Best Smartphone Apps to Buy in November 2025
Roku Streaming Stick HD 2025 — HD Streaming Device for TV with Roku Voice Remote, Free & Live TV
- STREAM 500+ CHANNELS FOR FREE-NEWS, SPORTS, MOVIES, AND SHOWS!
- COMPACT DESIGN SAVES SPACE AND POWERS FROM YOUR TV'S USB PORT.
- CONTROL EVERYTHING WITH ONE REMOTE AND USE VOICE SEARCH FEATURES!
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (newest model), free and live TV, Alexa Voice Remote, smart home controls, HD streaming
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STREAM IN FULL HD - FAST, AFFORDABLE STREAMING WITH ALEXA VOICE REMOTE.
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1 MILLION FREE TITLES - EASY ACCESS TO MOVIES, SHOWS, AND APPS.
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VOICE CONTROL WITH ALEXA - EFFORTLESSLY SEARCH AND LAUNCH SHOWS HANDS-FREE.
GE Backlit Universal Remote Control for Samsung, Vizio, LG, Sony, Sharp, Roku, Apple TV, RCA, Panasonic, Smart TV, Streaming Players, Blu-Ray, DVD, 4-Device, Black, 40081 Black, Backlit
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CONTROL UP TO 4 DEVICES WITH ONE SLEEK REMOTE FOR ULTIMATE CONVENIENCE.
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COMPATIBLE WITH ALL MAJOR BRANDS-WORKS WITH THOUSANDS OF DEVICES!
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EASY SETUP WITH PREPROGRAMMED BUTTONS FOR INSTANT USE WITH SAMSUNG & ROKU.
Roku Voice Remote | Replacement TV Remote Control with Voice Control, Simple Setup, & Pre-Set App Shortcuts - Compatible with Roku TV, Players, & Audio Devices
- VOICE CONTROL FOR SEAMLESS STREAMING-SEARCH, PLAY, AND ENJOY FASTER!
- ONE REMOTE MADNESS-FREE: CONTROL TV, VOLUME, AND INPUTS WITH EASE!
- INSTANT ACCESS TO FAVORITES: PRE-SET SHORTCUTS FOR QUICK CHANNEL ACCESS!
Apexnark Universal Voice Remote Control for Streaming Devices (2nd, 3rd, 4K, Max, HD, 2020 Release) – Compatible with Pioneer Series, Infrared Media Smart TVs, Lite & Cube Replacement Controllers
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VOICE CONTROL & HOTKEYS: QUICKLY ACCESS FAVORITES WITH SMART SHORTCUTS!
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WIDE DEVICE COMPATIBILITY: WORKS WITH FIRE TV STICK (2ND-4K MAX) & SMART TVS!
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EASY PAIRING PROCESS: SIMPLE PAIRING WITH JUST A PRESS AND HOLD!
AT&T TV Now DirecTV Receiver Remote Control Voice Remote Control C71KW Black
Xfinity Comcast XR16 Voice Remote Control for Flex Streaming Device Only
- ENHANCE YOUR XFINITY FLEX EXPERIENCE WITH SEAMLESS VOICE CONTROL!
- ENJOY HASSLE-FREE SETUP WITH BATTERIES INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE!
- PERFECTLY DESIGNED FOR EXCLUSIVE USE WITH XFINITY FLEX DEVICES!
Roku Streaming Stick 4K - HDR & Dolby Vision Roku Streaming Device for TV with Voice Remote & Long-Range Wi-Fi - Free & Live TV
- ENJOY STUNNING 4K & DOLBY VISION FOR BREATHTAKING PICTURE QUALITY!
- SEAMLESS STREAMING ANYWHERE WITH LONG-RANGE WI-FI RECEIVER!
- ONE REMOTE SIMPLIFIES CONTROL-POWER, VOLUME, AND ROKU ALL IN ONE!
To control a streaming device with a smartphone or tablet, you first need to ensure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Once that is confirmed, download the corresponding app for your streaming device on your smartphone or tablet. Open the app and follow the instructions to link it with your streaming device.
Using the app on your smartphone or tablet, you can navigate through menus, search for content, adjust settings, and control playback. Some apps also offer additional features like voice control and the ability to cast content from your mobile device to the streaming device.
In order for the control to work seamlessly, make sure both devices are within a reasonable range of each other and have a stable internet connection. With the app on your smartphone or tablet, you can enjoy the convenience of controlling your streaming device from the palm of your hand.
What is the benefit of controlling a streaming device with a smartphone?
Controlling a streaming device with a smartphone offers several benefits, including:
- Convenience: Using a smartphone to control a streaming device allows users to easily navigate through menus, search for content, and adjust settings without the need to use a separate remote control.
- Portability: With a smartphone, users can control their streaming device from anywhere within the range of their Wi-Fi network, making it easy to play, pause, or adjust content from different rooms in their home.
- Enhanced functionality: Many streaming device apps offer additional features and functionalities that are not available on a standard remote control, such as voice search, text input, and personalized recommendations.
- Integration with other smart devices: By using a smartphone to control a streaming device, users can easily integrate their streaming experience with other smart home devices and services, creating a more seamless and connected entertainment system.
How to customize the controls of a streaming device on a smartphone?
To customize the controls of a streaming device on a smartphone, follow these steps:
- Open the app for the streaming device on your smartphone.
- Look for the settings or preferences section within the app.
- Find the option for customizing controls or remote settings.
- Within this section, you may be able to rearrange the layout of the controls, change the size or color of the buttons, or assign different functions to specific buttons.
- Make the desired changes to the controls based on your preferences.
- Save your changes or settings before exiting the menu.
- Test out the new control layout to ensure it works as you intended.
- If you are not satisfied with the changes, you can always go back to the settings and make further adjustments.
Please note that the ability to customize controls may vary depending on the streaming device and app you are using. Make sure to explore the settings and preferences to see what options are available for customization.
How to optimize streaming quality on a smartphone?
- Use a strong and stable internet connection: To optimize streaming quality on your smartphone, make sure you have a strong and stable internet connection. Connect to Wi-Fi when possible, as it is typically faster and more reliable than a cellular data connection.
- Close background apps: Close any unnecessary apps running in the background on your smartphone to free up processing power and memory, which can help improve streaming quality.
- Adjust video quality settings: Most streaming apps and services allow you to adjust the video quality settings to a higher or lower resolution. Consider lowering the video quality if you are experiencing buffering or lag, or increase the quality for a better viewing experience.
- Update your smartphone and streaming apps: Make sure your smartphone's operating system and streaming apps are up to date. Updates often include performance improvements that can help optimize streaming quality.
- Clear cache and cookies: Clearing the cache and cookies on your smartphone can help improve streaming performance by removing unnecessary temporary files that may be slowing down the device.
- Use a VPN: If you are experiencing geo-restrictions or slow streaming speeds due to your location, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass these restrictions and improve streaming quality.
- Use a video optimization tool: Some smartphones have built-in video optimization tools that can help improve streaming quality by adjusting settings such as resolution, frame rate, and bitrate.
- Adjust screen brightness and display settings: Adjusting the screen brightness and display settings on your smartphone can help improve streaming quality by reducing glare and optimizing contrast for better viewing.
- Use an external streaming device: Consider using an external streaming device, such as a Chromecast or Apple TV, to stream content on your smartphone to a larger screen with better audio and video quality.