Best Streaming Media Players

While gaming is definitely one of the highlights of this Android TV box, it is far from all you can do with it. In fact, this box is extremely flexible in its capabilities, giving you access to virtually all streaming services, meaning that any online service that you subscribe to should be accessible through this device. That includes access to the Google Play store, where you have access to thousands of different games and apps that all give you an unprecedented number of entertainment options. You can find apps for virtually every streaming service possible, as well as for other services that most other media streaming devices don't.

Controlling the device is quite easy, thanks in large part to the included remote control, which has large buttons that are all clearly marked. For those who utilize voice assistants such as Google Assistant or Alexa, the built-in microphone lets you control the device completely hands-free. A number of other features are also included in this Android box, including the Chromecast technology for streaming the contents of a computer screen to your TV (and vice-versa), and the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technologies, which enhance the audio and video quality of any content streaming on the device. With all of these features included together, this Android TV box is simply one of the best devices on the market.

One of the crowning points of this streaming media player, and what ranks it well above many of the other devices on the market, is the full integration with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. Using this device, you can fully control your experience using simple voice commands through the built-in microphone on the remote. This lets you browse channels, find movies or TV shows, and set playlists for music streaming all with voice commands. It doesn't just stop there, though. With the powerful hardware that this device is packing, coupled with the full integration of Alexa, you can even use this box as the central hub for controlling all of the other devices in the house that support Alexa.

Yet another shining point of this box is its connectivity options. Bluetooth is fully supported here, which lets you connect all kinds of Bluetooth-enabled devices to the unit, including game controllers, speakers, headphones, and even keyboards and mice. The Wi-Fi connectivity supports the latest wireless protocols and gives you blazing fast streaming speeds, so even streaming 4K content won't be prone to slowdowns or constant buffering. An Ethernet port lets you use a wired connection for the most stable connectivity possible. All told, this powerful cube-shaped streaming box from Amazon stands heads and shoulders over most others.

Another area that Roku has managed to impress many of its customers is in the size of their boxes. Known for their sleek yet compact designs, those who enjoy saving space near the TV have always liked how easy they are to fit anywhere. With this model, though, the device has gotten even smaller than before. If you have seen an older Roku box, then you will understand that this one looks just like one of the older ones was cut in half. This extremely compact size makes it quite easy to place it just about anywhere you want, so finding space for it shouldn't be much of a concern.

Of course, the features this device has to offer don't stop there. This box comes with an HDMI cable, which is a nice addition considering that many other similar devices tend to cheap out and not supply one. Wi-Fi connectivity is included, although it should be noted that it does not support the latest 5 Ghz standard. Software updates on Roku devices are generally frequent, and the automatic update feature ensures that you are always running the latest version of the Roku software. If you are in the market for an extremely easy to use streaming box that will give you access to your favorite content, then you can do no wrong by going with a Roku.

Despite its small size, this streaming media player is loaded with features. First of all, this does an exceptional job at streaming 4K content, with support for almost all of the most popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and many others. Also, you'll notice that everything runs and plays smoothly on this device, with no streaming problems even with 4K content, and the interface runs buttery smooth without any slowdown or lag. This is a breath of fresh air for those who have used other devices that tend to get bogged down and run slowly.

A box of this size obviously won't have much in the way of ports, but that isn't much of a problem here. Thanks to the addition of Bluetooth support, you can use a wide array of different Bluetooth devices here, including your typical input methods such as game controllers, mice, and keyboards, as well as Bluetooth speakers for audio output. Speaking of its audio output, this device supports Dolby Atmos for true 7.1 stereo sound, for those who have a high-end home theater system. At the end of the day, this extremely small streaming box is packed with features, and certainly will go a long way towards expanding anyone's home entertainment center.

Setting up your Google Chromecast device is pretty straight-forward, taking only a couple of minutes to configure to use with another device. Thankfully, the list of various devices that this box can stream from is huge, due to the high level of compatibility with iOS, Android, Windows, and even Macs. Anything you can display on these devices, you can use this box to display them on your television.

It should be noted that this is the only device in our review that does not include 4K Ultra HD support built-in. If you have an older TV with a resolution lower than that of 4K, though, this just won't be an issue. Also lacking is any wireless connectivity for connecting other devices through Bluetooth, so your input options are limited. At least the remote is pretty simple to learn to use, and the interface is easy to navigate.

Despite the few shortcomings that this device has, especially in comparison to the other media streaming boxes we have reviewed here, the Chromecast is an extremely useful streaming option for those who don't mind its lack of features and who wish to stream content from another device. After all, you simply won't find any other products that will be able to match it on price.