The best streaming devices for media on-demand

A hugely popular device, made so due to its price, functionality, and ease of use. Its OS mostly focuses on Prime Video, but you can still access a whole range of other services quickly and efficiently.

The Fire TV Stick is an excellent and affordable streaming device that is simple to use and completely reliable. The user interface is well-presented and perfect for quick navigation. This is especially true when taking advantage of the remote’s Alexa integration, which allows you to use your voice to have the Fire TV Stick carry out a range of commands. What’s nice here is that the control synchronises with your TV’s volume and power, so once the TV is on and the Fire TV Stick is up and running, you have complete control from one device.

The Fire TV Stick is an Amazon property, so Prime Video is deeply integrated into its interface. You can launch recently watched shows and movies right from the homepage or easily find new content with the easy-access search bar, Alexa assistant, or through one of the integrated category tabs. Just be aware, to get the benefit of these features you’ll need to be a Prime member.

If you aren't a Prime member, you can still access other services like BBC iPlayer and Netflix through their respective apps. While this isn’t a hassle, and the apps all work well on the Fire TV Stick, the OS makes it clear that Prime members are the priority here.

For such a small and modestly powered device, the Fire TV Stick performs well. Streaming and app load times are more than acceptable, and after months of use, there’s no decline in performance, so long as it's not filled up with every app available in the Store.

Also available as the Fire TV Stick Lite, which doesn’t integrate with your TV’s volume, and as the Fire TV Stick 4K, which can stream UHD content.

The Roku Streaming Stick+ is a powerful streaming device. Supporting 4K UHD with HDR, it also carries a wealth of entertainment options and unrestricted access to streaming services.

This tiny powerhouse of a streaming device embraces a very wide range of apps and entertainment sources, showing no real preference for any. This means that finding and using the apps of your choice is a streamlined experience. That said, the four dedicated app-launch buttons on the remote control do show some of the more popular choices. Annoyingly though, these buttons can't be customised. It does though offer a very handy voice-control feature.

Design-wise the Roku Streaming Stick+ is simple and small, but one that you'll probably want to tuck out of view behind your TV. The over 3,500 apps and channels should have you covered for entertainment, both paid-for subscription-based services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+; but also live TV channels, catch-up services and even some free movie channels.

The user interface is nice and responsive, which makes it easy to use and quick to load. Navigation is a cinch, and… well, that’s about it. It’s simple yet comprehensive, and it works.

The controller is wireless, so you won't need an uninterrupted line-of-sight for it to work as with regular IR remotes. The wireless range is excellent, and able to connect to your router via 2.4 or 5Ghz networks, the latter being best for 4K streaming.

Apple TV 4K 2022 is a great streaming box for those who love the Apple ecosystem. It can link up with Apple Home Kit devices and can sync with iPhones and HomePods to increase usability and unlock additional features. This box streams in 4K UHD - essential for current or soon-to-be owners of a 4K TV.

As you’d expect, Apple TV’s subscription service lies at the heart of this, but it’s also compatible with catch-up apps and rival streaming services such as Prime Video and Netflix. The tvOS is great for easy navigation and universal searches, with Siri ready and waiting for any voice commands you may feel included to throw its way via the remote. Apple Music is also on-board, which is great news for those with external speakers. And also Apple Arcade, and Apple Fitness+ for even more fun and games.

It’s not just the 4K UHD quality that ups the wow factor of your entertainment. Apple’s inclusion of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision means that, respectively, your sound and visual experience gives a welcome, cinematic-HDR refinement.

The Apple TV 4K also syncs up with other Apple and smart home devices, including iPhones, iPads, and HomePods, allowing users of these devices to carry their immersion in the Apple ecosystem over to their TV set.
The Apple TV 4K 2022 comes with 128GB of internal memory, with a 64GB version also available, but the price difference is small - we'd go for the 128GB model every time.

The Google Chromecast is a device that plugs into the back of your TV. From here, you can cast streaming services from a smartphone or tablet to the device for display on your TV screen.

There’s not a whole lot to say about the Chromecast. It’s a simple device that performs its role well, and that role is playing content from your smartphone or tablet on the television. It’ll also link to Google Home for voice control with Google Assistant.

It plugs into the back of a TV via a free HDMI port. Once set up on a wireless network, any device also on that network will be able to stream, or cast, the like of BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and YouTube to the Chromecast. It’s then displayed on-screen in 1080p. The same goes for some music services, like Spotify.
While it’s casting, you’ll still have access to your smartphone functionality. Just be aware there’s no Amazon Prime Video here.

Amazon’s Fire TV Cube offers a media streaming experience much like the Fire TV Stick with 4K UHD. But it’s loaded with extra features that allow you to set up voice control across your entire entertainment setup and integrate smart home devices. This latest version boasts Wi-Fi 6 support, so 4K streaming is a rock-solid experience.

In terms of media streaming, Amazon’s Fire TV Cube behaves much in the same way as the Fire TV Stick listed above - albeit with 4K UHD capability. Its OS operates around Prime Video and similar Amazon services, with other streaming services all being available through the use of individual applications.

But the Fire TV Cube is a whole lot more than a mere media streamer. It’s more like a central hub of operations for your entire entertainment system, and your wider smart home setup. Much like the smart devices in Amazon’s Echo range, the Cube can be operated completely hands-free via voice controls. Turning on the TV from standby, searching for a movie, pausing, rewinding and changing the volume, changing streaming service, checking in on your Ring devices, and much much more can happen via the Cube.

This control goes further thanks to the Cube’s use of IR remote repeaters - these allow external, non-smart devices to be powered on and operated via voice command too. This includes speakers, AV units, consoles, Blu-ray players, and satellite boxes.

The Cube, like all assistants, gathers information over time to serve you better. It’ll remember which platform you prefer for certain tasks, so eventually, your commands can become more succinct. For example, you’ll be able to walk into your living room and say “Alexa, play The Crown”. The Cube will turn on your TV, select the correct device input, in this case, the Cube itself, load up Netflix, and start playing the series from where you left off. These functions will be familiar to users of Alexa & Echo devices of course, but the Cube will really tie them all together.

There’s more to explore with the Cube, but this should give you an idea of how powerful it can be. It has the potential to revolutionise not only your entertainment but your entire household.

Roku is an open platform, which is great for flexible and unrestricted access to entertainment. Here, these benefits are available with 4K quality. The soundbar is fine for smaller rooms and enhancing clarity, but don’t expect it to replace your Sonos.

Roku is loved by many consumers and for good reason. As we’ve pointed out above in our review of the Roku Express, the service provides access to over 3,000 apps and channels. Amongst them, you’ll find all the key players in streaming and catch-up, so finding something to watch is never a problem. And, as a 4K UHD-capable device, all this content is going to look sharp on your 4K TV screen.

The soundbar element of the device carries four drivers, two front-facing and one on each side. While the power isn’t here to rock the house, they do a great job of clearing up some of the muddier tones you can find with TV speakers. This is particularly true with voices, which neaten up nicely with the Streambar.

This bar doesn’t replace your TV speakers, but acts as a secondary output, boosting the volume and taking care of the more troublesome frequencies. It’s made up of four drivers, two front-facing and one on each side. They do a great job of clearing up some of the muddier tones found in the human voice.

A real benefit for those who like to make sure they are getting all they can from their router is the available Ethernet connection. With the help of a little adapter, you can wire in your internet connection to the USB port.

Within this unassuming tube sits a micro-console capable of streaming 4K UHD media with cleaver AI upscaling, as well as video games via GeForce Now.

Tech junkies unite around the Nvidia Shield. Not only does it stream all of your favourite shows in glorious 4K UHD, but there’s a sophisticated AI (powered by a Tegra X1+ processor) that’s watched thousands of hours of TV sitting inside. This mighty brain has one task - to perform some wizardry upon your content to ensure that it looks its absolute best on the screen. The effect is staggering. Couple this fact with the device’s compatibility with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, and you’re in for an exhilarating entertainment experience.

The OS is Android, and while easy to use, it’s not the most inspiring thing to look at. However, all the major streaming services are here. Chromecast has made it on board too, so smartphone streaming is available.

When it comes to gaming, you can sync up a PS4 or Xbox controller to the Shield and access streamed video games from either Google Play or Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. While it’s not enough to replace your new PS5 or Series X, it makes a compelling casual alternative to the Nintendo Switch.