When it comes to streaming video these days, there are tons of options. All it takes is a high-speed internet connection and a device capable of streaming. Smart TVs come with some streaming services built in already, most gaming consoles are streaming-capable, and there are even dedicated devices for the very purpose. But how do you choose which one is right for you?
Box or Stick?
There are pros and cons to each, but there are a few key differences to keep in mind when selecting what is right for your needs.
- Sticks are smaller and sleeker. They’re often easy to conceal, where boxes will need their own space to rest.
- Sticks are oftentimes easy to install start streaming—just plug them in, and you’re ready to go. Boxes tend to take some setup time.
- Boxes are typically faster and more powerful than sticks.
- Sticks typically require a stable Wi-Fi connection, where boxes often have ethernet ports available for a hardline connection. While Wi-Fi will generally be fine for most things, if the stream is 4K or HDR (High Dynamic Range), the more stable, faster connection provided by ethernet is going to be preferable.
- You have more output options on a box than a stick. Generally, sticks only have HDMI outputs, and they typically need a USB port for power. If your TV is missing one or both of those, a stick won’t work.
- Sticks are generally much cheaper than boxes.
- Boxes generally have more storage space for apps and games than sticks do.
Let’s talk about each one of them in turn.
Roku Sticks
Roku produces a wide range of products to meet whatever need the consumer has (and whatever price range in which they might be). The pros of the Roku brand devices is that they are generally pretty easy on the pocket book, and they are perfectly capable devices, provided you’re not looking for the Ultra-HD experience.
Specs | Roku Express | Roku Express + | Roku Streaming Stick |
Type | Stick | Stick | Stick |
Price | $29.99 | $39.99 | $49.99 |
Processor | Dual Core | Dual Core | Dual Core |
RAM | 512MB | 512MB | 512MB |
Storage | 256MB | 256MB | 256MB |
Output | HDMI | HDMI and Composite | HDMI |
Best Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
Wi-Fi | b/g/n | b/g/n | dual-band a/b/g/n |
Ethernet Connection | No | No | No |
Expandable storage | No | No | No |
Roku Boxes
Roku’s boxes are top of the line as far as picture quality goes, and outside of the Roku Ultra, they’re going to be the less expensive option for 4K streaming on the market. The storage space available on them is less than exciting, however, which is where their competitors beat them out. That being said, you don’t need all that extra space if you’re just going to be using the devices to stream video. If you’re searching for something to use as a media center, then a Roku is probably not what you’re looking for.
Specs | Roku Premiere | Roku Premiere + | Roku Ultra |
Type | Box | Box | Box |
Price | $69.99 | $99.99 | $121.99 |
Processor | Quad Core | Quad Core | Quad Core |
RAM | 1GB | 1GB | 1GB |
Storage | 512MB | 512MB | 1GB |
Voice Control | No | No | No |
Game Options | Casual | Casual | Casual |
Output | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 2.0 and Optical |
Best Resolution | 4K | 4K/HDR | 4K/HDR |
Wi-Fi | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac |
Ethernet Connection | No | Yes | Yes |
Expandable storage | No | Yes | Yes |
Amazon Devices
Amazon’s offerings into the market are interesting. They have a fully-functional voice assistant, Alexa, incorporated into their devices, and they will automatically sync with your Amazon Prime account. They come in two flavors: the Fire TV Stick and the Fire TV, but there is a third option in the works which will support HDR as well as 4K. If you are an app lover and would like the opportunity to play games on your device, then an Amazon device is probably for you.
Specs | Fire TV Stick | Amazon Fire TV |
Type | Stick | Box |
Price | $39.99 | $89.99 |
Processor | Quad Core | Quad Core |
RAM | 1GB | 2GB |
Storage | 8GB | 8GB |
Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
Game Options | Casual | High Performance |
Output | HDMI | HDMI |
Best Resolution | 1080p | 4K |
Wi-Fi | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac |
Ethernet Connection | No | Yes |
Expandable storage | No | Yes |
NVIDIA Shield
While NVIDIA’s streaming devices are closer to game consoles than anything else on this list, they are remarkable for video as well. Of the options here, they are by far the most powerful, though they are also the most expensive. They both support 4K and HDR, and they both have expandable storage on top of their already sizeable internal hard drives. If you’re looking to play computer games on your streaming device (and not just app store games, mind you), then one of the NVIDIA machines is going to be your best bet.
Specs | Nvidia Shield | Nvidia Shield Pro |
Type | Box | Box |
Price | $199.99 | $299.99 |
Processor | Quad Core | Quad Core |
RAM | 3GB | 3GB |
Storage | 12GB | 500GB |
Voice Control | No | No |
Game Options | High Performance | High Performance |
Output | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 2.0 |
Best Resolution | 4K/HDR | 4K/HDR |
Wi-Fi | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac |
Ethernet Connection | Yes | Yes |
Expandable storage | Yes | Yes |
Apple TV and Chromecast
Last, but not least, we have two of the hardest to quantify options on the market. The standard Chromecast device and Apple TV both only support 1080p, but at least Google’s option at that resolution is only $35, compared to Apple’s $149 price tag. Apple TV does have the added benefit of being able to connect your entire existing iTunes library directly to it, and it has at least some internal memory to hold it. The Chromecast Ultra, on the other hand, sports 4K and HDR capabilities, and it features HDMI 2.0 outputs to keep the video fidelity where it needs to be. Unfortunately, Google hasn’t published any of the other specifications on the device, so it’s not certain what kind of memory or storage capacity it has.
Specs | Google Chromecast | Chromecast Ultra | Apple TV |
Type | Stick | Stick | Box |
Price | $35.00 | $69.00 | $149.00 |
Processor | Dual Core | Quad Core | Quad Core |
RAM | 512MB | ? | 2GB |
Storage | 256MB | ? | 32GB |
Voice Control | No | ? | Yes |
Game Options | Casual | Casual | Casual |
Output | HDMI | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI |
Best Resolution | 1080p | 4K/HDR | 1080p |
Wi-Fi | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac | dual-band a/b/g/n/ac |
Ethernet Connection | No | Yes | Yes |
Expandable storage | No | No | No |
Recommendations
If you’re in the market for a 4K streaming device, the best value for the money is going to be the Amazon Fire TV. It has the most power per dollar of any machine on the market, and it has enough versatility to satisfy most consumers. The only drawback is that it doesn’t offer HDMI 2.0 support or HDR.
If money is no object, consider the NVIDIA Shield Pro, which beats every other option here on outputs, resolution capabilities, and hardware specs. If a gaming box isn’t your thing, then the Roku Ultra is a good alternative that is less powerful, but less than half the price of the NVIDIA.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our content offerings, including Best of UHD, Volume 1: The Wonders of Nature.