Setting up a streaming device is a relatively straightforward process. First, you will need to connect the streaming device to your TV using an HDMI cable. Make sure the device is plugged into a power source and turned on.
Next, you will need to connect the streaming device to your Wi-Fi network. This will usually involve navigating to the settings menu on the device and selecting your network from a list of available options. You will need to enter your Wi-Fi password to complete the connection.
Once the device is connected to the internet, you will need to sign in to any streaming services you want to use. This may involve entering a username and password, or activating the device on the service's website.
Finally, you can begin streaming content on your TV through the device. Most streaming devices come with a home screen that allows you to navigate between different apps and services. Simply select the app you want to use and start watching your favorite shows and movies.
Best Streaming Devices in 2024
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
Roku Ultra | The Ultimate Streaming Device 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision/Atmos, Rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro, Ethernet Port, Hands-Free Controls, Lost Remote Finder, Free & Live TV
-
Super-fast startup: Stream your favorite channels like Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more in a snap
-
Our best Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, seamless TV streaming in any room in the house with our best Wi-Fi and Ethernet
-
Cinematic streaming: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, plus Dolby Atmos sound
-
Our best remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro is conveniently rechargeable with personal shortcut buttons
-
Hands-free voice controls: Say “Hey Roku” to play entertainment, power up your TV, and find your lost remote
-
Private listening: Use wired or wireless headphones to crank up the volume without disturbing a quiet house
-
No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote
-
Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including 350+ free live TV channels
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro Streaming Media Player; 4K HDR movies, live sports, Dolby Vision-Atmos, AI-enhanced upscaling, GeForce NOW cloud gaming, Google Assistant Built-In, Works with Alexa
-
The Best of the Best. The world’s most powerful Android TV streaming media player upgraded to Android TV version 11. Enhance HD video in real-time to 4K for clearer, crisper visuals using next-generation AI upscaling. 2x USB 3.0 ports for storage expansion, USB cameras, keyboards, controllers, and more. Plex Media Server built-in, 3 GB RAM, and 16 GB storage.Connectivity Technology : Bluetooth 5.0
-
Dolby Vision - Atmos. Bring your home theater to life with Dolby Vision HDR, and surround sound with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus—delivering ultra-vivid picture quality and immersive audio
-
4K HDR Content. Get the most 4K content of any streaming media player. Watch Netflix, Amazon Video, Apple TV+, Disney+ and Google Play Movies & TV in crisp 4K HDR, and YouTube, Hulu, and more in 4K. Stream from your phone with built-in Chromecast 4K.
-
GeForce NOW Cloud Gaming. GeForce NOW instantly transforms SHIELD TV into a powerful PC gaming rig. Play over 1000+ titles and nearly 100 of the biggest free to play games. The new GeForce NOW RTX 3080 membership unlocks GeForce RTX 3080 gaming servers in 4K HDR, the shortest wait times and longest session lengths, with RTX ON including ray tracing and DLSS graphics for supported games.
-
Voice Control. The built-in Google Assistant is at your command. See photos, live camera feeds, weather, sports scores, and more on the big screen. Dim the lights and immerse yourself in your favorite show or music using only your voice. And control your SHIELD hands-free with Google Home or Alexa and Amazon Echo. Format/Container support: Xvid/ DivX/ASF/AVI/MKV/MOV/M2TS/MPEG-TS/MP4/WEB-M
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Amazon Fire TV Cube, Hands-free streaming device with Alexa, Wi-Fi 6E, 4K Ultra HD
-
Our fastest-ever streaming media player - Brings lightning-fast app starts with an octa-core processor and is 2X as powerful as Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
-
Hands-free Alexa with built-in mic and speakers - Control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers with your voice, even from across the room.
-
Seamlessly navigate between your entertainment - Connect compatible devices and easily go from streaming to your cable box, game console, or webcam.
-
Smoother streaming with the latest in wifi tech - The first-ever streaming media player that features Wi-Fi 6E support.
-
Picture quality that puts on a show - Feel every scene with true-to-life, cinematic 4K and support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos audio.
-
Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
-
Designed to protect your privacy - Built with privacy protections and controls, including an off button that electronically disconnects the microphones.
-
Manage your smart home right on screen - Use Alexa to start video calls, check the weather, get a live view of your Ring cameras, and more.
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Roku Ultra LT 4K/HDR/HD Streaming Player with Enhanced Voice Remote, Ethernet, MicroSD with Premium 6FT 4K Ready HDMI Cable, Black
-
Power, picture, performance: Roku Ultra LT has a quad-core processor and is great for smooth wired and wireless streaming. It's perfect for heavy streaming in HD, 4K, and HDR and delivers the kind of powerful performance you want on your home's main TV
-
Smooth streaming: Get a connection that stands up to whatever you want to stream with dual-band wireless or use the Ethernet port for wired streaming
-
Brilliant picture quality: Experience your favorite TV in stunning detail and clarity; whether you are streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you will get stunning picture quality that is optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
-
No more juggling remotes: Power up and adjust the volume on most televisions, control your player, and enjoy private listening with the enhanced voice remote and included headphones; use your voice to search across channels, turn captions on, and more in a touch
-
Lots of extras: Roku Ultra LT is packed with features you will love, including microSD for extra channel storage; use the included headphones to pump up the volume on your shows without disturbing the house. Bundle Includes Premium 4K HDR 6FT HDMI Cable.
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Tablo 4th Gen 2-Tuner Over-The-Air (OTA) DVR - Watch, Pause & Record Live TV, News, Sports & Movies Throughout Your Home Over Wi-Fi - Pairs w/Any TV Antenna - 50+ Hrs Recording - No Subscriptions
-
WATCH, PAUSE, RECORD, & REPLAY LIVE TV: Enjoy live TV from major networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC(2), as well as a curated selection of free live streaming TV (FAST) channels
-
WHOLE-HOME ACCESS: 1 DVR pairs with any TV antenna to let you watch TV on multiple compatible devices at once, including smartphones, tablets, as well as smart TVs & streaming players from Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast w/ Google TV(1)
-
NO SUBSCRIPTIONS OR HIDDEN FEES: Pay once for the Tablo device and watch and record your favorite live, local TV shows, along with free streaming TV channels without contracts or ongoing fees(4)
-
RECORD MULTIPLE SHOWS: 2 tuners within this device allow you to record one live TV channel while watching another for viewing flexibility
-
WATCH, PAUSE, RECORD LIVE TV: Watch, pause, and record live TV, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as a curated selection of free live streaming TV (FAST) channels
-
RECORD 50+ HOURS: Never miss a moment with 128GB of onboard recording storage; add up to 8TB of external USB storage(3) to record even more
-
GET MORE TV CHANNELS: Access more than 60 additional free streaming channels you can’t get with your TV antenna alone, enhancing your endless free-TV experience(4)
-
TIME-SHIFT VIEWING: Start watching in-progress recordings—perfect for catching the action from the beginning or skipping to the good parts
-
EASY SETUP: Connect the Tablo DVR to ANY TV antenna; connect it to your home network via Wi-Fi or using the included Ethernet cable; download the Tablo app on your smartphone or tablet and follow the setup instructions(4)
-
WI-FI CONNECTIVITY: The only OTA DVRs with Wi-Fi, Tablo devices let you position your TV antenna wherever it can get the best signal reception, then wirelessly streams live and recorded free TV content throughout your home to compatible devices.
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Roku Express 4K with Voice Remote Pro - Roku Streaming Device 4K/HDR, Rechargeable Roku Remote, Hands-Free Controls, Lost Remote Finder, Free & Live TV - Amazon Exclusive
-
Brilliant 4K picture quality: Stream in 4K HDR with sharp resolution and vivid color optimized for your TV
-
Seamless wireless streaming: Enjoy a seamless streaming experience with fast Wi-Fi performance
-
The ultimate Roku remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro is conveniently rechargeable and includes TV controls and personal shortcut buttons
-
Hands-free voice controls: Say “Hey Roku” to play entertainment, control your streaming, power up your TV, and even find your lost remote
-
Headphone Mode: Plug headphones into your remote to crank up the volume without disturbing a quiet house
-
Find your lost remote: Say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” and your Roku remote will play a sound
-
No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote
-
Upgrade to Roku streaming: All your favorite channels are front and center, plus your device is always improving with automatic updates
-
Simple setup: It’s easy to get started with everything you need included in the box—just plug it in and connect to the internet
-
Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including Prime Video, plus free live TV channels and local news on The Roku Channel.
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) | With bigger vibrant sound, helpful routines and Alexa | Charcoal
-
OUR BEST SOUNDING ECHO DOT YET – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room.
-
YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC AND CONTENT – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
-
ALEXA IS HAPPY TO HELP – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
-
KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
-
DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic off button.
-
DO MORE WITH DEVICE PAIRING – Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, create a home theatre system with Fire TV, or extend wifi coverage with a compatible eero network so you can say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering.
What is the best streaming device for travel?
The best streaming device for travel would likely be the Amazon Fire TV Stick. It is compact, easy to set up, and compatible with a wide range of streaming services. It also supports 1080p HD streaming, making it ideal for use in hotel rooms or other travel accommodations with TVs. Additionally, the Fire TV Stick is relatively affordable and offers a user-friendly interface for navigating through content while on the go.
How to set up multiple streaming devices in your home?
Setting up multiple streaming devices in your home can be easy with these steps:
- Choose your streaming devices: Select the devices you want to use for streaming, such as Smart TVs, streaming boxes (Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV), gaming consoles, or streaming sticks (Chromecast).
- Connect the devices to your TV: Connect each streaming device to your TV using HDMI cables or other appropriate connection methods.
- Connect to your Wi-Fi network: Make sure each streaming device is connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Follow the on-screen instructions on each device to connect to Wi-Fi.
- Log in to your streaming accounts: Open the streaming apps on each device and log in to your streaming accounts, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or others.
- Set up any additional features: Some streaming devices may offer additional features like voice control or screen mirroring. Set up any additional features you want to use.
- Arrange your devices: Organize your streaming devices in a way that is convenient for you. You may want to place them near your TV or in a centralized location for easy access.
- Enjoy streaming: Once all your streaming devices are set up and connected, you can start enjoying your favorite shows, movies, and music on each device. You can switch between devices as needed to access different content.
By following these steps, you can set up multiple streaming devices in your home and enjoy a seamless streaming experience.
What is the purpose of a streaming device?
A streaming device is used to stream content such as movies, TV shows, music, and videos from streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube on a TV or computer. It allows users to access and watch their favorite content on a larger screen and often provides additional features such as voice control, apps, and personalized recommendations.
