The perfect streaming gadgets for 2026

With the dominance of good TVs, streaming sticks and packing containers could appear redundant — but when your good set is gradual or has a irritating consumer interface, a streaming system will allow you to bypass your TV’s built-in OS and use Google TV, Fireplace TV, Apple TV or one thing else as a substitute. There are a lot of streaming devices on the market, all with completely different working methods, reminiscence capacities, video resolutions and bonus options, akin to headphone connections and ambient modes that fill your display screen with stills while you’re not watching. We examined choices from the key manufacturers and broke down precisely what every system provides you so you’ll be able to choose the perfect streaming system in your TV.

Desk of contents

Finest streaming gadgets for 2026

Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Learn our full Google TV streamer review

The Google Chromecast product line was replaced with the Google TV Streamer in September of 2024. There’s no HD mannequin, solely 4K this time round and the going worth is $100, which is double the worth of the newest 4K Chromecast. As a substitute of a dongle that hides behind your TV, it’s now a set-top wedge.

Inside, there’s a quicker processor, which stored up with my scattered testing strategies — opening and shutting apps then reloading them instantly — with no bother. The Apple TV 4K continues to be the quickest of the streamers I’ve tried, however I don’t assume the pace right here will disappoint most individuals. The storage has jumped as much as 32GB from a skimpy 8GB on the Chromecast and the reminiscence is doubled at 4GB. It helps as much as 4K/60fps video with HDR, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Audio codecs embrace Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos together with spatial audio in case you’re sporting the Pixel Buds Professional.

The distant management is compact and streamlined; the D-pad handles navigation, play, pause and rewind. In fact there’s additionally a again button (as you’d discover on any good Android system). And in case you ever lose the pill-shaped distant, you’ll be able to push a button on the again of the set-top wedge to make it ring.

Google has made its Residence app an integral a part of the streamer. Not solely will you employ it to arrange your system, however you can too use the streamer to view a slideout dwelling panel in your TV display screen (that appears lots just like the Favorites tab within the app). The panel permits you to management your suitable good dwelling gadgets so you’ll be able to set temperatures, flip off lights, view feeds and so forth. You may even accomplish that when you’re watching one thing in case you program the star button on the distant to drag up the Residence panel.

What actually makes the Google TV 4K Streamer the perfect for all-in-one steaming is the interface. It’s principally the identical as what you will discover on any TV set or display screen that comes with Google TV in-built. I discover Google’s presentation to be the perfect at pulling collectively content material from completely different streaming apps into one helpful and intuitive menu. It’ll observe what you’ve been watching throughout completely different platforms so you’ll be able to simply dive again in, and the suggestions are pulled pretty equitably from throughout your subscribed providers.

In fact, no large tech firm can launch a product as we speak with out some AI contrivance and it comes right here within the type of computer-generated plot and viewers overview summaries for titles. It’ll additionally generate screensaver pictures based mostly in your prompts. These are wonderful and all, although most likely not worth it. The actual cause to go for the Google TV Streamer is the useful interface mixed with efficiency that’s quicker than many of the sticks available on the market. And in case you’re somebody who makes use of Google Residence in your good dwelling management, you’ll get much more out of this system.

Professionals

Wonderful interface combines all streaming content material equally
Helpful good dwelling management with a slide-out paneluseful
Enticing system with an incredible distant

Cons

Required HDMI cable issold individually
Double the worth of its predecessor

$98 at Amazon

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Learn our full Roku Streaming Stick Plus review

Consider it or not, the streaming world has sufficient free content material to maintain even probably the most voracious watchers entertained — and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus might be one of the best ways to entry it. Roku’s interface is uncluttered, with a easy checklist on the left and an app grid on the fitting. Two of these checklist objects, Stay TV and Featured Free, are full of free content material, each on linear channels and video-on-demand (VOD) providers. The Roku Channel app provides hundreds extra collection, movies, Roku Originals and reside channels to observe with out subscribing to a dang factor.

Roku up to date its streaming system choice final 12 months and now there are 5 in whole, with one Streambar, the set-top Roku Extremely and three Streaming Sticks. The $40 Streaming Stick Plus is a direct substitute for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and it has the perfect mixture of options for the worth. The slim design hides behind your TV and doesn’t require energy from a wall outlet, only a USB port in your TV. It helps 4K and HDR in addition to Apple Air Play 2 and works with Alexa, HomeKit, Google Residence and Roku Residence. The included voice distant can management your TVs energy and quantity as effectively.

It doesn’t assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient and lacks the Wi-Fi extender that the Streaming Stick 4K has in-built. In case your TV can show that greater image high quality or in case your Wi-Fi sign might use a lift in attending to your TV, you would possibly wish to improve to the 4K mannequin.

I discover Roku’s common search perform to be correct when on the lookout for particular titles; pushing the Voice button and saying “Poker Face” brings up outcomes for the Peacock present, the Russell Crowe film and a poker documentary from a free channel. Saying “Succession” will get you the present from Max in addition to listings for different collection and movies with “success” within the title. It was fairly good at discovering strategies for extra normal searches, like “police procedural exhibits” and “Idris Elba,” although it had points with suggestions for teenagers films (not sufficient Disney+ outcomes, for my part).

Navigation is speedy with minimal load occasions between apps. The distant has a pleasant format with a big again button and the amount rocker on the facet. The helpful Immediate Replay button jumps again 10 to twenty seconds and may even present subtitles for the replayed portion, if the app helps it. The one factor I didn’t love was the What to Watch menu, which was overwhelmingly populated with free content material and had a minimal quantity of titles sprinkled in from my paid apps. However since free content material is the place Roku actually shines, I can’t be too miffed. — A.S.

Professionals

Constructed-in entry to tons of free content material
Correct common search
Helps 4K, HDR, TV controls and voice enter
Would not require a wall adapter for energy

Cons

What to Watch menu ignores content material from different streamers

$35 at Amazon

Amazon

In the direction of the top of 2024, Amazon replaced the Fireplace TV Stick Lite and the usual Fireplace TV Follow the Fire TV Stick HD. It has the identical inner {hardware} and helps the identical 1080p at 60 fps because the Lite however the distant can now management the facility and quantity in your TV — one thing the Lite could not do.

The value went up by $5 as effectively, making the checklist worth $35. Nonetheless, because it’s typically on sale for $25 and decrease, it is one of many cheaper streaming sticks available on the market. We examined the unique Lite mannequin for this information, and our greatest grievance was the dearth of management for our TV’s energy and quantity — utilizing two remotes was a tad annoying, so it is good to see that flaw remedied. If you do not have a 4K TV, or do not watch a ton of 4K content material, this can prevent chunk of change over the $50 Fire TV Stick 4K.

The HD’s distant not solely controls the TV, it additionally permits you to use Alexa to seek for exhibits and ask normal questions just like the climate forecast or the newest scores in your favourite sports activities workforce. Amazon’s Fireplace TV interface helps all the main streaming providers, together with Netflix, Hulu, Max, YouTube and Live TV providers like Sling, YouTube TV and Fubo.

Regardless of its low worth, the Fireplace TV Stick HD is a good streaming dongle. It comes with the up to date Fireplace TV interface that has consumer profiles and and a navigation that is higher at integrating completely different content material that it was earlier than. Discovering apps and exhibits is simple sufficient, although the format isn’t as unified as Google TV’s and is extra sophisticated than Roku’s. One factor to notice is that Amazon’s interface prioritizes Prime Video content material, and you may see much more advertisements right here than on different streaming platforms.

Professionals

Reasonably priced
Helps all main streaming providers
Up to date distant can management your TV’s energy and quantity

Cons

No 4K content material assist
UI closely favors Amazon Prime Video content material

$22 at Amazon

Roku

The Roku Specific was changed by this Streaming Stick in early 2025. It has the identical interface as all Roku gadgets, which we discover straightforward to navigate and significantly good at letting you entry free and reside content material. This mannequin doesn’t assist 4K or HDR however, in contrast to the retired Specific mannequin, the distant helps voice enter and may management your TV’s energy and quantity. When you don’t have a 4K TV and all you want is a succesful HD streaming system at a low worth, the $30 Streaming Stick matches the invoice. —A.S.

Professionals

Reasonably priced
A number of free and reside content material

Cons

No 4K streaming assist
No voice distant

$29 at Amazon

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Working system: Roku OS | Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | Voice management: Sure | Decision: as much as 4K | Supported codecs: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+ | Good dwelling compatibility: Roku Residence, HomeKit, Alexa, Google Residence | Ambient Mode: No | Headphone suitable: Sure, Bluetooth | TV energy/quantity management: Sure

Roku up to date its most superior streamer, the Roku Ultra, in 2024, giving it a quicker processor, Wi-Fi 6 compatibility and a model new distant. Just like the earlier technology, it helps 4K HDR10/10+ streaming, 100 Mbps Ethernet connection, Bluetooth streaming, AirPlay2 connectivity and voice instructions with Alexa, Google Residence and Roku Good Residence. The earlier mannequin had a microSD slot for exterior media, now there’s a USB port for native playback.

I used the Extremely for a few month and was impressed with the pace, picture high quality and the brand new distant — plus a few perks I hadn’t anticipated. The 4K TV I used for testing was new to me and whoever had watched it earlier than had set it to 1080p. Throughout setup, the Extremely prompted me to move to the TVs settings to regulate the video high quality. It was a pleasant contact and never one thing all gamers do.

Flipping from app to app was almost instantaneous. Altering my thoughts with the again button instantly returned to the house display screen. I skilled no buffering points or audio synching troubles and pairing up Bluetooth headphones was quick with glitch-free efficiency.

I actually appreciated the brand new distant. Decide it up and the backlight kicks in, making it straightforward to regulate in a darkened room. Because it’s geared up with an always-on mic for hands-free voice management (you’ll be able to flip it off proper on the distant) you’ll be able to say, “Hey Roku, the place’s the distant?” and it’ll begin ringing. Even with the Roku and TV off, you’ll be able to simply say “Hey Roku, open Netflix” to show in your TV and begin up the app. A backlight and always-on characteristic will clearly drain the battery faster, however in a month of utilizing the distant, I solely needed to recharge it as soon as, which is simple to do by way of USB-C.

The voice management perform didn’t carry out extra sophisticated features as simply, although. With the TV off, I requested it to proceed taking part in a present I’d been watching and it turned on my PS5. Whereas on the Roku dwelling display screen, I requested it to proceed taking part in Gravity Falls, and was instructed there was no content material to proceed taking part in, though my child had been watching the present the day earlier than. I typically had higher luck simply holding down the mic button and talking a search request as I’m used to doing with different gamers. The search perform was correct more often than not, presenting the right film or present and taking me to the app once I clicked on what I wished.

In fact, as we mentioned in regards to the different Roku system on our checklist, the OS right here is greatest at discovering and presenting free and reside content material, with a reside TV channel information, a Featured Free content material tab, a What to Watch part filled with stuff from no-cost suppliers like Tubi, plus the model’s personal Roku Channel. When you’re a fan of the Roku expertise and wish to get probably the most out of a higher-end TV, the Extremely is the set-top field to get. — A.S.

Professionals

Wonderful distant
Excessive-quality video and audio
A number of entry to free and reside content material
USB port for enjoying native media
HDMI cable is included

Cons

Voice management struggles with advanced requests
Interface is best at free content material than organizing your paid apps

$89 at Amazon

Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

Working system: Apple tvOS | Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | Voice management: Sure | Decision: as much as 4K | Supported codecs: Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, HDR10+, Apple Lossless | Good dwelling compatibility: HomeKit | Ambient Mode: No | Headphone suitable: Sure, by way of Bluetooth, Spatial Audio avail. with AirPods | TV energy/quantity management: Sure

When my colleague Devindra Hardawar reviewed the newest gen of the Apple TV 4K upon its debut in 2022, he referred to as it “the best streaming box by a long shot.” When it comes to image high quality, pace, longevity and Apple-engineered extras, that continues to be correct. The set-top field helps 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+, which makes suitable content material look, to borrow Devindra’s time period, superb.

The A15 Bionic chip inside permits near-instantaneous loading of and switching between apps. Zooming from the start of an episode to the top or anyplace in between isn’t solely fast, but in addition fairly straightforward to do when you get the dangle of the touch-sensitive directional pad on the Siri distant. Apple improved the field {hardware} over the earlier technology, too, with a smaller, fan-less design.

You don’t should be an Apple devotee to understand the streaming field, however having an iPhone makes setup simpler, letting you maintain your iOS handset close to the system to switch credentials. When you use the Health+ app with an Apple Watch, not solely are you able to watch exercises on an enormous display screen, you’ll see reside coronary heart charge stats splashed within the nook as effectively. The app library is intensive, protecting all the hottest streaming providers, plus numerous Apple Arcade and different video games. The distant’s Siri button permits you to simply seek for stuff to observe with voice instructions, and usually will get you to the fitting app instantly. I discovered it almost nearly as good as different gadgets in suggesting content material for extra normal queries like “sci-fi house films.”

When you had been ready for the “however,” right here it’s: the Apple TV 4K is pricey. The bottom mannequin is $129, which comes with 32GB of storage. The 128GB mannequin goes for $149 and provides an Ethernet port and acts as a Thread-enabled dwelling hub, a requirement for sure good dwelling gadgets. Additionally, in case you’re on the lookout for numerous free channels and reside programming with an all-in-one dwelling web page to unify your disparate streaming subscriptions, this isn’t fairly it.

The Apple TV app incorporates not too long ago watched collection into the Up Subsequent part and your most-used apps seem within the Channels and Apps row. However the homepage is usually a showcase for Apple TV+ collection and films. And don’t count on to see a lot in the way in which of Netflix content material within the app both. Presumably as a result of a continuing grudge match between the 2 corporations, Siri even has bother discovering Netflix exhibits in any respect — trying to find Lupin solely got here again with outcomes from the anime franchise and once I requested for All of the Gentle We Can not See, the AI turned off my good lights. Lastly, this premium streaming system doesn’t include the HDMI cable required to hook it as much as your TV. That’s a minor element within the grand scheme of issues, but it surely did trigger me to fling grownup phrases in Cupertino’s normal route. — A.S.

Professionals

Extraordinarily quick operation
Apple Health+ and Arcade on an enormous display screen
Assist for 4K, HDR and Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material

Cons

Costly
Apple TV app closely favors Apple TV+ content material
Sub-par Netflix searches

$125 at B&H Photo

NVIDIA

Working system: Android TV | Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, microSD card slot | Voice management: Sure | Decision: as much as 4K | Supported codecs: HDR10, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, DTS-X | Good dwelling compatibility: Google Residence, Alexa | Ambient Mode: No | Headphone suitable: Sure, Bluetooth | TV energy/quantity management: Sure

For individuals who need an all-in-one system that permits you to stream films, run a PLEX media server and play video games, contemplate NVIDIA’s Shield TV Pro. It presently runs Android TV, which is a bit outdated at this level, however there’s a chance that it may very well be upgraded to Google TV sooner or later.

Because of its succesful Tegra X1+ processor, the NVIDIA Defend TV Professional can stream in native 4K and it could possibly additionally upscale 720p and 1080p video to 4K with the corporate’s AI neural community. It additionally helps Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10, has 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and two USB-C ports. Moreover, there’s a gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI socket and a microSD card slot. Because it runs on Android, you should use it to play most video games from the Google Play Retailer.

The principle cause you’d select the NVIDIA Defend TV Professional over different machines is that it provides you entry to NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. So long as you could have a comparatively speedy web connection, you’ll be able to play top-tier PC video games which are streamed on-line to your Defend TV Professional. —N.L.

Professionals

Helps 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material
Gives entry to NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service
Constructed-in Google Assistant assist

$199 at Amazon

Microsoft

Working system: Roku OS | Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet | Voice management: Sure | Decision: as much as 4K | Supported codecs: HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Imaginative and prescient | Good dwelling compatibility: Home Assistant | Ambient Mode: No | Headphone suitable: Sure, Bluetooth and wired | TV energy/quantity management: Sure

Regardless that each Sony’s PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X can stream video, it’s the Xbox that we predict is the perfect gaming console for the job. It could play 4K Blu-Rays and helps all the ordinary streaming video apps together with Apple TV+ and Disney+. Nonetheless, the PS5 can’t stream Disney+ Dolby Atmos, which is disappointing in case you ever wish to watch The Mandalorian in all its cinematic glory.

Fortuitously, that’s not the case with the Xbox Series X. On prime of that, the Xbox Sequence X (and S) additionally assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient for streaming video, which is particularly nice for folks with newer TVs. In fact, the Xbox can be a reasonably nice gaming machine, and it presents entry to Sport Cross, Microsoft’s subscription service that has a big library of titles. —N.L.

Professionals

Gives entry to all main streaming providers
Performs 4K Blu-Rays

$650 at Target

Amazon

Our price range choose from Amazon doesn’t assist 4K picture high quality or Dolby Atmos. Amazon’s higher-end Fire TV Stick 4K Max not solely handles Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, 4K and HDR10+, but it surely additionally helps Wi-Fi 6E. Meaning in case you have a router that additionally carries the protocol, you possibly can see higher and quicker connectivity.

The 4K Max has the quickest processor of any Fireplace TV Stick (the Amazon Fireplace TV Dice is quicker, however is not a stick), and we discovered it loads zippy. The 4K Max even helps a reasonably nice Ambient Expertise, displaying artwork (and widgets) when the display screen is idle, like on Samsung’s The Frame. It additionally lets Xbox Sport Cross Final subscribers play games by way of the app with out an Xbox Sequence X or S console.

I will additionally level out that Engadget’s Jeff Dunn has gotten a whole lot of use from the stick as a retro gaming emulator. That’s a good quantity of utility from a $60 system (that’s typically on sale for round $45).

That mentioned, Amazon’s Fireplace TV interface is much less elegant (and fewer democratic) than different UIs, extremely prioritizing Prime Video content material. It’s additionally notably ad-stuffed — selling not simply Amazon’s content material, however merchandise as effectively. — A.S.

Professionals

Reasonably priced 4K streaming
Extra gaming entry

Cons

Advert-stuffed interface
Prioritizes Prime Video content material

$50 at Amazon

What to search for in a TV streaming system

Working system and interface

Google’s TV Streamer, the Apple TV 4K, Amazon’s Fireplace TV Sticks and Roku gadgets are the most well-liked gamers within the house. Three of these manufacturers additionally come constructed into TVs, akin to Fireplace, Google and Roku TVs, however the Apple TV 4K would not come pre-loaded on any set. Every one has a singular working system and interface. This can be the largest deciding issue for many individuals, because it determines how the house leisure you wish to watch is organized and introduced. We go into element for every platform under, however all of them include dwelling screens that, to various levels, collect your apps in a single place, current the flicks and TV exhibits you’re presently watching and offer you strategies of different media streaming choices.

Practically all streaming gadgets include a distant that permits you to search and do different operations utilizing your voice, eliminating the necessity to hunt and peck at on-screen keyboards. All of them supply “common search,” during which trying to find a title takes you to whichever app has it obtainable. If you wish to watch Depraved however don’t know the place it’s taking part in, simply push the voice button on the distant and say “Depraved.” (We discovered merely saying the title or the style you need typically works higher than saying “Present me…” or “Seek for…”) From the search outcomes, hit the play button and the right app will open and begin taking part in — assuming you’ve beforehand logged into that app and, usually, have an energetic subscription.

Connectivity

Most streaming sticks hook up with the web by way of Wi-Fi, with the vast majority of them supporting Wi-Fi 5 or 6 protocols. Set-top packing containers also can have Ethernet ports, so you’ll be able to hardwire your web connection to the system, which is usually quicker than wi-fi. Streaming media gamers hook up with your TV via an HDMI port, and most sticks cover behind the display screen, whereas set-top packing containers sit on a floor close by. Practically all models additionally plug into an AC outlet for energy. Some sticks used to work by pulling energy from a USB port on the TV, however more and more, these gadgets are designed to plug into the wall.

Video and audio options

If your private home theater setup has a display screen that may show 4K content material with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10, you’ll need a streaming system that helps these high-end codecs. In fact, even probably the most top-shelf streamer can’t make a 1080p TV stream 4K. The collection or film additionally needs to be transmitted in 4K and, increasingly, corporations prohibit higher-quality streaming to dearer subscription plans. Briefly, each ingredient must assist the video or audio characteristic, in any other case the very best high quality you’ll get would be the lowest of any part within the chain.

Remotes

Most remotes that include streaming gadgets will assist you to management the facility and quantity of your TV. A few of the inexpensive gadgets, nevertheless, do not have that characteristic, so you will want to make use of your TV’s distant management to show it on, then use the streaming distant to navigate the streamer’s interface. In case your streamer’s distant does supply energy and quantity controls, the setup course of will normally calibrate your distant to your TV. If you wish to use a soundbar, akin to from Sonos or different manufacturers, for audio you may additionally should take the extra step of pairing your distant to the speaker.

Voice management

Along with serving to you discover stuff to observe, streaming gadgets from Apple, Google and Amazon can reply questions in regards to the climate, sports activities scores and normal info utilizing built-in voice assistants. They will additionally act as good dwelling controllers to show off related good bulbs or plugs and present feeds from good cameras. Simply keep in mind, as with all good dwelling gadgets, compatibility is essential. Fireplace TV gadgets work with Alexa-enabled good dwelling tools; the Google TV Streamer permits you to management Google Residence gadgets; and Apple TV 4Ks play good with HomeKit and different Apple gadgets. Rokus grant energy over Roku’s good dwelling merchandise, but in addition work with the opposite ecosystems.

How we examined and picked the perfect streaming gadgets

Like each gadget we take a look at, we begin by researching what’s worthy of reviewing. Then we come up with the gadgets ourselves and see how effectively they work. We don’t have a central Engadget lab; we take a look at issues in our personal dwelling rooms, on our personal TV units. We additionally determine that’s a greater approximation of your individual TV expertise anyway.

We started testing streaming gadgets way back to 2007 with the first Apple TV device. Since then, we’ve tried out many of the main new releases to come back alongside — from the Roku Stick back in 2014 to the 2024 Google TV Streamer 4K. A number of years in the past, we determined to compile the streaming gadgets we reviewed into this information. Since then, we’ve up to date our prime picks utilizing verdicts from our critiques, as effectively the testing we carry out only for this information. As new gadgets come out, we attempt them and, if one thing is worthy, we add it to our prime picks on this checklist.

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