CNET’s Best Streaming Devices of 2024
Streaming is more popular than ever and these affordable devices from Roku, Google and Apple can get you watching Netflix, Hulu and the rest with ease.
Streaming is here to stay and it’s everywhere. Sure you can watch Netflix on your phone and Disney Plus on an ipad, but your T V’s big screen is the best way to kick back and enjoy TV, shows, movies and sporting events. Unfortunately, the smart TV systems built into many TV S aren’t great. That’s where a streaming device comes in. We’ve tested the players from Roku, Google Apple and more to figure out which ones are the best. If you only get one new streamer, it should be one of these two Roku. They’re so similar that we’re lumping it together as a single pick. They cost about the same, just 20 5 to $40 depending on sale prices. And both are incredible values that have just about everything anybody needs. They handle four K resolution and high dynamic range video. They come with nifty voice remotes, they could control your T V’s volume and power and they can connect to any TV with an HDM I port. The main differences are in design. The express is a little box and the stick is well, a stick, but both can hide behind your TV or in your Entertainment center, so you’ll never see them again. The stick supports Dolby Vision while Express does not. And while I don’t consider that a big deal, if you have a Dolby vision TV, you might want to pay a few extra bucks and get the stick. The best part of both devices is Roku’s super simple interface which offers comprehensive search, quick responses and easy customization compared to the a heavy menus of competitors. It’s a breath of fresh air. My runner up to Roku is actually being discontinued by Google in favor of a newer, more expensive streamer. But I expect this chromecast to be available for a few more months. At least, I still like this little Puck ba among non Roku streaming devices. It comes in $30 HD version, but I think it’s worth getting the $50.04 K model for most people since the majority of TV S support four K resolution these days, the remote is sleeker than Roku’s and will also control your TV. And our tests found that Google’s voice support was better at complex commands and searches than Roku’s Google TV also plays nice with Android phones. On the other hand, the Google TV menu system is more cluttered than Roku and doesn’t allow you to easily change its appearance. I don’t love the big space devoted to promotional ads at the top either that said it offers plenty of apps and I still like it better than Amazon Fire TV. Hey, Apple fans with some extra money to spend. This is the for you, Apple’s TV box hasn’t changed for a couple of years and noticeably it’s still the most expensive streamer you can buy starting at 100 and $30 but it is excellent. My favorite part is the so called Siri remote control, which feels positively luxurious compared to other streamers and is a massive step up from the original trackpad focused version. The circular pad is easy to use either clickable or swipe and yes, it can also control your TV. As expected. The Apple TV four K plays well with other devices like iphones, macs and of course has services like Apple Arcade, Apple music, Apple Fitness, and icloud photos, front and center. There’s a neat TV, calibration feature. I like excellent format support including myriad HDR options and smart home extras with Apple home kit. I do wish the remote had a finder function and I like Roku search better. But overall the Apple TV is very good. It’s just not worth the price compared to any of the other streamers on this list ready for a wild card. My fourth pick for the best streaming device in 2024 is actually a sound bar, but bear with me buying this little speaker, lets you upgrade your T V’s experience in two important ways. It’s a Roku four K streaming device that can do everything the express four K can and comes with the same excellent Roku voice remote. It will also sound better than any TV S built in speaker audio reviewer, Ty Pendlebury was surprised by its sound quality, especially for dialogue and while other bigger bars have better sound and often separate subwoofers for more bass, this one’s pretty decent for the size, like most sound bars. It also works with Bluetooth. You can stream music from your phone and leave the TV turned off. And that’s our list for the best streaming devices of 2024. This is a category of gadget that doesn’t change much in terms of hardware. All of our picks were actually released in previous years. Meanwhile, the new 2024 versions we tested like the Roku Ultra and Google streamer aren’t as good a values as my picks. But what do you think? Let me know in the comments about what you’re looking for in your next streaming device. And if you enjoyed this video, please hit like and thank you for watching.
