Best Streaming Media Players

Great news for streaming fans; SHIELD can – and should – be used all across your favorite streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, Hulu, YouTube, etc.). The unwavering 4K quality will bring your entertainment to the new heights, and you’ll be able to enjoy each and every minute of it. The integrated Chromecast 4K allows you to stream directly from your phone without the drops in picture quality.

Now to the gaming; combine SHIELD with your home PC – and get ready for a real 4K HDR sessions. If you choose to get a GeForce membership, you can unlock the upscale game servers with minimized wait times.

You won’t be losing the remote any time soon. This smart Bluetooth device has a built-in locator, a voice search, and handy backlit buttons. On the downside, the remote is not too ergonomic and won’t lay flat due to its V-shaped design.

If you don’t like the remotes in general, there is another option to control the player, and that is a voice assistant. Alexa, Echo, or Google Home, it’s all there on the list.

In conclusion, this streaming media player is one of the best in its class and gives you the real 4K cinematic experience even with a lower quality source.

Most of what makes Roku Ultra so powerful comes from the boosted quad-core processor. It’s strong and fast, minimizing the response times and making this device a pleasure to use. Load the home screen in a flash – and pick one of your favorites instead of endless scrolling. If you’re on the fence about the cable service, Roku Ultra may be the deciding factor in transitioning to streaming.

Another big pro of this device is the smart remote you’ll love from the first use. It lets you do a voice search, adjust the volume, and control the unit with no effort. You can program two buttons for quick access to your top favorite streaming platforms. And if your house has swallowed the remote, simply press a button on the device – and follow the sound clue.

Finally, Roku Ultra is very easy to set up. The HDMI cable is right there in the box, although it’s somewhat fragile, so you should use it carefully. The installation will be a breeze, and everything from the design to the interface is so simple and intuitive that even older family members will find it easy to grasp.

Overall, if you’re looking for a high quality streaming device, you have already found it in Roku Ultra.

Despite its small size, this streaming media player is loaded with features. First of all, this does an exceptional job at streaming 4K content, with support for almost all of the most popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and many others. Also, you'll notice that everything runs and plays smoothly on this device, with no streaming problems even with 4K content, and the interface runs buttery smooth without any slowdown or lag. This is a breath of fresh air for those who have used other devices that tend to get bogged down and run slowly.

A box of this size obviously won't have much in the way of ports, but that isn't much of a problem here. Thanks to the addition of Bluetooth support, you can use a wide array of different Bluetooth devices here, including your typical input methods such as game controllers, mice, and keyboards, as well as Bluetooth speakers for audio output. Speaking of its audio output, this device supports Dolby Atmos for true 7.1 stereo sound, for those who have a high-end home theater system. At the end of the day, this extremely small streaming box is packed with features, and certainly will go a long way towards expanding anyone's home entertainment center.

Another area that Roku has managed to impress many of its customers is in the size of their boxes. Known for their sleek yet compact designs, those who enjoy saving space near the TV have always liked how easy they are to fit anywhere. With this model, though, the device has gotten even smaller than before. If you have seen an older Roku box, then you will understand that this one looks just like one of the older ones was cut in half. This extremely compact size makes it quite easy to place it just about anywhere you want, so finding space for it shouldn't be much of a concern.

Of course, the features this device has to offer don't stop there. This box comes with an HDMI cable, which is a nice addition considering that many other similar devices tend to cheap out and not supply one. Wi-Fi connectivity is included, although it should be noted that it does not support the latest 5 Ghz standard. Software updates on Roku devices are generally frequent, and the automatic update feature ensures that you are always running the latest version of the Roku software. If you are in the market for an extremely easy to use streaming box that will give you access to your favorite content, then you can do no wrong by going with a Roku.

Setting up your Google Chromecast device is pretty straight-forward, taking only a couple of minutes to configure to use with another device. Thankfully, the list of various devices that this box can stream from is huge, due to the high level of compatibility with iOS, Android, Windows, and even Macs. Anything you can display on these devices, you can use this box to display them on your television.

It should be noted that this is the only device in our review that does not include 4K Ultra HD support built-in. If you have an older TV with a resolution lower than that of 4K, though, this just won't be an issue. Also lacking is any wireless connectivity for connecting other devices through Bluetooth, so your input options are limited. At least the remote is pretty simple to learn to use, and the interface is easy to navigate.

Despite the few shortcomings that this device has, especially in comparison to the other media streaming boxes we have reviewed here, the Chromecast is an extremely useful streaming option for those who don't mind its lack of features and who wish to stream content from another device. After all, you simply won't find any other products that will be able to match it on price.