The SHIELD™ Remote combines IR + Bluetooth Technologies and is equipped with a sensitive microphone for voice control (there is support for Google Assistant). Motion-activated backlit buttons are useful in the evening.
No USB ports.
The NVIDIA Shield is a full-fledged entertainment center. In addition to access to multimedia content, it also allows you to play modern games in stunning graphics. This was achieved thanks to the GeForce NOW™ cloud-based game streaming service.
4K/60 fps
CPU: Tegra X1+ (Octa-core)
RAM: 2 GB
ROM: 8 GB
GPU: 256-core Nvidia GPU
Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth, HDMI, Ethernet port, microSD slot
Remote with backlit buttons and built-in microphone
Android 9.0 (Pie) powered by Android TV™
1.6" x 1.6" x 6.5"
1 year
The built-in Wi-FI module supports the 802.11ac standard and minimizes the risk of slowdowns even when playing 4K Ultra HD content. An Ethernet Adapter is included to help you set up a wired Internet connection.
The ads on this device are rather annoying.
The Fire TV Cube has amazing functionality. The device not only acts as a TV Box but also allows you to control your smart home system through the built-in voice assistant Alexa. And the box has a stylish look.
4K/60 fps
CPU: Hexa-core
RAM: 2 GB
ROM: 16 GB
GPU: ARM Mali G52-MP2
Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth, HDMI, microUSB (Ethernet adapter included), Infrared port (IR extender cable included)
Remote with built-in microphone
Fire OS
3.4" x 3.4" x 3"
1 year
The set-top box is supplied with a high-quality HDMI cable for outputting images from the player to the TV, as well as a USB cable for powering the Smart set-top box. Automatic software updates do not require user interaction, while providing access to new features.
Wi-fi does not support the 5 GHz standard.
The Roku Premiere is ideal for people who are not very familiar with modern technology. The Roku OS has an intuitive interface, providing easy navigation. The ergonomic remote makes it easy to control your media player.
4K/60 fps
Not listed
Wi-Fi (802.11n), HDMI, microUSB (for power)
Remote without microphone
Roku OS
1.4" x 3.3" x 0.7"
2 years
Thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 + LE, you can connect wireless speakers, headphones, game controllers, keyboards, and mice (also work on the Bluetooth protocol) to the device. Dolby Atmos support allows you to output 7.1 channel sound.
It gets hot during prolonged use.
This model can significantly expand the functionality of your TV since it provides access to Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney +, Apple TV, HBO, and more. The high quality of the image will pleasantly surprise even demanding users.
4K/60 fps
CPU: Quad-core
RAM: 1.5 GB
ROM: 8 GB
GPU: IMG GE8300
Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth, HDMI-male (HDMI extender included), microUSB (for power)
Remote with built-in microphone
Fire OS
3.9" x 1.2" x 0.6"
1 year
The software installed here has enhanced compatibility - it supports the transfer of multimedia files from gadgets (Android 4.2 or iOS 9.1 and higher). There is also a PC sync function (Mac OS X 10.9 or Windows 7 and higher).
No 4K Ultra HD support.
The Google Chromecast (3rd generation) will be a real boon for owners of LCD TVs without "Smart" functionality. Just plug the device into any free HDMI connector to stream movies, photos, and music directly from your mobile device.
Full HD/60fps
Not listed
Wi-Fi (802.11ac), HDMI-male, microUSB (for power)
No remote (your phone or tablet works as remote)
Chrome OS
2" x 2" x 0.5"
1 year
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NVIDIA Shield
Streaming Box + Game Console
Many people may find themselves wondering whether to get a device that is dedicated for streaming, or to get a game console such as the XBox One or PS4, both of which offer many streaming services as well. After all, games have become a huge part of many people's lives now, so game consoles would make sense. However, game consoles are also much more limited in their support for streaming services. In this case, though, why not both? You can have the best of both worlds with the NVIDIA Shield 4K HDR TV Box/Streaming Media Player. This device includes the best that the Android operating system has to offer, along with a great selection of highly detailed games that take advantage of this system's powerful architecture.
Speaking of the powerful architecture, the hardware specs of this device are a step above what you will find with most other media streaming devices. The NVIDIA Shield includes the blazing-fast Tegra X1+ processor along with a 256 core NVIDIA GPU, giving you almost the same amount of graphical and processing power as a top-end game console. This means that any games that you place on this device will run with the highest details while providing you with a smooth gaming experience that surpasses that of other similar devices.

More Than Just Gaming
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.

Additional Info
Last updated price | $149.99 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B07YP94PBJ |

Amazon Fire TV Cube
A Box With It All
Streaming media players usually serve just one main function: to stream media from various sources. This is mainly what they are made to do, and what they are primarily used for. However, with how much more powerful the hardware inside becomes, the more capabilities can be added to them. The Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K Ultra HD Streaming Media Player is a great example of this. Not only does this streaming box serve its primary purpose well, but it is also powerful enough to act as a central hub for controlling all of the devices in your home.
First off, this is a streaming media box, and it does that job extremely well. Since this box is powered by Amazon's Fire OS, it has many of the capabilities that you will find from other Fire branded devices produced by Amazon. It has a full range of apps pre-installed for most of the major streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, CBS All Access, and of course Amazon Prime Video. Many other streaming services are supported as well, with apps available to install in mere seconds. In all, you have access to over 500,000 movies and TV shows through all of the supported streaming services on this device, which is simply more content than most people will ever watch throughout their lives.

Full Integration With Alexa
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.

Last updated price | $119.99 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B07KGVB6D6 |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs
Features
Hardware
Software

Roku Premiere
As Easy as It Gets
One of the first companies to bring streaming media boxes to the markets is also one of the best. In the last decade, Roku has really made a name for themselves with the great quality media streaming boxes they have brought to the market. Featuring an extremely intuitive menu along with hundreds of different streaming channels available, Roku has deservedly earned a reputation for creating some of the best streaming boxes available. This extends to the Roku Premiere 4K UHD Streaming Media Player, one of their latest offerings that holds up extremely well against all other set-top boxes.
The main thing that should be notable about a Roku device is that it is easy to set up and use, and nothing is different with this particular box in that regard. This device takes only a couple of minutes to set up and configure, and then you are well on your way to accessing all of your favorite streaming content. You have access to just about every streaming service you can think of, including all of the most popular ones, and the hundreds of different channels available will have you covered no matter what your tastes are. Better yet, finding any particular channel is extremely easy thanks to the intuitive interface that is included in all Roku devices.

Small Form Factor
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.

Additional Info
Last updated price | $33.99 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B07HDBZN7Q |

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
No Smart TV? No Problem!
Many of the TVs that come out now have smart TV functionality, which in essence is meant to negate the need of having a separate streaming media player. However, many of the smart TVs don't really have quite the selection of different streaming services that a dedicated box has, nor are then usually as robust in overall features. Even still, there are TVs being sold that have no smart TV functionality. This isn't a problem, though, as you can turn any TV into a smart TV with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Media Player.
Although we often refer to such devices as streaming media boxes, this device is no box. Instead, it is more of a small dongle that you can plug into the HDMI port of any TV. This device is incredibly small, so finding a place to put it simply won't be an issue. In many cases, it will just fit behind your TV, being virtually unnoticed. In fact, it is so small, that the remote for the device is roughly twice the size of it. For TVs that have their HDMI ports on the back instead of on the side of the unit, this media player comes with a dongle that makes it easier to plug in. One small hiccup with its small design is that the unit does tend to get pretty hot after extended use, but this shouldn't be much of an issue for anyone.

Wireless Connectivity Options
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.

Last updated price | $49.99 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B079QHML21 |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs
Features
Hardware
Software

Google Chromecast (3rd Generation)
Multimedia Output
Most of the devices reviewed here are all relatively the same: they are all streaming boxes that provide you with access to multiple online streaming services. The Google Chromecast (3rd Generation) Streaming Media Player, however, is a bit of a different device when compared to the others in this review. Instead of this little device including all of the functionality built into it, this device instead is meant to be used as a way to allow you to wirelessly stream content from another device onto your television.
This is accomplished thanks to the Google Chromecast technology that is native to the device. It doesn't provide you with access to anything other than another connected device in your house that is compatible with Chromecast. What you can do with it, however, is use the device to stream content from something like your smartphone or tablet directly to the TV. This means you can not only stream from virtually any streaming service that can be accessed from your smartphone or tablet, but you also have the ability to stream any multimedia files that are stored on your mobile devices. This helps give this little hockey puck a few capabilities that all of the other devices lack.

High Compatibility
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.

Additional Info
Last updated price | $0.00 |
Stock | In stock |
ASIN | B015UKRNGS |

What is a Streaming Media Player
An up-to-date media player can turn your TV into a multifunctional digital device and greatly expand your options for watching various high-quality videos, whether you do it online or use external storage. With it, you will get access to all and every Internet application, social network, and video streaming website. 3D games? Sure! Why buy an expensive console if there is a streaming media player that supports the same and even more functions? Either your TV is the newest model or a slightly older one, the streaming media player will expand its features greatly!
If you are looking for a portable device to fill in for a PC by connecting to a monitor or a TV set, we recommend you to give a glance to mini PCs or microPC sticks. And in the following review we present 5 best streaming media players and tell you what to think about when you choose one.
What Features to Compare
A choice of a streaming media player should start with looking at its Form-Factor and Performance. There are several form-factors nowadays, the most popular among which are desktop players and smart sticks. The latter are usually placed beside the TV and connected to it via a cable. The smart sticks are known to be quite miniature (a little bigger than your average USB flash drive, so you can easily hide it behind your TV) and to have high functionality. The performance parameter includes the data processing speed, the response time, and the options for data storage. An important part here is played by the streaming media player's processor (CPU) as it is responsible for playing out your high-resolution videos and for a comfortable gaming. The best streaming media players are those with quad-core processors. Then there is also the RAM capacity. To obtain a device with a good response time, look for the one with larger RAM, 2 GB or more. Talking about memory, remember about the media player's storage space. The larger it is, the more data you will be able to keep there. Up-to-date streaming media players sometimes feature a flash memory capacity of 8 GB and higher, or even an HDD drive of up to 3 TB, and some use external USB drives of various shapes and capacity. Additional modes also affect the performance: alongside a standard online video replay option, they might provide a gaming possibility with a special control, or they can include a DVR mode to record online streaming to the internal or external drive.
Next, pay some of your attention to the Functionality. It largely depends on the operating system (OS) as the operating system is what determines the number of supported applications, operation stability, and the availability of additional features like, for example, voice search. A major number of streaming media players are Android-based, and this means you will have a whole world of multimedia entertainment before you, right on your TV screen. Be it simple flipping through pictures or playing 3D video games, the good streaming device will let you enjoy it to the fullest. Today, the smallest resolution for a streaming media player is HD format, but we recommend you to look for at least Full HD device, as it is the resolution the movies are released in, mostly. If you have a 4K TV, you will need a device that supports Ultra HD. Note that the bigger display you have, the larger resolution it will require for comfortable watching. As for the screens that support 3D, it will probably benefit you to buy a media streaming device with the same option. The models with an embedded TV-tuner also exist, although they usually only work with digital TV, not analog. But instead, you will be able to record the shows you want to re-watch later. The great alternative to the tuner will be an IPTV-supporting streaming media player. IPTV is similar to the cable TV, it uses an Internet connection as an incoming signal. IPTV media players will provide you with an opportunity to watch high-quality TV channels in both standard and HD resolution. Among the supported video formats, we'd say, the most widespread would be MPEG 1/2/3/4, AVI, MKV for video, MP3, FLAC, WMA-Pro for audio, and JPEG for images. So choose a device that supports those.
The last important parameter we'd like to point at in choosing the best streaming device is its Interfaces and Controls. Almost any up-to-date streaming media player includes an HDMI port for the maximum image quality and great sound. We recommend the HDMI of 1.4 or higher version both in the player and the TV. If you are planning to connect your streaming devices to the older TV models, you will probably need the composite and the component video outputs. At the same time, to play sound via the external acoustic system, you should, probably, consider the number and types of audio outs, which can be either digital optical, or have coaxial connections with analog stereo outputs. The awesome addition to your best streaming media player will be the availability of a USB input and a place to put a memory card in. It will make the content transfer a piece of cake. As for the controls, all standard media streaming devices operate on closed systems and go with a classic remote control. More cutting-edge devices might be equipped with a QWERTY-keyboard remote, voice search option, and embedded sensors to determine their position in space (the Air Mouse). About the half of modern streaming media players can be controlled via your smartphone or another device using an official application. Sometimes you can connect a keyboard and a mouse to type and use social networks. And for fierce gamers, the gaming remote is surely a must.
Here we have told you the info you can use to make your final choice. Now let us proceed to the best streaming media players on the market as of today.
Sources:
1. Grant Clauser, Streaming Media Stick vs. Streaming Media Box: Understanding the Differences, Electronic House. November 12, 2015.
2. Lauren Barret, Finding the Best Streaming Media Player: Roku vs Chromecast vs Amazon Fire vs Apple TV, Money Under 30. March 23, 2016.
3. Streaming Media Buying Guide, ConsumerReports. Last updated: September 2016.
4. Marshall Honorof, How to Buy a Streaming Media Player, Tom's Guide. May 4, 2016.
5. Brittany Hodak, RIP VHS: World's Last VCR Will Be Made This Month, Forbes. July 23, 2016.
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