Last year, COVID-19 taught man a vital lesson. How to survive indoors. During the quarantine period, one of the things that became very popular worldwide is streaming. It was and is seen as the preferred form of entertainment. Now, a year later, streaming is big business. Online streaming services such as Netflix, and YouTube saw a massive increase in subscribers and they made billions from that surge. What do people stream? They stream entertainment such as movies, music, sports, and others.
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In this article, we intimate you with streaming devices that became very popular with the increase in popularity of online streaming. To give you a quick hint, the most popular streaming devices are smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, other gaming consoles, Apple TVs, and the likes.
Let’s take our time to analyze the most popular among these devices that are used for streaming today.
Take note also that when it comes to choosing the best streaming device there is a vast pool to choose from. Even if the best of the best is too expensive for you, there is something for everyone.
1. Apple TV 4K (2021)
It is not easy to say that this device is actually the best of the streaming devices but Apple is indeed a very big name in technology. It is a plus if you love Apple products by default. So, this Apple TV 4K is exactly what you’re looking for.
Yes, you can buy it for less than $200. It is a gaming arcade also that presents a world of opportunities to earn free pokies. It supports thousands of apps and can be used by multiple users for gaming. With its in-built A12 Bionic processor, users are assured of speed and smooth performance. Apple TV 4K is compatible with iPads and iPhones.
2. Chromecast With Google TV
Like Apple, Google is big too, and you could find its streaming device well worth it. The operating system is able to support more than six thousand TV apps. There is HDR 10, HDR 10+, and Dolby Vision. But there are other audio supports as well.
The Google TV device comes with a superb interface but it is also very cheap when compared to the Apple TV 4K. It sells for $50. It comes with remote control for ease of use.
A good thing about this streaming device is that it is the best for YouTube TV. YouTube subscribers can see the Google TVLive tab that gives access to a world of entertainment content. It also supports Google Stadia cloud, a good gaming platform.
3. Roku Express 4K Plus
This is popular as the best streaming device in 2021. It has an excellent, fast, and well-equipped interface that’s easy to navigate, giving the user the best possible 4K UHD and HDR experience.
It is also one of the cheapest because it sells for just $39.99. The good thing about it also is that it supports a wide array of TV apps, and because it has support for voice-enabled remote, users have an additional reason to love it.
Another good news is that it works with Apple gadgets. This perhaps is the strongest reason why it is the best streaming device in 2021. It is a bit bulky but users love the fact that it is easy to set up.
4. Roku Streaming Stick Plus
The device is also one reason that people claim Roku is at the forefront of streaming in 2021. It doesn’t have the prestige as the Roku Express 4K Plus, but it achieves a whole lot. There is no need to mention that there are people who believe this is the best streaming device right now.
It arrives with all the apps found on the Roku Channel Store. This is where the action is because users can always find their favorite forms of entertainment. It is lovely for its slim, sleek design. It is preferred over the Express 4K Plus in this case. The price is meagre as well, for it can be bought cheap at $35. This Stick Plus has features that other similar devices can’t rival. It is especially so good when you think about the fact that it is lightweight.
This device can also stream 4K HDR videos. The sound is supreme with Dolby Atmos audio, requiring no Ethernet because it supports Wi-Fi.
5. Nvidia Shield TV
This is a medium-built streaming device that can’t be compared to Roku devices because it is really bulky. It weighs a whopping 4.8 ounces. It is able to work with over 5,000 channels. However, the device gives good quality game streams from its 4K UHD videos.
It has a remote that glows in the dark, so you don’t need the lights on when operating it while watching or gaming in poor lighting conditions. Once you pick it up, it starts to glow. As per its price, it is a bit expensive, as it has something to do with the device’s weight. It sells for $150.
That’s a put-off because Roku devices can work perfectly well as these streaming devices but they are cheap, in fact, much cheaper. For others, this is the streaming device of choice as fans know what features they are looking for.
This Nvidia device also supports both Dolby Vision, and HDR 10 content. The AI upscaling feature sets this device in its own worthy right. The feature is one reason why poor footages look better. In this case, when you watch movies from about a hundred years ago, the footage will be improved by the AI upscaling feature. Users love the ability of the device to make everything appear in 4K video quality.
Conclusion
If you love online streaming, no doubt you appreciate it if it is able to give you maximum satisfaction. To make your pastime a moment you always long for, you need to pick one out of these five devices. Unfortunately, there are other streaming devices not mentioned here as we believe that these five are on top of the list.
Because sometimes, people are unsure of what the best online streaming device could be, we have put together this list for the following reasons: Price, usability, speed, performance, durability, user’s experience, and more.