The best streaming devices (2024)

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 9.9 x 3 x 1.4cm | Weight: 43.5g

If you're a Prime member, this powerful streaming stick is the one to pick for how well-integrated it is with both the Prime Video and Music services. An improved version of the older Fire TV Stick 4K, the Max adds more reliable WiFi 6 (which requires a compatible router) and the ability to check your security camera without stopping your movie. Like the older model, it offers support for 4K and HDR quality and it comes with a voice remote so you can talk to Alexa when pressing the button. After hands-free Alexa control? You'll want to consider the Fire TV Cube.

We tried out the Max and found it easy to use and smooth to navigate. However, we doubt most people will notice the small changes if they’re upgrading from an existing 4K device.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8cm | Weight: 100g

If you'd like as much content at your fingertips as possible, and access to more than 150 live channels, Sky Stream is the best streaming device available right now. It is a little pricey because you'll need to pay a monthly subscription, but all the packages include a Netflix membership as well.

Sky's Entertainment OS is full of personalised recommendations from Sky's library and popular streaming apps like Disney+ and Paramount+. You can save shows and films onto a playlist, and it has voice search to find what you're looking for more quickly. If you're willing to splash out, it is so worth it.

Maximum resolution: HD | Dimensions: 8.6 x 3.0 x 1.3cm | Weight: 32g

If you're a Prime member who wants the benefits of a Fire TV device but you don’t need 4K quality, you can make a saving by going for the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite.

It's often on offer (we've seen it for as little as £14.99 during Black Friday) but even at full price it still offers a lot including a wide selection of apps, fast performance, and an Alexa remote that you can use to search for content (but not to control power or volume on your TV).

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 2.11 x 9.45 x 1.15cm | Weight: 26g

Roku's Streaming Stick 4K has the most uncluttered interface of all the devices on this list. There are very few adverts, and all your streaming apps are simply laid out in a grid. It includes voice search, and what's more, you can use the microphone on the remote to input logins and passwords.

If you want something cheaper, take a look at the Roku Express 4K. It's very similar to the stick, but doesn't have Dolby Vision and is a slightly bulkier device.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.6 x 7.7cm | Weight: 513g

Are you an Alexa user looking for a media streamer for your living room TV? Check out the Fire TV Cube. This blocky 4K streamer's latest upgrade includes a fabric-coated design, a faster processor and more ports, but the standout benefit here is the hands-free Alexa control. You can use it to control smart lights, security systems or video doorbells.

On test, the TV Cube is smooth and speedy. While you get a standard remote in the box that's totally fine to use, it truly shines when paired with the Remote Pro, which has backlighting and customisable buttons. This isn't a replacement for your Echo Dot – you can't connect to it from your smartphone to play music – but we consider this to be a brilliant, if expensive, TV streamer.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 41.29 x 18.9 x 11.3cm | Weight: 1.11kg

Want to upgrade your audio system and video streaming capabilities at the same time? Roku's Streambar is a three-in-one device – it works as a soundbar that handles all your TV's audio, a 4K HDR streaming player, and a Bluetooth speaker to play your music at home. It's compact compared to rival soundbars, but we found it gets loud while retaining clarity and its audio is more powerful than your typical TV speakers.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 16.2 x 6.1 x 1.25cm | Weight: 55g

Google's 2020 revamp of the Chromecast added a new, clean interface, apps and a voice remote, unlike the older version that only prioritised casting to your TV. It runs the full Android TV platform, can stream in 4K, and works well with Google features. For example, it can display your albums from Google Photos and control your smart home appliances via Google Assistant. Don't have a 4K telly? You can get an HD-only version of this Chromecast for half the price.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 9.3 x 9.3 x 3.1cm | Weight: 208g

If you've already got other Apple devices like a Mac or an iPhone, this box can easily connect to them and also act as a hub for home accessories like smart bulbs and plugs. Casting over AirPlay is easy, it can stream in high frame rate 4K HDR, has an intuitive interface and offers voice search via the Siri voice assistant. The newer version introduced a redesigned Siri remote that's not as small and fiddly as the old one, while this updated Apple TV is now a smaller and lighter box, with a lower starting price and a 50% faster processor. Good news all around.

Maximum resolution: HD | Dimensions: 18.2 x 14.3 x 5.4cm | Weight: 290g

Not fussed about 4K? For under £30, Roku's entry-level option boasts the same selection of apps but just offers support for HD quality. If you don't have a newer telly, this might be all you need. Like all Rokus, it has a straightforward interface that even your grandparents could understand. It's sometimes under £20 when on offer too, and it's an absolute steal at that price.

If you prefer the size and shape of the Express over the streaming stick, Roku also sells a 4K version for £39.99 – and that's featured on our list below as our pick for the best value 4K streamer.

Maximum resolution: 4K | Dimensions: 15.9 x 9.8 x 2.6cm | Weight: 249.5g

This little wedge-shaped box is a top pick for its versatility and capability. It packs both a streaming device and games console into one compact package that runs on Android TV, has Chromecast functionality and Google Assistant built-in, and delivers the GeForce Now service that enables you to play PC games on your telly.

Where it excels is in its AI upscaling that adds clarity and enhances HD videos to 4K (ideal if you don't plan on forking out the extra dosh for the priciest Netflix tier). It's user-friendly, fast, and gets you access to all the major streaming services. The downside? It comes in at a higher price than the other models on our list.

What is the best streaming device?

If you want a discreet 4K streamer that won't set you back too much cash, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the best streaming device for you. It has an RRP of £60 but is regularly discounted, especially during sales like Prime Day and Black Friday.

The best budget streaming device is the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, you'll only be able to watch shows in HD but it costs a fraction of the price of the 4K model.

If you're looking for a premium streamer with live TV and apps, Sky Stream is a top pick. You'll need to pay a monthly subscription but you'll get a huge library of content at your fingertips.

Do I need a streaming device for a smart TV?

If you only need Netflix, iPlayer, and YouTube, and all those apps come with your smart TV, of course, you don't 'need' to spend more on a separate device. However, some smart TVs have a clunky interface, an unintuitive remote control, or lack access to newer services or apps like Apple TV+ or Britbox. Depending on which one you pick, a dedicated streaming device will solve these issues. Some also let you search and control playback with your voice, making it easier to navigate around your TV.

How to pick the best streaming device

There are a lot of streaming devices to choose from, so here are some of the key points to consider before you buy:

Form factor

This will come down to personal preference and what fits behind your television or in front of it. Streaming sticks look a bit like bigger flash drives with a built-in HDMI connector to plug directly into the port on your TV. Streaming boxes, on the other hand, connect to your TV with an HDMI cable and will need their own space in your TV setup (although some, like the Roku Express models, are box-shaped but tiny enough to hold in the palm of your hand). Both types need to be plugged into mains power and all but one in our roundup (the original Chromecast) come with their own remote control.

Apps and services

These days, most devices offer all your favourite apps like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, NOW, Amazon Prime, and access to all the main TV catch-up services including BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4. NOW hasn't always been available on the Amazon Fire TV platform, though, and you can't add extra apps to the Now TV Smart Stick, so we reckon it's always worth checking that all the apps you need are available.

Streaming quality

You'll see the terms HD, 4K, and HDR when picking the best streaming device for you. These relate to the image quality they can display on your TV, so if you've got a high-end Ultra HD 4K TV or plan to get one in the future, you may want a streaming stick that supports 4K streaming and enhances detail in very bright and very dark scenes – this is known as High Dynamic Range (HDR). If you've just got an older HD telly, you can save some money by getting a more affordable streamer that doesn't support Ultra HD. We've included the maximum supported resolution in our list.