A streaming device for gaming can enhance your gaming experience by allowing you to play high-quality games without the need for a gaming console or expensive equipment. To use a streaming device for gaming, you will need to connect it to your TV or monitor and ensure that it is connected to the internet. You will also need to download and install the necessary gaming apps or services on the streaming device.
Once the gaming apps are installed, you can launch them and start playing your favorite games. Some streaming devices may require a gaming controller to play certain games, so make sure you have the appropriate equipment. Additionally, you may need to create an account or subscribe to a gaming service to access a wider range of games.
Overall, using a streaming device for gaming is a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy gaming without the need for a dedicated gaming console. With the right equipment and setup, you can have a seamless gaming experience right from your TV or monitor.
Best Streaming Devices in 2024
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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
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Super-fast startup: Stream your favorite channels like Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more in a snap
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Our best Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, seamless TV streaming in any room in the house with our best Wi-Fi and Ethernet
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Cinematic streaming: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, plus Dolby Atmos sound
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Our best remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro is conveniently rechargeable with personal shortcut buttons
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Hands-free voice controls: Say “Hey Roku” to play entertainment, power up your TV, and find your lost remote
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Private listening: Use wired or wireless headphones to crank up the volume without disturbing a quiet house
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No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote
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Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including 350+ free live TV channels
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Amazon Fire TV Cube, Hands-free streaming device with Alexa, Wi-Fi 6E, 4K Ultra HD
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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.
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Hands-free Alexa with built-in mic and speakers - Control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers with your voice, even from across the room.
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Seamlessly navigate between your entertainment - Connect compatible devices and easily go from streaming to your cable box, game console, or webcam.
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Smoother streaming with the latest in wifi tech - The first-ever streaming media player that features Wi-Fi 6E support.
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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.
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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.
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Designed to protect your privacy - Built with privacy protections and controls, including an off button that electronically disconnects the microphones.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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)
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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)
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RECORD MULTIPLE SHOWS: 2 tuners within this device allow you to record one live TV channel while watching another for viewing flexibility
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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
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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
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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)
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TIME-SHIFT VIEWING: Start watching in-progress recordings—perfect for catching the action from the beginning or skipping to the good parts
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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)
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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.
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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
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Brilliant 4K picture quality: Stream in 4K HDR with sharp resolution and vivid color optimized for your TV
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Seamless wireless streaming: Enjoy a seamless streaming experience with fast Wi-Fi performance
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The ultimate Roku remote: Roku Voice Remote Pro is conveniently rechargeable and includes TV controls and personal shortcut buttons
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Hands-free voice controls: Say “Hey Roku” to play entertainment, control your streaming, power up your TV, and even find your lost remote
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Headphone Mode: Plug headphones into your remote to crank up the volume without disturbing a quiet house
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Find your lost remote: Say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” and your Roku remote will play a sound
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No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote
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Upgrade to Roku streaming: All your favorite channels are front and center, plus your device is always improving with automatic updates
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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
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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
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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.
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YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC AND CONTENT – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 way to stream retro games on a streaming device?
There are a few different methods for streaming retro games on a streaming device, but one of the best ways is to use an emulator on a PC or Raspberry Pi. Here's a step-by-step guide to streaming retro games on a streaming device using an emulator:
- Choose an emulator: There are many different emulators available for retro gaming consoles, such as SNES, Sega Genesis, and Nintendo 64. Choose an emulator that is compatible with the games you want to play.
- Download and install the emulator: Once you've chosen an emulator, download and install it on your PC or Raspberry Pi.
- Download ROMs: ROMs are digital copies of retro games that can be played on emulators. Download ROMs for the games you want to play from a reputable website.
- Set up the emulator: Configure the emulator settings, including input controls and graphics settings, to optimize the gaming experience.
- Connect your streaming device: Connect your PC or Raspberry Pi to your streaming device using an HDMI cable or streaming software, such as OBS or XSplit.
- Start playing: Launch the emulator and load the ROM for the game you want to play. Use the input controls to play the game on your streaming device.
By following these steps, you can easily stream retro games on a streaming device using an emulator. Just make sure to use legal ROMs and comply with copyright laws when emulating games.
What is the best gaming app to download on a streaming device?
There are many great gaming apps available for streaming devices, but some popular choices include:
- Twitch: A platform where you can watch live streams of your favorite gamers and chat with other viewers.
- Steam Link: Allows you to stream PC games from your computer to your TV through your streaming device.
- RetroArch: An emulator that lets you play classic video games on your streaming device.
- Nvidia GeForce Now: Allows you to stream PC games from the cloud to your streaming device.
- Xbox Game Pass: Gives you access to a library of over 100 games to play on your streaming device.
Ultimately, the best gaming app for you will depend on your personal preferences and the type of games you enjoy playing.
What is the best streaming device for 4K gaming?
The best streaming device for 4K gaming is the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. It offers top-notch performance with its powerful Tegra X1+ processor, 4K HDR streaming capabilities, and access to a wide range of gaming options through the Nvidia GeForce Now cloud gaming service. Additionally, the device supports popular streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ for a comprehensive entertainment experience.
How to connect a streaming device to a gaming console?
To connect a streaming device to a gaming console, you can follow these steps:
- Locate an available HDMI port on your gaming console and streaming device.
- Use an HDMI cable to connect the output port on the streaming device to the HDMI input port on the gaming console.
- Turn on both the gaming console and the streaming device.
- Use the input/source button on your TV or monitor to switch to the HDMI input that corresponds to the port you connected the streaming device to.
- Navigate to the settings menu on your gaming console and select the option to connect a new device or input.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the connection between the streaming device and the gaming console.
- Once the connection is established, you can use the streaming device to access your favorite streaming services while still being able to switch back to your gaming console to play games.
It's worth noting that not all gaming consoles may support this setup, so it's best to consult the user manual or manufacturer's website for more information on compatibility.
How to connect headphones to a streaming device for gaming?
- Determine the type of headphones you have (wired or wireless) and the type of streaming device you are using (gaming console, computer, smartphone, etc.)
- If you have wired headphones, locate the headphone jack on your streaming device. If your device does not have a headphone jack, you may need an adapter or an external audio interface.
- Plug the headphones into the headphone jack on your streaming device.
- If you have wireless headphones, you may need to pair them with your streaming device using Bluetooth or another wireless connection method. Refer to the user manual of your headphones for specific instructions on how to do this.
- Once your headphones are connected to your streaming device, adjust the volume settings on both the device and the headphones to ensure optimal sound quality.
- If you are using a gaming console, you may need to adjust the audio settings within the console's settings menu to route the game audio through your headphones.
- Test the headphones by playing a game or streaming content on your device to ensure they are working properly. Make any necessary adjustments to the audio settings to customize the sound to your liking.
- Enjoy your gaming experience with headphones for an immersive and personalized audio experience.
How to share gameplay clips from a streaming device on social media?
To share gameplay clips from a streaming device on social media, you can follow these steps:
- Make sure your gameplay clip is saved on your streaming device. Most streaming devices allow you to save clips or recordings of your gameplay.
- Transfer the gameplay clip to a computer or mobile device. You can use a USB cable, email, cloud storage, or any other method to transfer the clip from your streaming device to a computer or mobile device.
- Edit the gameplay clip (if necessary). You can use video editing software or apps to trim, add effects, or enhance the quality of your gameplay clip.
- Upload the gameplay clip to a video hosting platform. You can use platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitch to upload and host your gameplay clip.
- Share the link to your gameplay clip on social media. Once your gameplay clip is uploaded to a video hosting platform, you can share the link on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Reddit.
- You can also directly upload the gameplay clip to social media platforms that support video uploads, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat.
By following these steps, you can easily share your gameplay clips from a streaming device on social media and showcase your gaming skills to your friends and followers.
