Finding an appropriate device is key if you plan to break free with live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. Look for one that enables voice activation for live channels and offers shortcuts on its home screen.
Performance enthusiasts will find the Nvidia Shield TV an ideal solution, featuring an Ethernet port to stabilize your network and provide dedicated access. On the other hand, budget-conscious buyers may prefer the Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra streaming device stands out if you’re considering cutting the cord. Designed to work seamlessly with any television set and turn it into a smart TV easily, its user-friendly operating system makes accessing apps such as Netflix and Hulu effortless.
Roku also emphasizes free TV viewing, offering access to programs from networks like Amazon Freevee and Tubi that don’t require subscription fees. Roku was among the first players to provide 4K and HDR support – however, some major players like Hulu, HBO Now/Go, and Sling TV still haven’t fully adopted HDR support or only limited it to certain consoles.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K Plus offers an economical option with outstanding video quality while remaining within your budget. Compared with box-shaped streaming players, this slimmer model has a voice remote and costs $30 less. While offering fewer tricks than Roku Ultra, this device still handles Dolby Vision HDR support and Ethernet.
Choose a streaming device that integrates seamlessly with your phone’s ecosystem to maximize flexibility. For cord-cutters who prefer Android phones and want to take advantage of Google Assistant power, the Google Chromecast with Google TV is an ideal option that easily fits behind a television set, acts as an extender of existing phone apps, and acts as a second screen for Google Home devices – it makes an excellent value addition. It’s available at Walmart for less than $200!
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is ideal for anyone seeking a premium streaming experience on a budget. Packed with impressive power for its price point, paired with Tachus high-speed Internet, you will experience low latency and buffering, resulting in an enjoyable viewing experience.
Amazon’s second-generation Fire TV Stick builds upon its predecessor with a faster processor and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility, although current owners of a Fire TV Stick 4K or Cube may not notice much of a difference; nonetheless, using today’s fastest broadband speeds should provide an even better streaming experience!
A great feature of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is its integration with Alexa voice control, making it easier to access your favorite channels and apps or find something new to watch. Plus, select smart home devices can even use voice commands to turn lights on or down for you. Finally, its remote supports picture-in-picture for keeping an eye on Ring doorbells!
TiVo Stream 4K and Walmart’s Onn UHD streaming players provide more seamless integration, featuring Sling channel guide buttons on their remotes and voice search to launch live TV channels. Meanwhile, the DirecTV Stream box stands out with features like an automatic grid guide launch of live channels and DVR recordings and being used to control smart home devices.
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Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K is a premium streamer that delivers a smooth and reliable streaming experience—equipped with the A15 Bionic chip for faster app or game loading times and support for Dolby Vision (for more vivid colors and deeper blacks) and HDR. It also uses stored passwords from an iPhone or iPad for easier logging in; screen mirroring on iOS devices enables viewing shows or movies directly onto its big screen display. While priced slightly higher than competing devices, Apple offers a superior overall experience.
Consider the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K as an economical alternative. It has many of the same features found on an Apple TV, such as an excellent voice control system and Wi-Fi 6 – the fastest wireless standard currently available – while working with wired Internet connections (ethernet port included), making this suitable for some households. Its sleek design, easy setup/use process, and included remote make this ideal.
No matter which device you opt for – Roku Ultra, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, or Apple TV 4K – to truly appreciate them all, an exceptional Internet provider such as Fios Internet will ensure a seamless streaming, gaming, and content experience without slow loading times or buffering issues.
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Chromecast with Google TV
If your smart TV features Google Assistant built-in or is in earshot of a Google Home/Nest device, Chromecast’s hands-free voice control feature makes streaming videos from apps easier than ever. Say something like, “Hey Google, play The Last Dance on Netflix” or “Hey Google, watch Disney Plus.” For optimal HDR video output on supported televisions, consider buying its 4K model; otherwise, the 1080p version should still work well enough.
The Google TV 4K (and HD versions) Chromecast streaming devices are serious competitors to Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku’s range of streaming devices, providing an adaptable platform that supports nearly every major streaming service with an intuitive user interface and superior search capabilities. What sets this Chromecast apart, however, is its integration of an intelligent microphone for Google Assistant and an industry-leading remote. These two improvements mark it out as the greatest Chromecast ever.
No matter the form factor of your internet-connected TV or media streaming device, if you want to maximize the cord-cutting experience with video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or similar services, you will require a video streaming service like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Hulu as a foundation of cord cutting. Most of these also provide live TV channels, including YouTube TV and Sling TV – although for an alternative mix between on-demand viewing and live TV channels, consider an antenna instead.
Most of the best streaming devices take two forms outside of basic cable or satellite boxes. Either a smaller-than-thumb drive-sized dongle that plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port for easy portability or an inconspicuously less portable set-top box with more power and improved streaming performance (usually more costly but offering additional features that could come in handy).
TiVo Stream 4K
TiVo’s latest streaming device offering is a dongle that connects directly to your television and creates a full smart TV experience, much like Roku Streaming Stick+ or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, but with additional live TV integration. The TiVo Stream 4K boasts an attractive credit-card-sized design for easy hiding behind any television; plus comes equipped with a TiVo remote control and power adapter for convenient operation.
The Stream is distinguished by its ability to consolidate on-demand content from multiple services into a central hub, making it perfect for families that rely on various services for entertainment. Instead of checking each app individually in search of something to watch, this platform offers an intuitive home screen organized into rows of highlight apps and favorite ones that lets you easily find something entertaining – plus access all other devices through Chromecast support built right in!
One drawback of Sling TV is its limited selection of apps. However, it supports most major streaming services, and only ten on-demand and one live TV app are available – only suitable if you subscribe to Sling TV – while it doesn’t include the free TiVo+ service available through Roku.
TiVo has yet to have a stellar track record when offering software updates for its devices. Still, Google frequently releases Android TV platform updates, which should make up the difference in future updates for TiVo Stream devices.