The vast majority of new TVs on the market are smart TVs. But maybe you have an older “dumb” set or don’t care for the operating system your smart model comes with. Or, perhaps you like the idea of taking as much on-demand content as possible with you when you travel. That’s what a streaming device is for. Dubbed streaming sticks, dongles and set-top boxes, what they all have in common is the ability to stream video and other content from the internet using apps like Hulu, Netflix, Max and even Spotify. We tested out multiple options to help make sense of the operating systems, voice assistants and extra features each model offers so you can find the best streaming device for your needs.
What to look for in a streaming device
Operating system and interface
Google’s Chromecast, the Apple TV 4K, Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks and Roku players are the most popular players in the space and each have a unique operating system and interface. This may be the biggest deciding factor for m