Best Streaming Devices 2024: Upgrade your streaming experience

Even though it sits as the priciest entry on this list, the Apple TV 4K (2022) more than makes up for its price tag with an abundance of must-have features and a premium level performance that decimates the competition.

For starters, the updates streaming box now has the super fast A15 Bionic chipset inside, which makes the process of blitzing through menus an absolute breeze – and handy if you like to get a good bit of browsing in before deciding upon what to watch.

That chipset performance also extends to the video quality. On all TV sets that we used to test the Apple TV 4K, ranging from a budget set to a high-end OLED TV, Apple’s device was able to put out punchy, crisp visuals that made the viewing experience a true delight on all occasions.

There’s also a dedicated Ethernet port on the more expensive 128GB model, which is essential if you want a more stable internet connection when streaming high-data 4K video.

The device is slightly smaller than it’s predecessor, and while this isn’t the type of change you you’d notice on a regular basis, it does come in handy if you decide to transport the Apple TV 4K from one location to another.

If you’re not already clued into the Apple ecosystem then there’s no need to worry – unlike Apple’s other products like the AirPods Pro 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8, you don’t need other Apple products to make the most of it. The core experience of the Apple 4K TV is so good that it’s an easy one to recommend to almost anyone.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple TV 4K Box (2022)

The latest Fire TV Cube replaces the 2019 model and features improvements from its design to its roster of connections and features. If you’re looking for a video streamer that can knit your various home cinema kit to function as one whole, this would be the streamer we would recommend.

It does come with a bump in price over the previous model, jumping to £139 / $129, though that’s not as expensive as the Apple TV 4K box.

Nevertheless, the 3rd Gen Cube is much more attractive, ditching the predominantly plastic look of before with a wraparound fabric material that makes the Cube look a stylish part of any home cinema system; a device you might even consider keeping in front of your TV rather hidden behind it.

The biggest feature of the Cube has always been its hands-free Alexa capabilities and the built-in microphone easily hears your queries and fetches results for you. If you prefer to turn Alexa off, you can do switch the microphones off by pressing a privacy button on the device.

We’re not too fond of Amazon’s Fire TV interface and its focus on Prime Video and Freevee content. In that respect, Sky Stream and Apple TV are much more democratic in terms of shepherding users to content from various providers, and approach we much prefer considering we pay for other subscriptions.

There’s an HDMI input included, the first of its kind we’ve seen on a streamer, which allows devices such as a PS5 to connect the Cube. It also recognises auto low latency mode for a quicker performance with games. Wi-Fi 6E compatibility allows for a stronger Wi-Fi performance if you have a compatible route. Even though we didn’t have one the performance was strong and stable over a wireless connection.

The Fire TV Cube supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so it can optimise the picture for the best performance. Picture performance will depend on the calibre of your TV, but we found it to be very good with a Sony OLED. The audio performance is solid too, producing a detailed, balanced, and clear sound with both stereo and Dolby Atmos tracks.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Fire TV Cube (2022)

The Sky Stream puck is the easiest way to get all the entertainment that Sky offers into your home. Having previously been an accessory to the Glass TV, Sky has made it available as a standalone streamer.

It is a small, simple device with few connections: just a HDMI output, Ethernet for hardwired connection to a router and terrestrial connection that can offer Freeview HD in case your internet goes down. Sky is a closed system and this device doesn’t offer the same level of connectivity options as an Android or Fire TV device can do, so if you’re more interested in customisation or adding external products to a streamer like headphones or a keyboard, you may want to look elsewhere.

The Entertainment OS interface is one of the best we’ve used on a streamer. Unlike Fire TV, this is a much more democratic interface, more interested in aggregating content from all services rather than putting any one ahead of another. Discovery has been improved with a few rejigs of the interface that positions the Playlist section towards the top. Playlist itself has been tweaked with the most recent episodes or series that you’ve added appearing first. We found these to be all sensible and cogent updates, though if we could change anything it’d be to have the Continue Watching rail higher up. In terms of using the interface, we found Sky Glass quicker whether scrolling through the menus or loading apps.

App selection isn’t as much as either Fire TV or Roku, though we could make the argument that it’s quality over quantity. Nevertheless, all the big hitters are present when it comes to video options, though sport and music options could be buffed up with more options.

Sky Stream supports HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision HDR formats, leaving HDR10+ by the wayside. That means TVs that support HDR10+ won’t be able to get the most of their picture performance, but for everyone else the Stream puck puts in a very good performance with HD and 4K HDR content, though this is dependent on how good your TV is. There are high levels of detail and sharpness where required, satisfying clarity and strong colours with HDR content. No problems were had in terms of stuttering or freezing images.

On the audio front the Stream puck supports Dolby Atmos, but this is only available if you subscribe to the UHD package. We did notice some audio distortion with some programmes every now and then, though not to the point where it became a pressing issue. In terms of streaming music from the device we found the Fire TV Cube to be a clearer, sharper sounding device, though the Stream does sound livelier and gets stuck into low frequencies with more aplomb.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Sky Stream

If the home cinema ambitions of the Fire TV Cube aren’t of interest, and all you want is a stick to plug in and expand the entertainment options of your 4K TV, then the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is an excellent option.

It’s half the price of the Fire TV Cube, and its performance is similar, though you don’t get the hands-free Alexa support, nor do you get as much control over connected equipment. The Max model only supports power and volume options for a TV, soundbar and AV receiver.

Still, unlike the Cube, the Max is futureproofed with Wi-Fi 6 support ensuring it’s well-placed to take advantage of the faster Wi-Fi speeds those routers bring. It also has the Live view Picture-in-Picture mode, not available on the Fire TV Stick Lite or Fire TV Stick 3rd Gen, that shows a live feed of any connected smart camera/doorbell alongside what you’re watching.

There is a bounty of apps on the Fire TV platform, with all the usual suspects (and many more) accounted for. There are also lots of ads, which may annoy some given they’ve paid for Prime, but Amazon argues it helps in terms of flinging new content at users. Voice control is possible through the Alexa remote, and we found that it’s easier to call her up and find content or navigate through the menus than to use the buttons themselves.

Performance is similar to that of the Fire TV Cube, with punchy, colourful images, good detail and speedy navigation. Though what you see on screen will depend on the quality of your TV, the Max’s wide HDR support in Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG will ensure the display has the best chance of optimising the picture. Where the Cube has the edge is in how it handles compression in darker scenes, otherwise the two streamers are close in quality.

The Cube also offers better, more textured bass performance, but what the Max offers is still better than most other streamers we’ve listened too, offering more nuance and detail in its sound than the Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

Of course you’ll need to be a Prime subscriber to make the most of this streamer. And given the ubiquity of Alexa in products and smart ecosystems, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also gets our vote over the Chromecast with Google TV for its smarts. It’s also the cheaper of the two.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is an affordable 4K HDR option that takes a platform-agnostic approach to streaming. This makes it a great choice if you aren’t interested in dealing with Amazon’s Alexa-driven interface or Google’s UI. 

The stick design plugs into the HDMI slot on your TV with the option to order a free HDMI extender from Roku directly. Meanwhile, the stick is plugged into your mains for power. The streaming stick comes with the same remote packaged with the Roku Streambar which is quite plasticky but responsive enough. It also includes quick access keys for Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and Rakuten TV. 

Roku’s interface has a consistent design with plenty of content to delve into and good curation with different categories. If you’re not a fan of the remote, you can use the mobile app to control the stick and search for content more easily. Along with the usual streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, Roku offers access to catch-up and on-demand content from iPlayer and All 4. There’s no Fiit, Amazon Music or TikTok, but there are still more than enough shows and channels to satisfy most. 

We found the performance to be great, offering excellent streaming with a stable Wi-Fi connection. HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision are all supported, as are DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Atmos for audio. 

If you’re looking for a simple 4K streaming device that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for less than £50 and you’re not swayed by Alexa’s smarts, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a great pick.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Roku Streaming Stick 4K