Best streaming devices for 2026: Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and more

Your TV probably already has Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and most of the other streaming apps you use. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should stick with its built-in software.

A dedicated streaming device can give an older TV a new lease on life, or simply replace a smart TV interface that’s slow, cluttered, or no longer getting useful updates. The best options also bring better remotes, faster navigation, smart home features, Ethernet connectivity, or extras such as game streaming and local media playback.

There isn’t one streamer that makes sense for everybody. Roku is still one of the easiest platforms to live with, Apple offers the cleanest premium experience, Amazon and Google make the most sense when you already use their other hardware, and Nvidia still caters to enthusiasts in ways its newer rivals don’t.

For most people, our pick is the Roku Ultra (2024). It’s fast, easy to use, well-equipped, and doesn’t ask you to buy into a particular phone or smart-home platform. If you want to spend less, Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro (2026) is an unusually capable Google TV box for around $60.

The best streaming devices at a glance

• Roku Ultra (2024): The best streaming device overall
• Onn 4K Pro (2026): The best budget streaming device
• Apple TV 4K (2022): The best streaming device for Apple users
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: The best streaming device for Alexa users
• Google TV Streamer: The best streaming device for Google Home users
• Nvidia Shield TV Pro: The best streaming device for power users

Roku Ultra (2024)

The Roku Ultra has always been the company’s option for people who want Roku without settling for entry-level hardware. The 2024 version makes that proposition stronger.

Roku upgraded the processor and networking hardware, including Wi-Fi 6, while retaining Ethernet for anyone who wants a wired connection. Roku also says the newer hardware can anticipate which app you’re likely to open next and prepare it in the background, helping the whole thing feel quicker.

The remote is another good reason to step up from one of Roku’s cheaper sticks. The second-generation Voice Remote Pro is rechargeable over USB-C, has backlit buttons, supports voice control, and includes a lost-remote finder. Those sound like minor luxuries until you’ve spent 10 minutes digging through the couch for a remote that somehow migrated under a cushion.

More importantly, Roku remains approachable. Apps are easy to find, most major streaming services are supported, and anyone who’s used another Roku will immediately understand how the Ultra works.

Roku does lean more heavily on advertising and its own content than it used to, so this isn’t the pristine home screen you get with Apple TV. Still, the Ultra hits the best balance of speed, platform neutrality, features, and ease of use.

That makes it the safest recommendation for most households.

Onn 4K Pro (2026)

Walmart’s Onn streaming hardware used to sound like something you’d recommend mainly because it was cheap. The 4K Pro has moved well beyond that.

Digital Trends came away impressed with the previous Onn 4K Pro, finding a responsive Google TV box with Ethernet, USB connectivity, hands-free voice controls, a customizable remote, and none of the lag or Walmart bloat you might expect from a bargain device. The 2026 model builds on that formula rather than trying to reinvent it.

For about $60, the newer Onn 4K Pro supports 4K video, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6, 32GB of storage, and 3GB of RAM. The redesigned remote gets backlit buttons and a finder feature, while built-in microphones let you use Gemini without first reaching for the remote.

There are compromises. The Ethernet connection is limited to 100Mbps, and Google’s software still pushes more recommendations and ads than we’d prefer. The 3GB of RAM also leaves less headroom than Google’s own streamer.

Even so, it doesn’t feel like a bargain-bin device.

If you want a fast 4K streamer with a good remote and all the major HDR and audio formats without spending into premium-box territory, the Onn 4K Pro is the easy value pick.

Apple TV 4K (2022)

The Apple TV 4K is old enough that its 2022 release date now stands out, but the hardware still feels remarkably current.

The A15 Bionic processor was hilariously overpowered for a streaming box when this version arrived, and that excess has aged in its favor. Navigation is still quick, apps run smoothly, and there’s considerably more processing headroom here than you’ll find in most inexpensive streaming sticks.

tvOS remains Apple’s strongest argument. The home screen is clean and app-focused, with much less promotional clutter than you’ll find on Roku, Fire TV, or Google TV. Video support includes Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and Apple has consistently delivered strong picture and audio quality across the major streaming apps.

The experience gets better if you already own Apple hardware. AirPlay is built in, AirPods work well for private listening, and the box slots neatly into Apple’s Home setup. Apple TV 4K also works closely with iPhones, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Fitness+, and other Apple services. Your iPhone can double as a remote or keyboard, which is one of those features you don’t appreciate until you’re entering a long password with arrow buttons somewhere else.

The 128GB version is the one we’d choose if the price difference isn’t significant. In addition to more storage, it adds Gigabit Ethernet and Thread networking.

The price is harder to defend if you don’t care about any of that integration. In an Apple-heavy household, though, the Apple TV 4K still feels polished enough to justify its age.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

If Amazon is already running half your house, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the obvious streamer to add.

The second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max is still the strongest all-around Fire TV Stick. Compared with the original Max, Amazon upgraded its processor, doubled storage to 16GB, and added Wi-Fi 6E while keeping support for 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

What separates it from similarly capable sticks is Alexa.

Voice search is useful on its own, but the Max becomes more compelling if you already have Echo speakers, Ring cameras, and other Alexa-compatible gear around the house. In that setup, the Fire TV feels less like a standalone box and more like another part of the same system.

Fire TV OS is the compromise. There’s a lot happening on the home screen, including Amazon’s own content, recommendations, promotions, and advertising. Occasional lag also reminds you that this is still a streaming stick rather than a high-end box.

The other issue is price. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max now costs $84.99 in the U.S., which makes it much harder to sell as an inexpensive streaming stick and puts it uncomfortably close to full-size streaming boxes.

Sales are frequent, though, and the combination of strong format support, capable hardware, and Alexa integration still makes it the Fire TV model we’d choose first.

Google TV Streamer

The Google TV Streamer replaced Chromecast with Google TV by addressing most of that device’s obvious weak spots. It’s faster, has vastly more storage, includes Ethernet, and ships with a much better remote.

It also isn’t really a Chromecast anymore. This is a small box designed to sit near your TV rather than disappear behind it, partly because Google wants it to play a bigger role in your smart home.

Matter and Thread support let the Streamer work as part of a compatible connected-home setup, while Google Home controls can put cameras, lights, and other devices directly on the TV. That matters more if your house already revolves around Nest and Google Home gear.

The streaming hardware itself is solid. You get 32GB of storage, Gigabit Ethernet, 4GB of RAM, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos. Compared with the old Chromecast with Google TV, the jump in responsiveness is obvious.

The software is still busier than we’d like. Google TV leans heavily on recommendations, services, and suggested content, though apps-only mode helps if you want something simpler.

Price is the bigger problem now. Google’s 2026 increase to $149 makes the Streamer much harder to defend purely on value.

The cheaper Onn 4K Pro handles that job better. Digital Trends has already compared the Google TV Streamer with the Onn 4K Pro, and the distinction is clearer now than ever: Onn is the bargain, while Google’s box is the more complete smart-home option.

That narrower role is what keeps the Google TV Streamer in the lineup.

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the strangest recommendation on this list because the current hardware dates back to 2019. It’s also still doing things most newer streamers simply don’t bother with.

Most streaming boxes assume you’ll install Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and a handful of other apps and leave it there. The Shield TV Pro is aimed at people who want more control.

Its strengths include AI-assisted upscaling, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports, expandable storage, Plex Media Server support, broad local-media compatibility, and GeForce Now game streaming. It also supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and DTS.

That combination makes it especially useful in a serious home theater or local-media setup where a cheap streaming stick starts to feel restrictive.

For ordinary streaming, it’s hard to justify. The Tegra X1+ platform is old, and $200 is a lot to spend on seven-year-old hardware.

What keeps the Shield relevant is that no mainstream rival has fully replaced its enthusiast feature set. If you know exactly why you need Plex server support, USB storage, advanced local playback, or game streaming, the Shield still has a reason to exist.

Frequently asked questions

How do we test streaming devices?

Digital Trends has a dedicated streaming-device testing process, and we take these products seriously because small differences in speed, software, remotes, and app support add up quickly when you use a device every day.

We test streaming devices in real-world conditions over days or weeks, looking at navigation speed, setup, reliability, ease of use, app availability, video and audio format support, and features such as voice control, casting, smart-home integration, and Ethernet connectivity.

We also live with these products. A streaming box can look excellent on a specification sheet and still become irritating if it’s slow, the remote is awkward, or finding something to watch takes more effort than it should.

Value matters, too. A $200 streamer doesn’t automatically beat a $60 box because it has faster hardware. We consider what each device offers for the money and whether those extra capabilities make the experience meaningfully better.

Do you need a streaming device if you have a smart TV?

Probably not, but you might still want one.

Most modern TVs already run the major streaming services, and if you’re happy with the built-in software there’s little reason to add another device.

An external streamer makes more sense when your TV has become slow, stopped receiving useful updates, doesn’t support an app you want, or simply annoys you every time you turn it on. It can also give you a consistent experience across different TVs in the house.

What’s the best streaming device for most people?

The Roku Ultra is our current overall pick because it combines fast hardware, straightforward software, strong app support, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and an excellent remote without tying you heavily to Apple, Amazon, or Google’s hardware.

If price matters more, the Onn 4K Pro delivers a surprisingly complete Google TV experience for considerably less.

Is Apple TV 4K worth the extra money?

It can be, particularly if you already own an iPhone, AirPods, HomePods, or other Apple devices.

You’re paying for fast hardware, a cleaner home screen, excellent audio and video handling, strong software support, and tight integration with Apple’s other products.

If those extras don’t matter to you, a Roku or Onn streamer will handle the basic job for less.

Roku or Fire TV: which is better?

Roku is generally the better fit for someone who wants a simple streaming platform without being heavily tied to another company’s hardware.

Fire TV makes more sense if you already use Alexa, Prime Video, Ring, and other Amazon products. Both platforms include advertising and recommendations, so neither offers the same stripped-back feel as Apple TV.

What happened to Chromecast?

Google discontinued Chromecast as its primary streaming hardware and replaced it with the Google TV Streamer.

The newer box keeps Google TV and casting support but adds significantly faster hardware, more storage, Ethernet, a redesigned remote, and deeper smart-home functionality.

Words and terms you need to know

4K Ultra HD

4K UHD is the standard resolution for modern streaming and televisions, measuring 3840 x 2160 pixels. That’s four times the pixel count of 1080p Full HD.

Almost every streamer we’d recommend for a primary TV now supports 4K.

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6 is newer than the Wi-Fi 5 hardware found in many older streaming devices and can offer better performance and reliability on compatible networks. Wi-Fi 6E extends that technology into the 6GHz band.

You don’t need Wi-Fi 6 to stream 4K video, but newer networking hardware can help in busy households with lots of connected devices.

Ethernet

Ethernet lets you connect a streamer directly to your network instead of relying on Wi-Fi.

It’s rarely necessary for normal streaming if you have good wireless coverage, but it can provide a more consistent connection and is especially useful for high-bitrate local media.

Android TV

Android TV is Google’s television operating system and the foundation beneath Google TV. You’ll still encounter it on some devices, particularly older hardware.

Google TV

Google TV is Google’s content-focused interface built on Android TV. Rather than centering everything around individual apps, it emphasizes recommendations and content from multiple services.

It’s used by the Google TV Streamer, Walmart’s Onn devices, and a wide range of smart TVs.

Casting

Casting lets you start content from a phone, tablet, or computer and send it to a compatible television or streamer.

Google popularized the feature with Chromecast, but casting remains available across Google TV hardware even though the dedicated Chromecast line has been retired.

High dynamic range

HDR allows compatible TVs to reproduce a wider range of brightness, contrast, and color than standard dynamic range video.

The format can make a more noticeable difference to picture quality than resolution alone, particularly on a good OLED or mini-LED TV.

HDR10

HDR10 is the baseline HDR format and is supported by virtually every HDR television and modern 4K streaming device.

HDR10+

HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata, allowing brightness and other image parameters to change from scene to scene rather than staying fixed throughout an entire program. Netflix now supports HDR10+ streaming alongside its existing HDR options.

It’s particularly relevant to Samsung TV owners because Samsung supports HDR10+ rather than Dolby Vision.

Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision is another dynamic HDR format and is widely supported by premium televisions and streaming services.

Not every TV supports Dolby Vision, so check your television before making it a deciding factor when choosing a streamer.

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio format that can add height information to compatible surround-sound systems and soundbars.

Support depends on the streaming device, streaming service, title, and audio hardware, so seeing an Atmos logo on a streamer doesn’t necessarily mean every app or movie will output Atmos.

What to consider when buying a streaming device

The operating system is still the biggest difference between most streaming devices.

At this point, virtually all of them can open the same major services. Netflix doesn’t suddenly become a different show because you’re watching it on a Roku instead of a Fire TV Stick. What changes is everything around the video: navigation, advertising, recommendations, remote design, smart-home features, voice assistants, networking options, and how well the device fits with the hardware you already own.

Roku

Roku keeps things comparatively straightforward. Apps, which Roku still calls channels, occupy the center of the experience, and the software behaves consistently across Roku hardware.

The platform also includes The Roku Channel, which offers a large selection of free ad-supported movies, shows, and live channels.

Roku has become more promotional over time, so it isn’t completely free from advertising. Even so, it’s still one of the easiest platforms to hand to someone who doesn’t want to learn an elaborate TV operating system.

The Roku Ultra is the company’s best-equipped standalone player, while cheaper Roku sticks make sense if you want the same basic software without the premium hardware.

Amazon Fire TV

Fire TV is built around Amazon’s services and Alexa.

That can be useful if you already subscribe to Prime Video, own Echo devices, or use Ring and other Alexa-compatible products. Voice search also works particularly well within that setup.

The tradeoff is a busier home screen that strongly promotes content, apps, and services. If you like Amazon’s products, that integration can feel convenient. If you don’t, it can feel like Amazon owns your television.

Apple TV

Apple takes the opposite approach.

The basic tvOS home screen is still primarily a grid of apps, making it considerably less cluttered than many rival platforms. Apple TV 4K also works closely with iPhones, AirPods, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Fitness+, AirPlay, and Apple’s Home platform.

You don’t need other Apple devices to use an Apple TV 4K, but they’re what make the comparatively high price easier to justify.

Google TV

Google TV focuses heavily on helping you find something to watch rather than simply presenting a grid of installed apps.

Recommendations from different services appear throughout the home screen, along with live programming and Google’s own suggestions. This can be useful if you subscribe to several platforms and don’t want to open each one individually.

It can also get busy.

Google’s own Google TV Streamer adds deeper Google Home integration along with Matter and Thread support, while Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro delivers the same core software at a much lower price.

Nvidia Shield and Android TV

The Shield TV Pro still runs Android TV rather than the newer Google TV experience.

For most buyers, that distinction matters less than the Shield’s enthusiast features. It’s unusually capable when it comes to local media, Plex, external storage, game streaming, and format support.

That versatility is what keeps it in this guide despite hardware that dates back to 2019.