drama
Dave ja vu
4 Music
CBBC
Cbeebies
Quest
Food Network
Fashion TV
Viva
Travel
BBC Parliament
CNN
QVC, QVC Beauty, QVC Extra, QVC style
And some more.
An alternative to TV Player is TV Catch-up, it worths the try.
Install TV Player
Red Bull TV Android
Red Bull TV
Red Bull TV brings to your Android TV Box exclusive awesome videos from globetrotting adventures, music, entertainment and live events with the participation of the top athletes from around the world. Get amazed in the world of Red Bull with this app in your Android TV Box.
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Vevo logo Android
Vevo
If you love music, among the best apps, this app is a must to have. The new Vevo app gives you a personalized music experience allowing you to pick your favorite artists and get notified when they launch new music videos, live sessions, interviews, and more.
IPVanish
A VPN it’s a legal service that makes you anonymous to others when you’re connected to it. The best part is that you can select from which country you want your temporary IP to be. So if you want to stream US only streams you just need to connect to your VPN and select USA to be your mask. That will allow you to use any service allocated to US citizens only.
Go to IPVanish Website
I hope you liked my list on the Best Apps for Android TV Box. If so, please feel free to share with us some more cool apps that you use on your Android TV Box.
Best Android TV Boxes
Can’t you stream some content?
Check the Log for more information. ?
kodi error check log for more information
Empty directory ?
kodi empty directory
Solution:
Most of the time that you get these annoying errors is because the content is geo-locked. This means that you are trying to access content that is blocked for the country/region where you are connecting from. For eg, if you are in the UK trying to watch an American TV Channel.
Are VPNs legal?
Yes, they are totally legal, as you have the right to stay anonymous.
There is a couple of VPNs that you can use with Kodi, however, there is only one that stands out as the best VPN for Kodi >> IPVanish.
IPVanish is probably the fastest VPN provider out there, and you need as much speed as possible to stream. There are free VPNs, but they use slow servers and then the streams would be constantly buffering. With IPVanish you will get the best VPN experience available for the most competitive price.
1 Year Offer: $10.99 $3.75/month
30-Days Money-Back Guarantee
Get the most of Kodi with IPVanish:
Unblock Geotargeting to access any content regardless of where you are located
Bypass any censorship put in place by websites or streaming providers
Stay truly anonymous when streaming content to your Kodi device
We’ve arranged an EXCLUSIVE deal with IPVanish to give our readers 65% discount. Just click on the button bellow.
Access All Kodi Add-ons Now!
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Legal Disclaimer: BestDroidPlayer.com is in no way affiliated to any streaming application, apk or its addons. Also, we are not associated with the brands here shown as the references are only informative. Bestdroidplayer.com does not verify the legality or security of any apps, apks, addons or services mentioned on this site. We DO NOT HOST any copyright-protected software or streams and we DO NOT broadcast or provide any copyright-protected streams on this website – The content here provided is only informational and it should be used only to access content that is not protected by copyright. We strongly advise our readers to avoid piracy at all costs, if you decide to do so, it is your responsibility – We are not responsible for any of your activities.
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Filed Under: Kodi News, Tips, Tutorials and Guides Tagged With: android, apps, best apps, chrome, kodi, popcorn time, pure vpn, red bull TV, skype, tv player, vevo, youtube
best streaming device with most apps
The best streaming devices are a necessary component to your entertainment center, especially since smart TVs don’t always have every app (for example, one of our relatively-recent LG TVs doesn’t have HBO Max — one of our favorite services). Selecting a streaming device can get pretty tricky, though. There are plenty of similar $50 options, but should you splurge for the $99 Roku Ultra or the $179 Apple TV 4K?And what about all those Fire TV sticks?
Our current pick for very best streaming device overall is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, an update to a previous model that improved performance and added Dolby Vision. It’s our top pick for many reasons, and Roku’s streamlined app-first OS is one of them. Oh and don’t worry about Roku’s YouTube problem, it’s been settled.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of the latest additions to this list, following the Apple TV 4K (2021). The former’s speed improvements make it the first Fire TV Stick we’ve put on this list, and the latter finally delivered a good remote. And while we used to have the Xbox One S on this list, Microsoft has stopped manufacturing that console, so we’ve swapped it out for the excellent Xbox Series S.
Some of us at Tom’s Guide own multiple entries from this list of the best streaming devices, to see how they evolve over time. Not only do we spend hours and hours watching shows and movies from the top streaming services on these devices, but we compare them against those with similar prices, to help you figure out which is best for your budget.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…
While Netflix and Hulu are ubiquitous, across all devices, some other apps are only available on Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV. Oh, and if you want the Apple TV shows and services, but don’t want the to pay the higher price for their streaming boxes, good news: the Apple TV app just rolled out to Vizio Smart TVs.
Small touches keep the Roku Ultra (2020) on our list, such as its incrementally faster performance, and smoother streaming on Wi-Fi in larger houses (when it’s not near the router). Using all of these devices often shows us the benefits of spending more on your streaming device, as the cheaper Fire TV devices control your whole home screen experience, while the Apple TV has no ads and more customization. Here’s everything you need to know about the best streaming devices.
What are the best streaming devices?
We love the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and recommend it as the best streaming device to friends and colleagues, for two simple reasons. The first is that Roku is the best platform when it comes to streaming media. All of the best streaming services are in the Roku Channel Store, meaning you’ll probably never say “my favorite show isn’t on here!” And it’s finally got Dolby Vision, which it was missing when it was just the Streaming Stick Plus. That said, we’ve recently found a fix to the Roku bug that hides apps and the one Roku setting to turn off right now.
Trust me, as someone who uses at least one device from every streaming platform, if you can limit yourself to just one device, your entertainment cabinet or counter will look a lot nicer (and they can all stream the best Netflix shows — as well as the best Seinfeld episodes). Oh, and you can rearrange the heck out of the Roku home screen, putting all of apps in your order of preference, while the Fire TV just lets you control that top row and makes you go to another screen for the rest. Check out our Fire TV Stick Lite vs Fire TV Stick face-off to see how its more-affordable models stack up.
We also really like the new Chromecast with Google TV. Its remote enables you to put down your phone already and focus on what you’re watching. And the new Chromecast also streams in 4K, with HDR and Dolby Vision. On top of that, Android TV app support, via Google TV, means you don’t need to worry about missing out on the latest streaming services. It’s got ’em all.
Then there’s the new Apple TV 4K (2021), a super-speedy update with a new remote with a clickable direction-pad. We love the Apple TV 4K, but its price is prohibitively costly. Oh, and then there’s the latest entry to this list is the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It’s faster than the normal Fire TV Stick 4K, and costs only $5 more.
The best streaming devices you can find today
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K, plugged into a TV, is the best streaming deviceEditor’s Choice
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Best streaming device overall
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: More than 26,000Size: 3.7 x 0.8 x 0.5 inchesWeight: 0.7 oz
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105 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Relatively affordable
+Full 4K HDR capabilities
+Finally has Dolby Vision
REASONS TO AVOID
-Dolby Atmos is missing
-Amazon offers better live TV integration
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a small, but noteworthy, upgrade over the Streaming Stick Plus it replaces. The king stays the king, though, because little changed — and only improvements came with. Most notably, we’ve finally got Dolby Vision on this Roku stick, so your favorite streaming shows will have the right color balance and contrast (provided your TV supports it, too). Otherwise, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a perfect balance of price and performance, costing $50 and providing snappy navigation and smooth streaming. It’s got all the apps you could need.
When we tested the Streaming Stick 4K, we saw content crispness jump to 1080p and then 4K in short amounts of time. We also noticed app loading that’s comparable to the Chromecast with Google TV. Roku wins overall though thanks to its perfect streamlined interface, which puts apps above content. And if you need to listen to your shows without disturbing anybody, improved performance on private listening through the Roku app and wireless headphones is a welcome boon. But the Roku Streaming Stick 4’s dominance isn’t by the widest of margins, as evidenced by our tightly contested Roku Streaming Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV face-off.
Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K review.
The Roku Express 4K Plus, is one of the best streaming devices for its priccebest value awards badge
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide/Henry T. Casey)
- Roku Express 4K Plus
The best streaming device under $40
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 3.3 x 1.5 x 0.7 inchesMax Resolution: 3840 x 2160Ports: NoneRemote: Network Voice remoteDevice Type: Box
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REASONS TO BUY
+Excellent 4K HDR performance
+Decent navigation
+Improved remote
REASONS TO AVOID
-Awkward design
-No Dolby Vision or Atmos
So, you want to get 4K streaming at the lowest price possible, but you’re worried about cutting too many corners? Check out the new Roku Express 4K Plus, which is the replacement to the flawed Roku Premiere. We like this model a lot mmore because of its improved remote. Previously, you needed a direct line of sight — and to point your remote directly at the Roku — for it to work. This way is a lot better, so you don’t need to think when you click the paddle. That, plus UHD image quality and snappy performance means that the Roku Express 4K Plus is the best streaming device for those on a budget.
We wish it were a little heavier, though, as you may wind up spending a minute fiddling with its HDMI cable to make it sit flat on a surface. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus doesn’t have that issue. And if you love A/V standards such as Dolby Vision or Atmos Audio. you may need to look elsewhere.
Read our full Roku Express 4K Plus review.
The Chromecast with Google TV with remote and power cable in the background, is one of the best streaming devices for its valueEditor’s Choice
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
- Chromecast with Google TV
The best Chromecast streaming device
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: Over 6,500Size: 6.4 x 2.4 x 0.5 inchesPorts: HDMI, USB-CSupported HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby VisionSupported audio formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
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REASONS TO BUY
+Sensible layout
+Lots of streaming services
+Remote included
REASONS TO AVOID
-General Google searches poorly formatted
The Chromecast with Google TV makes the company’s traditional streaming device a whole lot more complete. It starts with 4K UHD streaming with support for HDR and Dolby Vision, for excellent picture quality, and Dolby Atmos for immersive sound. An update has added Dolby Vision support to the Chromecast with Google TV for even better picture quality. Also, it’s got Google TV, an interface and operating system that supports the over 6,500 Android TV apps. That means you get everything from HBO Max to Disney Plus to Peacock — plus Netflix. Even Peloton’s in there. A lot of other streaming devices can’t boast as much.
While it’s not the minimalist streaming device that the Chromecast 3 was, the new Chromecast remote could even replace your TV’s remote. It’s got the power and volume controls you need to turn on your TV, plus a TV Input button for switching to other devices, such as gaming consoles. Also, we really like the feel and build quality of the Chromecast remote, as it fits nicely in the palm of the hand and the buttons have a good click. Also, there are minimal branded app buttons, with just Netflix and YouTube. The Roku and Fire TV remotes offer too many, and should take notes.
On top of that, its $49.99 price makes it more affordable than the Chromecast Ultra, Google’s previous 4K streaming device. This is easily one of the best streaming devices available. That said, you can make it a little better on your own, with our tip for the first thing every Chromecast with Google TV owner should do.
Read our full Chromecast with Google TV review.
The Nvidia shield tv 2019 is , is one of the best streaming devices for its capabilitiesEditor’s Choice
(Image credit: Gia Sergovich/Tom’s Guide)
- Nvidia Shield TV (2019)
Best premium streaming device
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Channels: 5,000Size: 6.5 x 1.6 x 1.6 inchesWeight: 4.8 oz
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REASONS TO BUY
+Excellent game-streaming
+Quick rendering of UHD content
+Lots of great apps
REASONS TO AVOID
-AI upscaling doesn’t add that much
-Somewhat expensive
The 2019 Nvidia Shield TV doesn’t just look unlike any other streaming device we’ve ever seen (it’s more like a mobile power charger), it’s also one of the best streaming devices, period. This tube for your tube is great at speedily spitting out UHD 4K content, and its thousands of apps means you’re getting practically everything you could watch. And it’s so slight in size that it fill fit discretely into the ever-crowded space around your TV.
This Shield TV also includes a remote control, rather than a game controller. We love this remote because it illuminates when you pick it up in the dark, so we’re not only relying on remembering where buttons are and what shape they are. You won’t miss the lack of a packed in controller, thanks to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One controller support. That all adds up to the best streaming device for those willing to spend more. And while you can game with Google Stadia on the Chromecast Ultra (not the regular Chromecast), the Shield TV supports 4K HDR streaming, making it the best streaming device for those looking to game and watch.
Read our full Nvidia Shield TV 2019 review.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, one of the best streaming devices, plugged horizontally into TVEditor’s Choice
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Best Amazon streaming device for most people
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Channels: More than 12,000Size: 4.3 x 1.12 x 0.6 inchesWeight: 1.7 oz
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Prime
VIEW AT AMAZON
Prime
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REASONS TO BUY
+Faster performance
+Neat live TV intergration
+All of the apps
REASONS TO AVOID
-Amazon and ad content abound
-Should just be new 4K Fire Stick
We haven’t had a Fire TV Stick on this list in a while, so the Fire TV Stick 4K Max’s inclusion is noteworthy in that alone. In our testing we saw that Amazon improved the speed issues that have dogged Amazon’s sticks for a while, mostly in every-day navigation and especially in load times for certain apps. It also supports Wi-Fi 6, which is great … if you have a Wi-Fi 6 router. Also, the Live TV button on the remote makes it easy for you to jump right into the TV Guide for your cord-cutter app of choice.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, otherwise, is a very standard streamer. It has all the apps you need, it’s a utilitarian matte black dongle and it’s got Dolby Atmos sound, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+. We just wish it were replacing the existing Fire TV Stick 4K, and at that same price, not $5 more. Still, those who want an Amazon Fire TV streaming device should go with this model. It may cost a little more, but it’s worth it.
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus, plugged into a TV, is one of the best streaming devicesEditor’s Choice
(Image credit: Henry T. Casey)
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus
For $20 more the best streaming device gets a better remote
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: More than 26,000Size: 3.7 x 0.8 x 0.5 inchesWeight: 0.7 oz
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Prime
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REASONS TO BUY
+Voice Remote Pro eliminates batteries
+Snappy 4K HDR streaming
+Gains Dolby Vision
REASONS TO AVOID
-No Dolby Atmos
-Not a big upgrade from previous model
So what if you want the best streaming device with the best remote Roku makes? Then you can save $10 with this bundle, which takes the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and pairs it with the Roku Voice Remote Pro. The remote’s big perks include — as its name implies — always-on voice commands, so you can control your TV even if you can’t find your remote. It just needs to be within a shout’s distance. Also, this remote is rechargeable, reducing the need for batteries. Plus, it’s got a headphone jack for private listening over wired headphones, and programmable buttons so you’re not stuck with just the four branded app buttons on the remote.
And as we said with the regular Streaming Stick 4K, this is a fantastic streaming device by itself already. You’ve got Roku’s simple, customizable interface, snappy performance and a ton of apps (everything you could ask for, though YouTube TV is buried in YouTube at the moment). The big upgrade on this model is Dolby Vision, which will have your content looking as it should.
Read our full Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus review.
The Apple TV 4K (2021) , is one of the best streaming devices for its excellent performance and OS
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
- Apple TV 4K (2021)
Best streaming device for Apple device owners
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: ThousandsSize: 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 inchesWeight: 15.0 oz
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REASONS TO BUY
+New, improved remote
+High frame rate HDR streaming
+Multi-user support
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive
-Not noticeably better than first-gen
The new Apple TV 4K (2021) is great and performs like a dream — yet still may not be worth the upgrade if you already have the previous model. On the outside, the 2nd-gen Apple TV 4K looks identical to its predecessor. The upgrades are all on the inside, notably replacing the A10X chip with an A12 Bionic. Performance seems a few hairs better, plus the Apple TV 4K 2nd-gen supports 4K at 60fps with HDR versus 30fps. Not a ton of apps even offer that level of content right now, mostly sports and other fast-paced action, but it will become more prevalent.
The best thing about the new Apple TV 4K is the redesigned Siri Remote. Many (myself included) hated the old remote and its frustrating touch interface. The new remote retains touch and gestures, but adds actual buttons as well as an intuitive jog wheel that recalls the old iPods of yore. Once again, though, the biggest drawback is the price. That said, don’t buy the Apple TV 4K without checking out our story on the first thing every Apple TV owner should do, which will make streaming even easier — hint: it’s about the remote.
Read our full Apple TV 4K (2021) review.
The Roku Ultra (2020), is one of the best streaming devices for its performance
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
- Roku Ultra (2020)
Best streaming device for external media
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: ThousandsSize: 4.9 x 4.9 x 0.9 inchesWeight: 8.0 oz
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REASONS TO BUY
+Great performance
+Inventive remote control
+Dolby Vision HDR
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive
-Not much has changed since last year’s model
The new Roku Ultra is pretty much still the great streaming box it’s always been, just with a couple of tweaks — and keeping most of the perks you’d expect for $100 (4K HDR video and fast performance for starters). For example, they’ve also added Dolby Vision, a must for those streaming high-quality movies and TV shows. Plus, it’s still got a USB port which allows for folks to play back their own library of movie files on their TV. Yes, you don’t even need to learn what a media server is, or how to set one up. This year’s model also offers a faster processor and better wireless streaming.
The other big boon of this model is that you can program the Roku remote’s two customizable buttons to open your favorite channels, in addition to the pre-programmed ones for Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Vudu. The included earbud headphones sweeten the deal, as they plug right into the remote control for private listening. This is highly important to those who want to watch TV without disturbing the other person in the room.
Read our full Roku Ultra (2020) review.
the Amazon Fire TV Cube, is one of the best streaming devices for its voice commands and cable integration
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide | Future)
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
Best voice control in a streaming device
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: HundredsSize: 3.4 x 3.4 x 3.0 inchesWeight: 16.4 oz
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VIEW AT NEWEGG
Check Amazon
47 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Speedier performance
+Alexa’s cable box controls are great
+Great 4K HDR picture quality
REASONS TO AVOID
-Home screen can’t be edited, packs ads
-Awkward Ethernet adapter
Did you know Alexa could control your cable box (yes, some of us haven’t cut the cord yet)? The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) packs a version of the virtual assistant that offers more entertainment device tricks than most, including switching HDMI inputs and tuning to cable channels. And thanks to a faster processor in this new model, commands happen up to four times as fast. Cutting down the amount of times that voice commands are performed will help people stick with using Alexa commands and stop looking for their (still missing) remote.
This box (it’s not technically a cube) streams content in excellent 4K, HDR quality, and its content-first interface seeks to cut down the time it takes for you to hit Play. Trying to master Amazon’s cheaper streamer? Check out our how to use the Fire Stick guide.
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) review.
The Xbox Series S alongside its controller
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
- Xbox Series S
Best game console for streaming
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: 50+Size: 10.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inchesWeight: 68.8 oz
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
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REASONS TO BUY
+Can stream 4K content
+HDR support for videos and games
+Comfortable controller
REASONS TO AVOID
-Doesn’t play games in 4K
The excellent (and actually available) Xbox Series S is $299, and is probably the best console that’s also a streaming device (that you can find without dedicating your life to hunting it down). While it can’t render games in 4K, it can run streaming media apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus and more. If you know what Kodi is, you’ll be happy to know you can put it on the Xbox Series S. The rest of us will be happy to know that it also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision HDR and Movies Anywhere.
But since the Xbox Series S is the same price as six Chromecast with Google TVs, it’s good that it also comes with a fantastic console. Capable of outputting games at 1440p, and running the gamut of all the goodies on Xbox Game Pass, the Xbox Series S is seen as a solid alternative to the much-more expensive Xbox Series X. Its only major drawback aside from not hitting 4K gaming is its 512 GB SSD, which can fill up fast with major games, causing you to uninstall titles often.
Read our full Xbox Series S review.
TiVo Stream 4K remote and dongle
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
- TiVo Stream 4K
A compelling UHD streamer with Android TV apps
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: 5,000+Size: 3 x 2 x 0.6 inchesPorts: HDMI, USB-C, microUSB
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
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REASONS TO BUY
+Speedy 4K streaming
+Supports most if not all services and apps
+Remote offers easy access to live TV
REASONS TO AVOID
-Poor recommendations
A ton of applications? Check. An affordable price? Check. Support for your own media on external storage too? You bet. The Tivo Stream 4K is a great streamer that deserves a place in this hall of the best streaming devices. And unlike some streaming devices, it has HBO and Peacock. Sling users will appreciate its live TV integration, and the Google Assistant is there to follow through on your voice commands.
We just wish that the Stream 4K had a better interface for its Stream app that aggregates content, and that its recommendations were a little more on the nose. Plus, Hulu with Live TV and Fubo TV don’t get the red carpet treatment that Sling and YouTube TV get.
Read our full TiVo Stream 4K review.
the Xfinity Flex, is one of the best streaming devices for comcast subscribers
(Image credit: Xfinity)
- Xfinity Flex
Free streaming box for Xfinity internet customers
SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Apps: <50Size: 5.1 x 5.1 x 0.8 inchesWeight: 8 ounces
REASONS TO BUY
+It’s free!
+Cross-app searches
+Lets you control xFi products
REASONS TO AVOID
-Stiff buttons on remote
-Limited apps
Free for Comcast Xfinity Internet customers, the Flex is a very cheap way to get access to streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. Plus, the Flex lets you monitor and control other devices connected to your home network.
However, the Flex has far fewer services than other streaming devices—there’s no Disney+, nor is there Spotify, to name a few—which limits its usefulness. But, almost to make up for any gaps, Flex devices get early access to the latest streaming service, as NBC’s Peacock is here well before its official nationwide July 15 debut. Yes, Comcast is giving Peacock Premium to Flex devices (it should arrive soon if it hasn’t already) for free (a $4.99 value). Still, because it’s free, there’s no harm in picking one up and waiting for other streaming services to arrive.
Read our full Xfinity Flex review.
How to choose the best streaming device for you
Figuring the right streaming device for your needs is pretty easy. While everyone should start with the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, your mileage may vary. If your budget is tight, the Google Chromecast can bring a lot of content to your TV without adding the clutter of a remote.
If you own a lot of digital media that you want to watch on your TV, the Roku Ultra makes that process super easy, so you’ll never need to think about what a media server is. But if you’re a performance first type, and watch a lot of 4K UHD content, the Nvidia Shield TV is where you should start.
Lastly, folks who already treat Alexa like a member of the family should consider the 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, which makes controlling your entertainment as easy as talking. That being said, it’s quite expensive, and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus remote also supports voice commands, you just have to click the microphone button, whereas the Fire TV Cube is hands-free.
If you like the Amazon ecosystem and want a cheaper device, consider the Fire TV Stick.
How we test streaming devices
We testing streaming players by looking at both the content they can provide (most are very similar at this point) and how they deliver said content. Any streaming player worth its salt can load a HD stream, but only a good one possesses straightforward navigation, robust search features and a wide variety of content to suit all tastes.
The first thing we evaluate is the setup, to see how quick and simple it is. From there, we take the user interface for a spin to see what content gets highlighted, what gets hidden, and how easy it is to navigate to our favorite channels. As live TV service integration becomes a bigger feature in streaming devices, we look at how these sticks and boxes can place your favorites within closer touch.
We’ll also watch a few different shows on a variety of channels to gauge the quality of the video and audio, to make sure they look good regardless of if you have one of the best TVs or not. That said? Check out our guide to the best cheap TV deals if you need a discount.
After that, it’s onto the extra features, like gaming, voice search and screen mirroring. These factors don’t weigh quite as heavily toward the final score, but they’re nice to have if they work well, and extremely distracting if they don’t.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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