There are many ways to watch online content on your HDTV. Your television itself might have apps, or you might have a Blu-ray player or game system connected with built-in streaming services. If neither case applies, or if your HDTV, Blu-ray player, or game system doesn't have the exact media features you want, you can get a dedicated media streaming hub. Most media streamers allow you to set up your HDTV with any online or local media streaming services you need for well under $100.
Among the media streamers currently available, five platforms stand out: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Cast, and Roku. All of these platforms except Google Cast have on-screen menu systems and dedicated remotes so you can view whatever you want from the couch, without a mobile device to control everything. Google Cast is a bit different, as it relies on a smartphone, tablet, or PC with Cast-compatible apps to stream content.
Resolution is another big factor to consider. Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku all have options for ultra high-definition (4K) content. In the list above you'll find the top-rated media streamers we've tested. Below is a closer looking at the top media streaming platforms.
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon's Fire TV platform is built around FireOS, a modified version of Android designed with Amazon's content in mind. Fire TV devices are focused heavily on Amazon Prime content, with Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime Music built prominently into the menu system. There are plenty of other content services available through Fire TV as individual apps, like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and YouTube, but the big advantage of Fire TV is having all of your Prime content right at your fingertips.
Amazon's Fire TV platform is built around FireOS, a modified version of Android designed with Amazon's content in mind. Fire TV devices are focused heavily on Amazon Prime content, with Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime Music built prominently into the menu system. There are plenty of other content services available through Fire TV as individual apps, like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and YouTube, but the big advantage of Fire TV is having all of your Prime content right at your fingertips.
Amazon recently updated its Fire TV platform with Alexa, the same voice assistant used on the Amazon Echo speaker. It's basically Amazon's version of Siri, and it's a useful tool to use with the voice remote included with the current Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The 2015 Fire TV supports 4K video, too. The Fire TV Stick is largely unchanged aside from the addition of Alexa, and has less processing power than the Fire TV.
Android TV
Android TV is Google's dedicated Android-based media streamer menu system, different from the heavily modified version of Android used in Amazon's Fire TV products. On paper, it offers a more powerful and feature-rich interface than Apple TV or Roku, but we've yet to be truly impressed by it. It feels clunky, and its app store is tiny compared with Google's conventional Android app store, as well as the Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku stores. However, Android TV was the first platform to offer Netflix 4K content outside of an HDTV with the Netflix 4K app built-in, and it remains a powerful system. You'll just need to wrestle with it a bit more than the others, and the Nvidia Shield Android TV is one of the priciest streamers on this list.
Android TV is Google's dedicated Android-based media streamer menu system, different from the heavily modified version of Android used in Amazon's Fire TV products. On paper, it offers a more powerful and feature-rich interface than Apple TV or Roku, but we've yet to be truly impressed by it. It feels clunky, and its app store is tiny compared with Google's conventional Android app store, as well as the Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku stores. However, Android TV was the first platform to offer Netflix 4K content outside of an HDTV with the Netflix 4K app built-in, and it remains a powerful system. You'll just need to wrestle with it a bit more than the others, and the Nvidia Shield Android TV is one of the priciest streamers on this list.
Apple TV
The newest version of the Apple TV comes after three years of waiting, but it finally sees some long-anticipated upgrades. The new Apple TV now has its own App Store, greatly expanding the software and services available on the device. It's also now equipped with a voice control remote, and you can use Siri with it just like you can with you iOS phone or tablet. It's still very Apple-centric, with music services focusing more on Apple Music than third-party apps, and unlike Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku, it doesn't support 4K. It's also one of the more expensive choices available. Still, its iOS integration is very appealing for dedicated Apple users, who can take advantage of features like AirPlay in addition to the usual media streaming options.
The newest version of the Apple TV comes after three years of waiting, but it finally sees some long-anticipated upgrades. The new Apple TV now has its own App Store, greatly expanding the software and services available on the device. It's also now equipped with a voice control remote, and you can use Siri with it just like you can with you iOS phone or tablet. It's still very Apple-centric, with music services focusing more on Apple Music than third-party apps, and unlike Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku, it doesn't support 4K. It's also one of the more expensive choices available. Still, its iOS integration is very appealing for dedicated Apple users, who can take advantage of features like AirPlay in addition to the usual media streaming options.
Google Cast
Google Cast is the least visually obtrusive and physically complicated media streaming platform; you take a Chromecast or Chromecast Audio, plug it into a power source, plug it into your HDTV or sound system, and control everything through your mobile device. There are no remotes, no on-screen interfaces, and no app stores to separately navigate. You just connect your Chromecast to your home network and stream whatever you're watching (from a Google Cast-compatible app, of which there are many) on your smartphone or tablet. It's easy to use and economical, since both the Chromecast and audio-only Chromecast Audio are the least expensive media streamers on this list at $35 each.
Google Cast is the least visually obtrusive and physically complicated media streaming platform; you take a Chromecast or Chromecast Audio, plug it into a power source, plug it into your HDTV or sound system, and control everything through your mobile device. There are no remotes, no on-screen interfaces, and no app stores to separately navigate. You just connect your Chromecast to your home network and stream whatever you're watching (from a Google Cast-compatible app, of which there are many) on your smartphone or tablet. It's easy to use and economical, since both the Chromecast and audio-only Chromecast Audio are the least expensive media streamers on this list at $35 each.
Roku
Roku calls the services and apps available on its devices "channels," and currently offers thousands of choices on the Roku Channel Store. All of the big streaming media names are available, including Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Sling TV, and Twitch, along with many smaller, niche apps and services for movies, sports, weather, news, and international content. Roku has also pushed into the HDTV market with its Roku TV platform. The company doesn't make HDTVs itself, but it offers its technology to HDTV manufacturers to incorproate into their screens. This has allowed many more budget-priced HDTVs to include connected features they couldn't use a few years ago, while keeping prices low. Roku TVs work just like Roku media streamers, only they're built directly into the HDTVs themselves. Roku TVs are, so far, limited to 1080p; if you want 4K video from Roku, you'll need to pick up the Roku 4 media streamer.
Roku calls the services and apps available on its devices "channels," and currently offers thousands of choices on the Roku Channel Store. All of the big streaming media names are available, including Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Sling TV, and Twitch, along with many smaller, niche apps and services for movies, sports, weather, news, and international content. Roku has also pushed into the HDTV market with its Roku TV platform. The company doesn't make HDTVs itself, but it offers its technology to HDTV manufacturers to incorproate into their screens. This has allowed many more budget-priced HDTVs to include connected features they couldn't use a few years ago, while keeping prices low. Roku TVs work just like Roku media streamers, only they're built directly into the HDTVs themselves. Roku TVs are, so far, limited to 1080p; if you want 4K video from Roku, you'll need to pick up the Roku 4 media streamer.
Any of these devices here are a great choice for bringing online content to your HDTV. For even more options, check out our Media Streamer Product Guide. And if you know you'd rather get a stick than a box, take a look at our head-to-head comparison of the Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, and Roku Stick.
Source:PCMag
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