Best Streaming Devices | Apple TV 4K vs Roku vs Fire TV vs Chromecast

You've got a ton of options when it comes to choosing the best streaming stick or dongle or box. Too many, maybe. So we break down the best of the best. These aren't the cheapest - but they're what we'd spend our money on.
More on our favorite streaming devices: www.digitaltre...
Read our full reviews
Apple TV 4K Review: www.digitaltre...
Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: www.digitaltre...
Chromecast with Google TV Review: www.digitaltre...
You can buy any of the products mentioned in this episode on Amazon:
Roku Ultra: amzn.to/3Va6GM2
Amazon Fire TV Cube: amzn.to/3UXXNWg
Amazon Voice Remote Pro: amzn.to/3i4CnYW
Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max: amzn.to/3i7f7cQ
Chromecast with Google TV: amzn.to/3VmP27E
Apple TV 4K: amzn.to/3V3g6JI
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro: amzn.to/3gmRg8A
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV: amzn.to/3GFty1U
00:00 Intro
01:33 Roku Ultra
04:18 Amazon Fire TV Cube
08:16 Chromecast with Google TV
09:31 NVIDIA SHIELD TV
10:03 Apple TV 4K
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[@PhilNickinson]

My actual list: 1. Apple TV, for all the reasons I list in this video - and one I didn't. Apple Fitness+ is EXCELLENT on ATV. 2. Chromecast. It lives in my gear bag. Love it on the go. (For long stays I'll take my ATV.) 3/4: Roku and Fire TV, interchangeable. They're fine. They work great. They're not my favorites.

[@CoffeeRacer561]

The one disadvantage of the Google TV is that it needs an electrical outlet for power whereas the Firestick can use the TV's USB power. One less wire to worry about.

[@musictheory4u153]

Apple Fitness doesn’t work everywhere. Don’t understand why.

[@myaccount__7269]

Apple TV is trash. Constantly disconnects from iPad

[@thepeddle]

I think Nvidia shield is still the best out there for anyone who doesn't use Apple products. I have 2 of em and they still work flawlessly and get constant updates 4 years later.

[@xdudetrax2798]

@@myaccount__7269 that’s probably a “you” problem

[@AleksLazar]

Advertisement built into hardware when I already paid for device and subscription that’s the real dealbreaker for any of these devices

[@aw1lt]

sorry to be that guy but it’s built into the software not the hardware lol

[@isaaclanier1507]

@@aw1ltdude you know exactly what he meant. Don’t be that guy

[@Quiselott]

Tbf thats why theyre so cheap to buy, they make the money lost on hardware in the backend by advertising fo you

[@AleksLazar]

@@Quiselott Pay them money upfront so they can make more money by advertising indefinitely. They don’t sell it as spyware, but that’s what it is. They steal and resell data and use it to pump ads back. Why buy it at all, unless you’re a shareholder for their company. Plus the content is not better than the ads these days. Garbage all around.

[@fille6002]

Thare is a secret setting to turn it off

[@Hookmeister]

Initially I was a big Roku fan. The last few years I’ve been very sold with Android TV, leaving Roku unused. Recently I invested in the Apple TV 4K and was shocked that I like it even better than Android. Even my Sony remote works with it just as well as the Apple remote. I can play, pause, navigate menus, adjust volume with both remotes. The Apple TV connects to my AirPods easily. Great quality and fast.

[@hoangnhan1997]

Có dùng dc app stremio không bạn ?

[@joseluislopes3956]

As a mainly Plex user, nothing beats the Shield. Lossless audio support, ability to make it a server itself, and still the best upscaling algorithm to make 1080p content look the best it possibly can

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

What type of storage drive is best to run a Plex server on the Shield?? A regular external hard drive? A NAS drive? Enterprise drive? I have lots of 4K movies ripped.

[@attomicchicken]

@@PSYCHOV3N0M What do you mean by a Nas drive? You would attach a Nas to your router or switch and have the shield access the drives via a share of sorts. I have a powered hub for my switch and I have 2 2.5inch Toshiba drives plugged into it that I use as a network share and one SSD that I have placed into a USB 3 enclosure which I use to expand the internal storage. If you're asking about the longevity for a Plex share then a drive made for specifically grantees runtimes and one that doesn't park itself would be best. Enterprise solution sounds like overkill. You should have backups of your most important files at the event of a failure anyway.

[@JasonHendry22]

i love the shield, at least i did when it was android tv and no adverts. however plex playing mkvs is very hit and miss, mostly miss. this was never a issue on a pc running a i7. if it wasnt for the voice intigation and my knowladge id happily go back to the i7 as plex just worked remotely. i am talking remotely. at home it all works.

[@Infinitelight8888]

The Amazon TV Cube 3rd gen now does it all also, I have a shield but good to know that finally another device has lossless audio support.

[@hhectorlector]

For me, the Apple TV 4K voice commands make it as strong as a contender as the Nvidia Shield. Unfortunately the Shield’s upscaling is too good to not use for non-4k content

[@Barbarapape]

I have just upgraded from the previous Amazon cube to the new Apple TV 4K with ethernet. It costs a little more than the new cube, but blows it away with spec and performance and best of all no adds, i hope they keep it that way. Thanks for confirming that i made the right choice.

[@jonathanzappala]

I feel like I have to thank you for helping sound bar and tv shop. Since I didn’t use any affiliate links. I got a Vizio m512 for a great discount and then I needed a better tv, so I got a Sony X90k, for also a good discount. Thank you for the tv education and your review sold me on the sound bar for the discount it was on.

[@digitaltrends]

Thank you! Glad we could help you find the right product for your needs

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

Well I'm satisfied with the ROKU 4K streaming stick. It's inexpensive and works very well for me. I think it is perfect for the average consumer.

[@ManBearPig20oh10]

The headphone jack on the Roku remote is low key a killer feature that I wish my chromecast had

[@supriyasou3722]

While not the same, other devices here allow you to pair Bluetooth headsets

[@Skualo-77]

As Always Nvidia Shield Pro 2019 with the USB 3.0 type A the tegra 1+ " Mariko" 3GB ram better Ai-Upscaling than the others 🔰🛡️

[@jaycorbin]

AI Upscaling is nice but the Tegra X1 (the Tegra X1+ is just an overclocked X1, there is no architectural difference) is now 9 years old…….

[@shen7117]

Yes but you didn't mention that Chromecast has a usb-c input, meaning it's way more flexible than the rest. You can add external storage, play videos via external harddisks, sideloading, and add an ethernet a connection (which I use and it's great). It's a bit awkward like a dongle on a dongle (lol) but it can get pretty powerful.

[@RedVisor1]

Another strong point for the Chromecast (and Fire TV Sticks, for that matter) is that they run on Android / Google TV, which means you have access to a larger variety of apps, including ones outside of the Play store that (as Shen mentioned) you have the option to sideload.

[@farzadjahanfard]

I have lg c9 and just got apple tv 4k and i am happy the picture quality is definitely better specially in dolby 👌🏼👌🏼 comparing to TV native apps

[@LeeWoods]

The Chromecast with Google TV does have an Ethernet adapter that can be purchased from the Google device store.

[@jeffrymj]

I've used Firestick and Roku for years on our TVs, but also added the original Chromecast dongles for easy casting. I just replaced all of them with the new Chromecast 4k now that it includes a remote, and life just got better! The interface is smooth, responsive, and easy to use. My TVs are LG with WebOS which can also compete in this category, but we leave the AV input on Chromecast because it's just better. Everyone in the house (including the non-techies) intuitively know how to use it. I also love how the screensaver scrolls through all of our recent Google Photos.

[@scragglie]

same exact story for me, webOS works ok on my c1, but doesnt have all the apps i want and is just more of a pain in the ass overall and is super slow. got a chromecast 4k and man it is so freaking nice. best streaming device valuewise for sure.

[@grn9209]

Finally I hear someone say it about how much to spend! Spend about as much as you can because you get the most from your tech!!!

[@LoveStallion]

It's not a fair fight without the Nvidia Shield, especially if Apple TV 4K is in the mix.

[@chibbyylol]

09:31

[@PhilNickinson]

Shield is still INCREDIBLE, especially given its age. But I can't in good conscience put it on the same shelf given just how old it is.

[@maxwellgriffith]

Did you watch the video? It’s included

[@FoolsGould]

@@PhilNickinson I think the Sheilds age still outshines most of the competition if you’re into tinkering, but I agree, it’s not for everyone, Chromcast w/ google TV goes with me wherever I go I call it my “Portable TV”. When I travel, I plug it into hotel TVs or TVs at Air BnBs and everything is already logged in to my accounts so once I connect to Wi-Fi I am good to go! It’s so great

[@SelimxBradley]

@@PhilNickinsonI think how old it is irrelevant if by your own words is still “overpowered” and competes with and beats the other streaming devices.

[@Primal391]

My Amazon fire tv is terrible. It was fine for the first year or so. Now it has trouble loading(very slow) the Home Screen and apps will crash sometimes. My Samsung tv also after a few years the smart tv is no longer working right. Any future tv I get I will not care whose smart tv is best and only care about the picture. I use Apple TV now and never have issues.

[@itsval7]

Question does anybody know if all these devices put out different quality/ colors to the same tv ?? For example if I play say stranger things on Netflix using the Apple TV 4K and then plug in a Roku 4K on the same tv with same picture settings & stranger things as well, will I see a difference in colors or anything??

[@dtannenb]

I have the Apple TV, Roku Ultra and a Fire TV cube in my home. I do like the Apple TV the best for all the reasons you mentioned. We are on two eco systems in our family, Apple and Amazon Alexa. I am looking forward to seeing all the smart devices work well together and hope that Matter will make that a reality. Thanks for the video, it was very well done.

[@atzedevries9563]

Sorry, but how you not name the gaming performance of a shield tv and mention it of the apple tv. Also the shield tv can function as a nas (or plex media server etc), this is actually the best device you can buy for your money unless your all in apple.

[@grimzadi2480]

I moved to the Roku Ultra from the second gen Fire Cube because of the ads. I use a Pi Hole on my network, so I don't get ads on my Roku. Amazon hosts a lot of their own ad content which Pi Hole (as I have mine configured, anyway) cannot filter out. As soon as Shield comes out with a new version, I'll probably upgrade.

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

There must be a way to block ads on Fire Stick via Pi Hole.

[@LeeWoods]

Leaving out the latest Nvidia Shield TV running Android TV off this list does not sit right with me.

[@quintonostler4154]

Same.😂 I went right to nvidias website to make sure it's still for sale. They have 2 great options

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

If you use a device that you got to log into, it doesn't seem to make sense to get a Roku and create another account if you already have a Google or Amazon account and could be using their devices instead.

[@CameraStudio]

A very important feature that I think is a plus for just the Apple TV 4k is the ability to match the framerate of the content.

[@petersvenn1511]

And HDR/ DV :)

[@supriyasou3722]

Fire TV does it too

[@scragglie]

chromecast 4k has that as well? not exclusive to apple tv in any way

[@petersvenn1511]

@@scragglie Match framerate and SDR/HDR, on all apps? :)

[@scragglie]

@peter svenn yes. sdr hdr, every app ive tested works.

[@europria]

Fire TV is full of ads, any screen you are on they are trying to sell you subscriptions. 2/3 of the screen is always things they are trying to sell you. Apple TV has the least cluttered interface.

[@michaelwyckoff7593]

The Onn 4K streamer is not bad for the price that Walmart sells. It's a basic 4K streamer that I think is good enough for a average consumer. It is a Google OS platform device. Just my opinion because I have one of these devices. 😊

[@ktlinde]

Great info! Are you able to get 5.1 audio from KZbin TV on the Chromecast with Google TV device? 5.1 KZbin TV works flawlessly on a Fire TV 4K. (I'm using the same receiver, Yamaha RX-V481,and TV, Samsung S95B, for both) KZbin TV tech support says it should work (my cobalt version is new enough), but can't tell me why it does not. Their solution is to install the future updates when they come out and see if works then. I feel like I'm in a very small percentage of people that actual use 5.1 audio.

[@ls1powered240sx]

We got a Roku TV. It has WiFi direct, it is causing interference and causes all my other devices to drop the Wi-Fi connection. Instructions online on how to turn this off but it did not seem to work in my case as the interference persists as soon as the TV is unplugged all my devices stop disconnecting soon as that TV is on and streaming all my devices start disconnecting.

[@dj_houdini7766]

I have several non-hdmi soundbars, and want to cut the cord on my extra Xfinity boxes. Do any of these have IR capabilities to control a non-CEC soundbar? My Vizio TVs cannot control sound volume via the optical connection.

[@jur6296]

The remote for the chromecast allows you to set up the remote buttons to control soundbars/tvs/receivers etc. through IR

[@JohnMcGing1]

It goes without saying but needs to be said that the Apple TV 4K is almost impossible to set up if you do not own an apple device. Even borrowing an iPhone to finish the setup means freaking someone out as the phone goes nuts as you log in with your new apple id. I ended up buying an iPad from Woot because I could not mess up my neighbor and her poor iphone. It honestly is hostile to non apple cultists. And yes, it's a fantastic device and makes Roku look like it's steam powered. But it really is a key walled garden device.

[@anneritchie8264]

Agreed. I once had an iPad, so fortunately my 2020 Apple TV still works. iPad is gone, so no Apple TV upgrade for me.

[@kristofer6969]

If ATV supported Kodi I would get one

[@johnvore]

I got the New Apple TV 4k 128, I love it. But I also love my Nvidia Shield pro. Apps like Pandora and Directv Stream just work better on the shield. Sling Tv does not work on the new apple tv 4k. You can't sort the guide.

[@bweber9468]

Ok where is the shield? I call a redo

[@bubbaj5007]

Apple TV 4K has been the best purchase I could make for my tv. I never touch my TV UI Because of it.

[@TylerStevens]

I watched this whole thing simply because its Phil. Were an Apple TV house, but I had to give him the view and like. Hope you and your family are doing well, Phil! Miss you from the Android Central days.

[@supriyasou3722]

Wish these tech jurnos didn’t indulge themselves so much in showing off they’re cool and witty and jerking off about how much they know and instead focused on actually focusing on the deeper details that actually matter. What about the app ecosystem, what’s in it for cord cutters, what’s the ergonomics etc

[@TheJetsjunky]

Y'all need to look into the Nvidia Shield. It has been the most powerful streaming device out there since 2015. I have two or them and I'm going to purchase a third for my second bedroom. It's bada$$.

[@jonathan.sullivan]

Where does one get a NOS server? :P

[@DannerBanks]

I love the Fire TV Cube because it acts like a universal remote to control my other AV equipment (or any smart home stuff if you have Alexa compatible stuff). It also has a browser for watching live sports "creatively". I also love using it with my recast (although sadly recast is discontinued and won't support atsc 3, which will take over all my local stations come 2025). Lastly, its voice search is really good, not sure how that features compares to other boxes.

[@jfelm7436]

i swapped from fire tv to Roku for our older 1080P tv's we prefer them since they are less busy and addy, Lets face it though, you are only buying a streaming stick if it is for an older tv that isn't keeping up. We have our new LG C2 working natively right now and plan to till it can't keep up.

[@DavidMartin-iw9td]

With Amazon Prime, I’ve never seen an advertisement for anything other than a movie or series.

[@davebeam1]

Hi Phil - I just wanted to let you know that I saw you for the first time today, and I really like your "down to earth" and "practical" review of these products. We need more tech reviewers like you. Way too many (most, actually) want to "show off" their IT specs knowledge on their channel to, I guess, impress people. But I like how you glossed over the confusing Acronyms and just got to the bottom line from your honest and frank perspective. I'm glad I found you. I'm a subscriber now!

[@umbro1893]

The best Streaming hardware doesn’t exist. Buy discs to get best quality movies. 100% no subscription guaranteed !

[@joseluislopes3956]

Better yet: buy discs, rip them, setup plex server, blu-ray quality anywhere without the hassle of physical media (Make sure to have an Nvidia Shield to get lossless audio)

[@michaelwerbick]

My first streaming was a 2018 Apple tv4K. Second TV was a Fire Stick. Third TV was a fire stick.... Both have been replaced with Apple TV4k's. One in 2020 and the other in 2022 - they just work all the time

[@arthurfla]

The only thing that keeps me from buying an apple tv is the lack of support for Dolby vision profile 7 and TrueHD audio. I'm currently digitalizing my blu-ray collection in mkv files and the only device that can play that is the shield pro

[@deepee1544]

May I ask, how do you digitize Blu-Ray's?

[@harryhuffer294]

OK , I don't know Jack about Electronics . That being said , I'm looking into getting a 4K Smart TV and I'm trying to figure out which would be best , Roku , Google or Chromecast . Right now Roku is in the lead because of the claim that it's easier to use for tech-challenged people like me.....what do you think ? And do you need a Streaming device for the Smart TV's apps and Internet connections to work , or does the Streaming Device just improve the TV's Streaming abilities?

[@CoffeeRacer561]

I've used all the devices in the video including built-in TV OS'es. Yes, some seems a bit snappier to use than others. But regarding the UI's, most people use these devices for streaming services, one only has to be able to navigate to the streaming app and hit play. I hardly know if there's an ad or not. Most modern TVs have most of the popular streaming service native if not, it may be in their app store. The main difference to me would be the hardware being able to pass along a great uninterrupted signal to the TV.

[@antalya360]

nothing beats the nvidia shield tv pro. the ai upscaling is from another planet. it has build in plex server and geforce now. you can play your pc games on it. i watch all my movies from plex , and dont need another device to running my plex server.

[@captainsparkle-fingers2744]

FireCube 2nd Gen and Nvidia Shield 2019!! and for a dongle a FireStick 4K Max works excellent.

[@computerenthusiast402]

I wasted my MONEY on the Roku 4k Ultra. It had its time and worked well before the AppleTV 4k but Since I purchased the AppleTV 4k I no longer use the Roku. Sure the AppleTV cost more money but it’s worth it. Preferred among Home Theater enthusiast. Its like the difference between a Mercedes 7 series and a VW bug. The AppleTV is Power and Luxury. And you can use any bluetooth headphones with it.

[@FeScully]

I don’t know if it happens in other countries, but in Brazil Roku only sell their tv and roku express that only uses 2.4ghz internet - complete waste of money

[@CoolTies]

Can't speak for Roku but unless you have an iPhone don't bother with AppleTV. The ATV/ATV+ app is available on everything so you don't need their box. We use the Google TV Chromecast and prefer it over the Nvidia Shield it replaced. Clean install and great remote round out the Google TV Chromecast 4K. Love that a simple dongle then add a USB webcam and even additional storage. Neither are options with Apple TV.

[@williammitchell6921]

I'm a 2-year Roku Ultra user who recently switched to Apple TV 4k. Two things to consider. The Roku remote has a headphone jack, which is great for private listening. However, it eats batteries if you do this. I ended up buying a pair of Bose QC 45 bluetooth headphones which also worked with the Roku box. However, there was like a second or more delay, making it unusable for me. I really liked using the BT headphones. So I bought the ATV 4k to see if that fixed the delay. It did. Bye bye Roku.

[@lautaroyaurreche]

You can use AirPods on your Apple TV 4k, and they connect automatically like with other Apple devices.

[@beigefox6579]

AirPods Pro 2 paired with Apple TV 4K crushes everything out there in the market. With the new firmware you can even share the audio with other AirPods Pro users

[@1_ekul]

@@beigefox6579agreed. I use everything apple and the AirPods integration is incredible. I just open my AirPods and my Mac will put a prompt allowing me to connect them. If I turn on my tv there is a prompt telling me to press the tv button to connect them. On the Apple TV you can even control noise cancellation and spatial audio for AirPods Pro users or just spatial audio for 3rd gen users. Nobody can beat Apple’s ecosystem.

[@Gada947]

@@beigefox6579 love the AirPods Max with Dolby Atmos. Cheaper than buying a surround sound system, and also saves space too.

[@theboontz58321]

If you use the Roku remote app on your phone, you can hook up to your own Bluetooth audio devices

[@ClipCentralUnbleeped]

So you spent the least amount of time in this video on the best streaming box in the list, the Shield. I have had everything in this list BUT the Apple TV, and none of them hold a candle to the Shield. It is beyond OP, and when you stream 4k content, you cannot beat Gigabit LAN. The interface is fast, the flexibility to play anything you want on it, and the list goes on. Thank goodness it got a 50 second mention in the video. LOL

[@switchunboxing]

What’s the price? Dang I may look into it.

[@Anhedonis]

I have both Shield and AppleTV (and Roku, and Web OS 22). Shield has a lot of crap that you have to put up with to get the good stuff. Shield went downhill when Google assimilated Android TV into Google TV and brought in ads and forced unwanted changes. AppleTV is polished and annoyance free. It’s so far and away the best option that it would be more useful to compare the streamers that are not AppleTV. In that case, Shield is the best of the rest.

[@larryburks-zu6xb]

Seems like apple 4k would be the one for me. eARC compatibility. I have a 4k TV TCL series 6 All about future proofing at this time spending a bit more cash. Thankful for the military discount

[@joseluislopes3956]

eARC compatibility on AppleTV means you can send sound from the TV to the Apple TV, that will send it to speaker connected to the AppleTV itself. If you, like 99% of the people have a soundbar connected to the TV, the streaming box having ARC/eARC is meaningless

[@deepee1544]

@Larry I have a TCL Q670G-CA and I'm quite happy with it. Which model is yours?

[@gunit6815]

is it worth upgrading from the 2017 apple tv 4k I currently use? Whats the difference? The old a10 seems to handle streaming just fine in 4k

[@Constantine91]

probably if they make more games aviable on the divice from the app store. Else probably not.

[@Mark_Chandler]

problem with roku and apple is they are a proprietary os. Cant load Kodi or any third party app. So google tv for me.

[@W4TSKY]

As someone who used to have a Roku and whose dad has a Fire TV, Apple TV is by far the best IMO. I love the multitasking and the Apple TV setup where it automatically updates the shows you’ve been following/watching to your up next. Also when it automatically recognizes your AirPods for private listening. I turned my mom onto it and she’s so disappointed whenever she has to use her Roku in her room since the Apple TV is setup in the living room 😅

[@eprimeify2090]

Yo, Watsky! Big fan. Ok, that’s a lie. A moderate fan.

[@thomasbeveridge8144]

I like the Apple TV, except the Netflix app lacks some compelling features that the others have, like Top 10 TV shows and movies.

[@bsd107]

I am pretty sure that the highest bitrate Netflix streams can exceed 100Mbps Ethernet. I.e. the 1Gb Ethernet would be needed to no bottleneck. HDTVtest had an episode on this

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I wish the Chromecast remote had a better shape. It's too wobbly with it's shape, prone to falling of a mattress or couch cushion, and too easy to grab it pointing it the wrong way.

[@billligon4005]

So I have a Samsung smart TV and all of those apps already on the tv, and I can also install any others that I want. So why would I want a "SEPARATE" streaming device??

[@teeemm9456]

Because TVs generally don't have as high a quality component lineup for the "smart" aspect and it fades over time. I have a 2017 TV that works and looks great, but the smart features are starting to wane and I can't get every app on it.

[@Peter-yc5kl]

Can someone enlighten me on why you would need to have an ethernet connection for your streaming stick if all your doing is streaming video? I can see why you would want to for cloud gaming but other than that I don't really see too much of a reason to do this

[@deepee1544]

Ethernet is always better than WiFi. It's completely stable and doesn't drop out

[@pool__boy]

The Apple TV is admittedly nice, but I bought mine with the assumption that at $150, it would have the same features as FireTV, specifically my reliance on a web browser, which the Apple TV 4K doesn’t even offer. Something I really wish I would have known before making the decision to purchase

[@LM-wq4fe]

I have all of them except the Amazon. The Roku ultra is downstairs along with google Chromecast with Kodi. Living room has shield and bedroom has Apple TV and small Roku.

[@gmemo4449]

Thank you, I love my Nvidia Shield and I also have a Hisense Smart TV as well. I like Shield because I've downloaded APK's to watch sports in Australia and UK and with a VPN I have no trouble.

[@2011thetemp]

so the lightning port doesn't protect apple products from lighting 😜

[@RajRaj-ty7kl]

Which has the best picture and sound quality

[@anthonyrowan3987]

Pretty good video all around, however I did notice one mistake in the Google section. While the Chromecast with Google TV doesn't have Ethernet or expandable storage built in, it can be added later on with a regular USB type C dongle from companies like Anker. Just keep in mind that you would also need one that supports power in, as the Chromecast only has one type C port, as well as a slightly more powerful AC adapter than what comes in the Chromecast box, so you can power the dongle and any connected devices.

[@TheQuark6789]

Good point! Google also sells an official one for $20.

[@frankiepavinato]

Apple TV 4K for me, I can't think of a better streaming device. Yes it doesn't come cheap but snappy UI and no advertisements is a total win for me.

[@dsloan9561]

Nvidia Shield......?

[@switchunboxing]

How are you “kinda” going to see a lot of ads on the Roku

[@AndyPena89]

Which is best for quality of picture and audio? I have an LG OLED tv. Roku ultra and Chromecast with Google tv. The Roku has by far the best Dolby Atmos sound between them all. Picture seems the same on all, maybe a little better through Chromecast. Curious what causes these differences if the streaming source should in theory be the same..

[@PhilNickinson]

It's not quite that simple. Depends on what you're streaming, of course. Live (and linear) is still pretty bad on most of those services. And I'd argue any difference in something like Netflix on ATV vs. Roku vs. whatever is going to be negligible in any event. Fine for arguments, moot for real life.

[@garrettw99]

You can automatically calibrate the picture quality on Apple TV by holding your iPhone up to your TV screen. That’s an exclusive feature. It made my picture quality look a little better, although really it’s just calibration.

[@starlee83]

Apple TV NO.1

[@TazBo-wd2ig]

Fire stick kodi done!

[@DJaquithFL]

Our experiences: 1. Probably the least problematic is actually the cheap Chromecast with Google TV. 2. The best picture especially 1080p to 4K upscaling is the Nvidia Shield Pro. 3. Least advertising Nvidia Shield Pro. Problems: 1. Apple 4K .. caching of App data is a serious problem with Apple and something that they need to allow the user to disable. It often interferes with updating the application's icons (KZbin) and shows (Tennis Channel) often forcing you to forcibly quit the App. Also, every so often the remote gets amnesia how to control your TV and you must restart and re-pair the remote to your TV. 2. Roku .. a problem that's plagued every Roku device that we have is hdmi corruption. The only solution is to Restart the Roku device or hard restarted if necessary. The corruption can be picture and audio distortions. 3. Android devices aren't immune from needing to be restarted. Periodically as well for a variety of oddities. For whatever reason, Google still has some issues with some carriers example Tennis Channel. We literally have them all and multiples of them. Every main TV has a Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield Pro and Apple 4K TV 64GB or better We also have hard wiring CAT-6A to every single TV in our home with 2.5Gbps FiOS. Also have a few 4K Chromecast with Google TV but you're wrong you certainly can get a Google Ethernet USB and you are so inclined you can also hook it up to external storage. Let's face a reality the only reason Roku a majority dominance is because Apple, Google and Amazon were all fighting each other and limiting their services to each other. All basically shooting themselves in the foot and opening up initial momentum for Roku. However, later Roku decided to throw its majority dominance in the face of several companies and it backfired, which is the reason that we left Roku as our primary. It's clear that all these companies are very unreliable as to how things may pan out for a dominant role. Also, Roku devices are very lackluster and severely underpowered. Perhaps the biggest problem is televisions that are being sold as smart TVs when in my opinion none of that should be installed in to any TV. TVs should be left as simple monitors. The lifespan of the streaming devices is short at best and a limiting factor for growth in the industry as it evolves. Only slowing the process.

[@DJaquithFL]

Screensavers .. I kind of like looking at my family and Google Photos screensaver is better than some other person's flyover of some strange place that I couldn't care less about. I'm not saying that they're bad quality and it doesn't have some interest but after the hundredth time hell no!!! I much rather see family photos and we literally have 15 Google Hubs in my house alone. Google for home automation is also extremely good, I don't need another hobby. And by the time any of these companies stop doing whatever they do, the stuff's going to be worn out and thrown in the trash anyway. In Florida if you can get three maybe four years out of an exterior camera, that's a hallelujah moment.

[@deepee1544]

Interesting.

[@EddyGraphic]

I own a lot of these, I have the 2019 Nvidia Shield TV Pro, Chromecast With Google TV, Apple TV 4K (2017) and 2 Apple TV 4K (2021s) and the Apple TV is my overall favorite because the UI is buttery smooth and renders in 4K which is not a thing on Android TV, the home screen is not filled by ads, and the image quality is miles better as it is always running in HDR mode, the Nvidia Shield is a close second I wouldn’t buy anything below it.

[@TerryManitoba]

Apple TV 4K - All Day Long - SON...

[@peterwinstonaldredge6927]

You missed possibly the best thing about AppleTV 4k, and that is the 'Up Next' section which pulls in all the series or Movies in almost all other apps and puts them in that section. This means you don't have to jump around between your apps to find the series or movies you are or want to watch! We have two Roku Streaming Stick+ devices on our upstairs TVs but I knew I wanted the AppleTV for our main, largest TV. Hands-down the AppleTV is the BEST device. Buy it and I guarantee you will not be disappointed!!!!

[@Wintersoldier73]

I just use my Xbox. It has crunchyroll, asian crush, prime video, Amazon music, etc. I don't need a separate device.

[@martinvegas1327]

Anything that has Pluto will do. Addicted to Paranormal State👍

[@ANTHONY-rp3ud]

Why didn't you include the shield pro in this video it is still the best streaming device out there Even in 2022

[@orji_ck]

I’m curious, why will someone who has a smart TV buy any of these streaming devices?

[@deepee1544]

Because many smart TV 's lack processing power.

[@techsamurai11]

There's also a great comparison of different streaming services (video quality and audio quality) painstakingly done by another youtuber. In the comments, I'd mentioned some of the different advertised settings by Netflix, Disney+ and he took it upon himself to compare them all using I guess, Kaleidascape or some other feature that shows all the information of the content. I thin it's very complimentary which evaluates streaming hardware as it evaluates streaming services. The channel is Techthusiasm (I hope I spelled it right). In the old days, we could kind of see that information but now more and more companies are hiding it😄 I think it's important to have access to that information as it keeps companies on their toes a bit. I was recently surprised by the launch of B&W 700 S3 series where they showed the internals of the speaker which is clearly in response to Danny's speaker undressing from Danny GR Research. They're all like "what? now we have to have nice components inside the $10,000 speaker?"😆Apologies to Digital Trends for bringing up another channel in a comment.

[@jimv1983]

Out of all of them I think Chromecast With Google TV is the best for the money and for an extra $20 you can add ethernet support.

[@scragglie]

agree, it does everything i need it to, and im certainly not going to spend 150 fucking bucks on a streaming box lmfao, such a massive waste of money when chromecast does everything just as well. by the time the software actually catches up to what some of this overpriced hardware has in it, it will be LOOOONG past obsolete. its the chromecast for me.

[@rchatte100]

New apple tv 4k is so powerful it'll easily support 8k, whenever that is.

[@ChristopherMarshburn]

Question Phil: Do you have a delay in audio kicking in when you switch apps and do you know how to fix this. I never had this issue with my Roku but I sure have it on my new Apple 4k TV and it’s super annoying. Thanks.

[@PhilNickinson]

Hmmmmmm. Not that I've noticed. What are you using for audio output?

[@ChristopherMarshburn]

@@PhilNickinson I have a digital optical cable going from my Sony TV to a Yamaha sound bar. I think I might have fixed it. I changed Audio Format from Dolby Digital 5.1 to Stereo and there seems to be no delay now.

[@karimgamal9964]

I just bought the QN900B and I have a question. In order to get the best picture quality with the best possible upscaling for HD and 4K content to 8K, is it better to use the native software application or use my Apple new 4K device? Which one will provide the best picture quality? Or it doesn’t matter and the TV processor will handle the picture no matter the source? Please please let me know as I spent a lot of money 😂

[@rivcogent]

Shame to hear about what happened to your Apple TV 4K. If only it had a lightning port it would have been fine.

[@scottboettcher1344]

Damn, I had to wipe off my laptop screen....

[@LeesShortTrips]

Are these better options or should I just buy a smart TV?

[@DaveAndrus]

Roku remote with the earphone jack is just the best for private listening! With the Roku Ultra, you can also stream audio directly to your expensive (or cheap) Bluetooth headphones. Either of these make late-night listening so easy, and the sound is awesome! Oh, and the Roku UI is still the friendliest you can want, especially for your parents that use the big-button phones! Its ads are also not nearly as intrusive and cluttered as Amazon's or Google's.

[@D8099.]

Apple AirPods or Beats Pro work better than Roku. They also have spacial audio. And oh yea your not tethered to the remote😂😂😂

[@DaveAndrus]

@@D8099. ...And of course you can use both of those with the Roku app on your iPhone! I do this all the time. No wires!😉

[@zack.123.]

Can you side load apks into Roku?

[@juriaanoussoren]

Yeah I want a Roku ...but they don't have volume buttons. Who the fuck didn't put a volume on the box itself for God sake with the cheap version There is only 1 site selling the cheap one in my country but it's there 🙇🎤 But I want a on off button and volume for the app itself

[@Evan_Rodgers]

Roku has a bad UI that forces way too many ads. Apple is clean with almost non existent ads.

[@stanislavsidorovich6242]

Mi stick 4k / Realme stick 4k is probably the 1st choice for me

[@seagee845]

failed to mention that last years apple tv also has thread and can be found for $70 cheaper

[@rodfulford4306]

I have a Roku 4k stick. Its easy to use , good picture and plenty of apps. My real annoyance is that the remote batteries run down in a few weeks whether its used or not . There seems to be a constant low current drain. Ive tried others and they all have the problem

[@bonghollywood1653]

Where's Nvidia shield pro?

[@chibbyylol]

09:31

[@Skualo-77]

Ha! Micro SD Card 🤭 2019 hahaha 😅😂🤣😂

[@ecu4321]

Roku’s reminds me of earlier xbmc or kodi devices wherein there are lots of indie apps from no-name publishers and that its becoming a cesspool of porn and b-quality random media apps. Worst is that here in the Philippines, the only notable apps are netflix and youtube. Even the advertised disney+ (all the way shown in the remote) is unavailable from the store. What a major let down and outright scam!

[@Max86421]

I'm using Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K 🔥

[@joycejones5796]

Fire cube 2021 customize with wolf launcher. Nvidia Shield 2019 Firestick 4k....🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@user-bl7bt4tk7p]

HI, I'm researching to get a streaming stick for my parents. They are senior and not tech savvy, and I know my mom would be annoyed by the part you mentioned where you press forward and it does different actions on different platforms. She would not be able to remember which button could ff or rewind for each app. Do you have recommendations? Does anyone? Thank you

[@bomenorange.]

Can anyone tell me why should i buy any of these products, when my smart 4k tv has integrated apps which i can run them and watch the content within?

[@deepee1544]

Many smart TV's lack strong processing power.