Media Streaming Devices: Buying Advice, Tips, and News
Discover expert-tested media streaming devices to upgrade your TV experience, from compact sticks to powerful 4K boxes. Whether you're cutting the cord or enhancing a smart TV, we guide you through top picks and tips across platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and Roku—all designed to deliver smoother, smarter streaming.
Our Top Picks
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus adds Wi-Fi 6 to one of the best media streaming devices at the same affordable price as the previous model.
Full Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus ReviewPros
- Affordable
- Fast performance
- Wi-Fi 6
- Speedier Alexa responses
- Plenty of apps and features
Cons
- No Apple AirPlay or Google Cast for local streaming
Pros
- Affordable
- Fast performance
- Wi-Fi 6
- Speedier Alexa responses
- Plenty of apps and features
Cons
- No Apple AirPlay or Google Cast for local streaming
Onn Google TV 4K Pro Streaming Device
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Walmart's Onn 4K Pro media streamer offers Google TV with hands-free voice control, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and all the apps you'd expect at a very reasonable price.
Full Onn Google TV 4K Pro Streaming Device ReviewPros
- Streams 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
- Hands-free Google Assistant
- Remote finder
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Ethernet port for wired connectivity
Cons
- Occasionally stutters
Pros
- Streams 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
- Hands-free Google Assistant
- Remote finder
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Ethernet port for wired connectivity
Cons
- Occasionally stutters
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (2026)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Amazon upgrades the affordable Fire TV Stick HD with a slimmer, adapter-free design, faster Wi-Fi, and smoother performance, making it an excellent media streamer for 1080p TVs.
Full Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (2026) ReviewPros
- Slim design easily fits among crowded HDMI ports
- Can get power directly from your TV
- Wi-Fi 6
- Built-in Alexa
Cons
- Updated Fire TV interface buries your bookmarks
- Limited local streaming features
Pros
- Slim design easily fits among crowded HDMI ports
- Can get power directly from your TV
- Wi-Fi 6
- Built-in Alexa
Cons
- Updated Fire TV interface buries your bookmarks
- Limited local streaming features
Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube remains one of the most capable media streamers on the market thanks to its hands-free Alexa voice control, and the third-generation model adds Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI pass-through.
Full Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) ReviewPros
- Hands-free Alexa voice assistance
- HDMI pass-through with Alexa overlay
- Supports Wi-Fi 6E
- Fast performance
Cons
- Expensive
- Wi-Fi 6E doesn't necessarily offer video benefits
Pros
- Hands-free Alexa voice assistance
- HDMI pass-through with Alexa overlay
- Supports Wi-Fi 6E
- Fast performance
Cons
- Expensive
- Wi-Fi 6E doesn't necessarily offer video benefits
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The 4K Roku Streaming Stick Plus is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add simple media streaming and Apple AirPlay to any TV.
Full Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025) ReviewPros
- Simple, accessible interface
- Doesn't require a wall outlet
- Supports Apple AirPlay
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support
- No Twitch app
Pros
- Simple, accessible interface
- Doesn't require a wall outlet
- Supports Apple AirPlay
- Affordable
Cons
- Lacks Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support
- No Twitch app
Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Despite a drop in price and a boost in performance, the third-generation Apple TV 4K is still an expensive media streamer that's best suited for Apple-centric households.
Full Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) ReviewPros
- Fast, responsive performance
- Deep integration with Apple devices and services
- Apple AirPlay 2
Cons
- Pricey
- Confusing overlap of Apple tvOS and Apple TV app features
- Using Siri requires speaking into the remote
Pros
- Fast, responsive performance
- Deep integration with Apple devices and services
- Apple AirPlay 2
Cons
- Pricey
- Confusing overlap of Apple tvOS and Apple TV app features
- Using Siri requires speaking into the remote
Roku Streaming Stick (2025)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The 1080p Roku Streaming Stick is an easy, affordable way to add streaming services and Apple AirPlay to an older TV.
Full Roku Streaming Stick (2025) ReviewPros
- Simple, accessible interface
- Quick performance
- Supports Apple AirPlay
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Lacks HDR support
- No Twitch app
Pros
- Simple, accessible interface
- Quick performance
- Supports Apple AirPlay
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Lacks HDR support
- No Twitch app
Roku Ultra (2024)
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The 2024 version of the Roku Ultra is faster and performs better than the previous model, while offering access to the same robust content-focused platform.
Full Roku Ultra (2024) ReviewPros
- Fast performance
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Ethernet port for wired connections
- Hands-free voice control
- Apple AirPlay
Cons
- Expensive
- Voice features lag behind competitors
- Remote lacks a headphone jack
- No Twitch app
Pros
- Fast performance
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Ethernet port for wired connections
- Hands-free voice control
- Apple AirPlay
Cons
- Expensive
- Voice features lag behind competitors
- Remote lacks a headphone jack
- No Twitch app
Latest Media Streaming Device Stories
Contribute to PCMag's reporting by ranking your hardware and streaming services for video and audio enjoyment. Once you're done with the survey, enter the sweepstakes to win $250 to spend at Amazon.
Who needs cable? Check out the top media streaming devices we've tested for watching shows, movies, and more on your TV.
The 2026 Fire TV Stick HD, which launched today, is powered by your TV's USB port, meaning fewer cables running around your TV and one more spare wall outlet for your other gadgets.
Google TV will soon host AI-creation tools like Veo videos and Nano Banana images.
Amazon upgrades the affordable Fire TV Stick HD with a slimmer, adapter-free design, faster Wi-Fi, and smoother performance, making it an excellent media streamer for 1080p TVs.
$34.99
In a bid to stamp out piracy, Amazon has been cracking down on unauthorized apps, starting with the 4K Select streamer. But sideloading is also blocked on the newest Fire TV Stick HD.
The Fire TV Stick streams TV, movies, and games all in 4K, and it's now 50% off, but for a short time only!
For now, gamers are limited to 1080p resolution at up to 60 frames per second and no HDR.
Plug, stream, and binge effortlessly with the Roku Streaming Stick HD, which brings 4K HDR to any TV with zero hassle. And right now, you can get it for $16.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube is a faster, more powerful (than a Fire Stick) streaming device that fits into any living room or entertainment center with its sleek, modern look. Get it now for $30 less.
You'll also be able to use Gemini AI to access your Google Photos library and tap into the Photos Remix feature to edit your pics.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube allows you to control your TV with your voice, transforming your home theater into a smart home hub. At 33% off, it's one of the best Cyber Monday media streamer deals around.
Cut the cord on overpriced TV deals. My favorite media streamer, the hands-free Amazon Fire TV Cube, is $50 off for Black Friday, and it isn't the only great deal I'm seeing.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube remains one of the most capable media streamers on the market thanks to its hands-free Alexa voice control, and the third-generation model adds Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI pass-through.
$109.99
The second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus adds Wi-Fi 6 to one of the best media streaming devices at the same affordable price as the previous model.
$49.99
The second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max one-ups the standard model with Wi-Fi 6E support, though you'll only notice its speed and reliability improvements with a compatible router.
$59.99
Amazon will block any app that offers access to pirated content, regardless of whether it was downloaded through its Appstore or sideloaded.
Plug, stream, binge. The Roku Premiere Media Player puts 4K HDR on any TV with zero hassle. And right now, Walmart has it under $20 for all of us. It doesn't get better than this.
The platform is also getting updates for better recommendations, improved search, and simpler ways to find streaming platforms.
DirecTV is teaming up with Glance AI to bring AI-generated ads to your TV screen, starring you.
