It works with most Roku devices and TVs, and feels remarkably light due to the integrated battery weighing less than AAA ones. As nice as the rechargeability is, you should only buy it if your current Roku remote lacks other features like the private-listening headphone jack or voice control, since buying rechargeable AAA batteries does the same thing and they can be used in other devices.
Apple's TV App continues to get better and lets you combine content from most services other than Netflix into one unified menu. This player can also support an external TV tuner for cord cutters and run more powerful games and apps than other streaming devices.
Apple finally redesigned the remote, after years of customer complaints, by adding a standard directional pad that makes navigation easier. Amazon completely redid the Fire TV interface, but it still prioritizes Amazon content while relegating Netflix and others to also-ran status. The search results are less accurate than those on the other platforms and show fewer results. The Fire TV interface also has ads on every page, including a new head banner with full video and audio.
If you also want an Alexa speaker and the ability to control your cable box and Blu-ray player with your voice, this model might be worth looking at, but it typically costs far more than a normal media streamer.
The gaming console, Blu-ray player, or smart TV you already own probably streams Netflix and plays some local files, too. These devices are just as capable and typically offer a lot of the same content as most streaming devices do. It supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos and has upscaling technology that makes non-4K content look much better on 4K TVs than the competition can muster. It has been a good choice for people who like to use the GeForce Now platform for gaming, or for people who want the Pro model to use with a Plex server or emulator.
When I found a title I was interested in, instead of offering a page with information about that show for example, Bojack Horseman , it would just launch Netflix to show that information.
This means a lot of going into and out of apps as you try to find something to watch, which is jarring. On top of all that, the remote lacks the TV controls for power and volume that have become standard features over the past year. A number of companies are making boxes that run Android, not Android TV. The advantage to these boxes is that they can run a wider variety of apps, including Kodi formerly XBMC.
The downside is that traditional Android is designed around a touchscreen, so these boxes are difficult to use without one, or at least without a mouse and keyboard. Chris Heinonen is a senior staff writer reporting on TVs, projectors, and sometimes audio gear at Wirecutter. He has been covering AV since for a number of online publications and is an ISF-certified video calibrator.
He used to write computer software and hopes to never do that again, and he also loves to run and test gear for running guides. Our pick. Roku Streaming Stick 4K A simpler interface and wide service support The Roku platform supports almost every major service and has a clean, simple interface, but its search and discovery features are more limited.
Everything we recommend. Why you should trust us. Who this is for. How we picked and tested. Photo: Chris Heinonen. Flaws but not dealbreakers. Runner-up: Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Security and privacy. What specific user data do you collect location, voice requests, user data, etc. Where is that data stored and what measures are taken to secure it?
What, if any, data is shared, sold, or accessible to third parties or affiliated parts of your organization, including via API and other integrations? Users can unlink their accounts at any time. If customer data is shared or sold, are customers notified, and are there provisions to secure that data after it has been transferred to a third party? Are your customers able to opt out of sharing some or all of their data—and if so, how? Does your device contain inactive or active but unadvertised hardware integration such as sensors, triggering always-on microphones, or location services?
The competition. Read our Nvidia Shield TV review. Get CNET's comprehensive coverage of home entertainment tech delivered to your inbox. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Best streamer overall Roku Express 4K Plus. Jump to details. Second-best streamer overall Chromecast with Google TV. Third-place runner-up Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
Best for convenience Roku Ultra. Second-best budget streamer Roku Express. Best soundbar-streaming combo Roku Streambar. Best for gamers Nvidia Shield TV. Now playing: Watch this: Apple TV's new remote is the upgrade we needed. Best streamer overall. Roku Express 4K Plus. Second-best streamer overall. Chromecast with Google TV. Third-place runner-up. Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
Now playing: Watch this: Which Roku is the go-to? We break it down. Fastest Streamer. Best budget streamer. Best for convenience. Pros No separate remote necessary for TV volume and power Zippy interface with some much-improved apps Simple to setup and use. Cons Voice control features are inferior to other platforms Interface could use some fresh ideas for content discovery Advertisement takes up almost half the home screen.
Amazon Fire TV Cube second generation. Chromecast with Google TV. Pros Unified streaming guide means less digging through apps Google Assistant makes finding and sorting through content easier Neat features like casting, Google Photos wallpaper, and multi-room audio.
Nvidia Shield TV Pros Impressive performance and AI-powered 4K upscaling Top-notch remote with backlit buttons Convenient home screen with no distracting banner ads. Cons Wi-Fi performance could be better No unified streaming guide to browse through Carriage dispute drama persists. Roku Ultra Cons Focus on apps over content feels increasingly out of touch Missing HBO Max at launch Limited voice control and smart home integration. Comcast Xfinity Flex.
Roku Express Pros Performance is much improved over last year's Express Has nearly all the same software features as pricier Roku players Still the cheapest streaming player on the market. Cons Remote requires line-of-sight to the box Single-band Sling Media AirTV.
Pros Distributes free television entertainment over your home network. Can also stream live broadcast TV to mobile devices in or outside your home App includes a free seven-day program guide, to help you find what content is available. Cons Performance varies based on your proximity to broadcast TV towers and the strength of the antenna you connect to it You can't tune directly to a channel by pushing a number on a remote there isn't one You can't create a list of favorite broadcast channels.
TiVo Stream 4K. Cons Live TV integration feels incomplete TiVo guide menu doesn't work with several popular streaming services Remote omits some useful buttons and includes some superfluous ones Unaddressed volume control and HDR up-conversion issues.
Pros Solid HD streaming performance for the money Makes Amazon Prime content easy to find Voice commands are useful for media playback and smart home control. Pros Solid performance for a cheap streamer Straightforward software with a broad app selection Lots of free content with ads to watch.
Cons Remote lacks TV or volume controls and can feel unresponsive Software isn't helpful for discovery or tracking watched shows Outdated single-band Wi-Fi could be a problem for some users.
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