Are you trying to find streaming media players among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling streaming media players on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 12 hours of research and did 22 streaming media players tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best streaming media players you can buy today
- Ultra-speedy streaming: Roku Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player, delivering a lightning-fast interface and apps that launch in a snap.
- Cinematic streaming: This TV streaming device brings the movie theater to your living room with spectacular 4K, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision picture alongside immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The ultimate Roku remote: The rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro offers backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and a lost remote finder.
- No more fumbling in the dark: See what you’re pressing with backlit buttons.
- Say goodbye to batteries: Keep your remote powered for months on a single charge.
- Just talk to it. It’s that easy: Don’t worry about popcorn fingers—just say “Hey Roku” from across the couch to control your streaming.
- Everything you love about TV, but better: The Roku experience is made for fast, easy access to the entertainment you love with a user-friendly interface.
- Endless entertainment: Stream what you love, including the most popular apps, the best selection of free stuff to watch, and so many new ways to find your next favorite show.
- Bluetooth headphone mode: Pair your favorite headphones directly to your Roku Ultra to crank up the volume without waking the house.
- Connect on your terms: Experience fast, seamless streaming with Wi-Fi 6 in any room in the house or wire up over Ethernet.
- Brilliant 4K picture quality: Stream in HD, 4K, and HDR with sharp resolution and vivid color optimized for your TV
- Seamless streaming: Enjoy a smooth streaming experience with a faster wireless network connection
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device all with one remote
- Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
- Upgrade to Roku streaming: Enjoy a customizable home screen with your channels front and center, plus automatic updates
- Quick guided setup: Just plug it in to your TV and connect to the internet to start streaming, no power adaptor needed
- Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including 350+ free live TV channels
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
- Troubleshooting steps for wifi connection: Double check the network you selected and that you entered your password correctly. If you have other devices connected to this network, your streaming player should connect.
- Android 12 Operating System
- 4GB DDR,32GB eMMC Storage
- Wi-Fi 6,1000Mbps Ethernet Port
- Authorization code: SP202008021
- Hides behind your TV: The stick design plugs right into your TV with a simple setup
- Super-fast startup: Stream your favorite channels like Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more in a snap
- Long-range Wi-Fi: Enjoy fast, smooth TV streaming in any room with a strong Wi-Fi connection
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote
- Voice search & control: Quickly search, play entertainment, and control your streaming device with the voice remote
- Breathtaking picture: Stream in 4K, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 plus with sharp resolution and vivid color
- Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including 350+ free live TV channels
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, and Hey Google
- 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
- High-Performance Processor and Storage: The bundle TV box is equipped with 4GB RAM, and 64GB ROM, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample storage space.
- Manufacturer Warranty:Rest assured with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer for your technology TV box,ensuring peace of mind and reliable support.
- Comprehensive Connectivity Options: The bundle TV box 2024 Supports bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and HDMI for device connections.
- Voice and Remote Control: The newest 2024 bundle TV box are easily controlled via remote and voice commands, offering an intuitive entertainment experience management.
- 6K Ultra-High Definition Resolution: Premium elite ultra 2024 smart TV box with voice control delivers a visual experience with 6K resolution, bringing the details of movies, TV shows, and games to life.
- Fast and powerful: Enjoy a seamless HD streaming experience that’s perfect for new users yet powerful enough for seasoned pros
- Quick guided setup: Just plug it in to your TV and connect to the internet to start streaming, no power adaptor needed
- Watch what you love: Stream a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV including 400+ free live TV channels
- Standard remote: The included remote has only the buttons you need to stream, including shortcuts to popular channels
- Always up to date: Get the latest features, newest channels, and more with automatic software updates
- Stream in Full HD - Enjoy fast, affordable streaming in Full HD, and control it all with the Alexa Voice Remote.
- Great for first-time streaming - Streaming has never been easier with access to over 300,000 free movies and TV episodes from ad-supported streaming apps like Amazon Freevee, Tubi, Pluto TV, and more.
- Press and ask Alexa - Use your voice to easily search and launch shows across multiple apps.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply. App buttons may vary.
- Take it anywhere - Connect to any TV's HDMI port to access your entertainment apps and enjoy them on the go.
- Watch live - Get live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others.
- Play your favorite songs - Listen on Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others. Subscription fees may apply.
- Control your compatible smart home - Ask Alexa to check weather, dim the lights, view live camera feeds, stream music, and more.
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) has a 22% faster processor and twice the memory of the previous generation for smooth navigation and quick switching between apps[5]; with 32 GB of storage, you can install more of your favorite apps[6,2]
- With the redesigned remote, use your voice to find shows, get answers, and control smart home devices[7,8]; the customizable button lets you open your favorite app or the home panel in one click; and easily find your lost remote by making it ring
- It’s even easier to control your smart home with the new home panel; dim the lights or check a camera’s live view without pausing your shows[9]
- Effortlessly cast content from multiple compatible Android and iOS apps on your phone, tablet, or laptop right to your Google TV Streamer (4K)[1]
- Please refer to the “Legal” section below for all applicable legal disclaimers denoted by the bracketed numbers in the preceding bullet points (e.g., [1], [2], etc.)
- IMPORTANT PLEASE READ - HDMI Device Required: You must connect a HDMI device for syncing. Apps on your Smart TV are not synced, only the apps & streaming services on your HDMI device can be synced.
- Universal Power Adaptor - All items are sold with a universal power adaptor compatible with US, EU, AU, and UK power sockets.
- HDMI 2.1 - 4K 120Hz VRR, ALLM, HDR, DV Enabled. Next-gen compatible, perfect for all TVs.
- RGBW LEDs Included - Upgraded with RGBW technology, these strips use a dedicated white diode and 96 LEDs per meter to enhance white tones, delivering amazing visuals.
- High Speed - No lag or delay between the Smart LED lights and TV. Delayed lighting is distracting. Lightning-fast color reaction times keep you immersed for an enhanced gaming and movie session using supercharged peripheral lighting.
- HDCP 2.3 Compliant - Enables streaming services in 4K and 8K. Copyright issues and black screens are a thing of the past. Our smart ambient lighting system ensures that all streaming services work every time without issues.
- Optimized Colors - Accurate colors matching onscreen content. No camera is used; simply connect your HDMI device, allowing colors to be extracted directly from the data and synced to create an unmatched colorful cinematic experience.
- MAKE YOUR TV SMARTER - Enhance any TV with the ability to play videos, music, and photo slideshows from a USB drive or MicroSD Card! It’s so simple and intuitive - anyone can use it. The Micca 4K is amazingly compact and affordable, get one for each TV in the house!
- PLAYS 4K ULTRA-HD VIDEOS - Works with TVs old and new! Smoothly plays videos up to 4096x2304@30fps over UHD 4K/60Hz HDMI output. Sharp and clear video and audio in pure digital format, compatible with 4K and 1080p TVs, projectors, and monitor displays. Composite AV output for use with analog TVs or for sending sound to a stereo system.
- DUAL USB AND MICRO SD READER - Play media files from USB flash drives and USB hard drives up to 8TB, or microSD cards up to 1TB. Supports FAT/FAT32, exFAT and NTFS file systems. Compatible with wireless air mouse remotes for non-line-of-sight control so that the player can be hidden away!
- SIMPLE DIGITAL SIGNAGE - Automatic video playback with endless repeat and looping, and the ability to resume from the last stopping point. Configurable 90/180/270 degree video output rotation. Great for digital signage applications such as restaurant menu boards, lobby welcome videos, art and museum installations.
- MEDIA FORMAT SUPPORT - Videos: MKV, MP4/M4V, AVI, MOV, MPG, VOB, M2TS, TS files encoded with H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC1, up to 4096x2304, 30fps, 200mbps. Subtitles: SRT, PGS, IDX+SUB. Music: MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, APE. Photos: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, TIF
- Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance.
- Play Xbox games with no console required - Stream Forza Motorsport, Starfield, Palworld, and discover hundreds of other high-quality games directly on your Fire TV Stick 4K with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via cloud gaming.
- Smarter searching starts here – Find movies by actor, plot, and even iconic quotes with AI-powered Fire TV Search. Try saying, "Alexa show me action movies with car chases."
- Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
- Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, and more. Subscription fees may apply.
- Stream for free - Access over 300,000 free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Amazon Freevee, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
- Alexa Voice Remote - Quickly find, launch, and control content with your voice. Get to your favorite apps with preset buttons, and control TV power and volume with one remote.
- Do more with your smart home - Control compatible devices like cameras, lights, and more with your remote. Press and ask Alexa to check the weather or dim the lights.
- No More App-Switching. Forget learning to navigate a new screen with every app. TiVo Stream 4K enables one centralized place for searching, browsing, and creating watch lists across all your apps..DC Input Range 5V/1.0A. Power Consumption : Maximum 5 W
- Recommendations Across All of Your Apps: Get rid of the walls between what you watch. TiVo recommends your next favorite shows and movies based on what you love, not where they live.
- Say it and watch it. The power of voice control makes it easy to find shows. Integrated Google Assistant allows you to launch apps, dim the lights and more.
- One place for all your favorite streaming apps. TiVo Stream 4K includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock plus many more, so you can get to your shows fast.
- TiVo Stream 4K is one of Time Magazine’s “2020 Best Inventions, Special Mention” and PCMag hails it as “an excellent media streamer for TV lovers.” Operating Temperature 0˚C - 40˚C
- 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.
- Smarter searching starts here – Find movies by actor, plot, and even iconic quotes with AI-powered Fire TV Search. Try saying, "Alexa show me action movies with car chases."
- 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.
- 4K Ultra HD & HDR Streaming – Enjoy stunning picture quality with support for 4K HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, bringing your favorite content to life with vivid colors and sharp detail
- Dolby Atmos Audio Compatibility – Immerse yourself in rich, three-dimensional sound with Dolby Atmos, delivering a theater-like audio experience in your living room
- Voice Remote with Private Listening – Effortlessly search and control your device using the voice-enabled remote, which also includes a headphone jack for private listening
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi & Ethernet Connectivity – Choose between dual-band Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection for seamless and reliable streaming, no matter your network setup
- Built-In Channel Shortcut Buttons – Quickly access popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ with pre-programmed shortcut buttons on the remote for instant entertainment
- Outrageously powerful: Enjoy a lightning-fast interface and channels that launch in a snap with the fastest, most powerful Roku player ever
- 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
- Find your lost remote: Say “Hey Roku, where’s my remote?” or press the button on your streaming device
- 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
- Android AOSP 11 & Amlogic S928X-K: MINIX U8K-ULTRA Smart TV Box powered by the Amlogic S928X-K big.LITTLE ARM Cortex A76 + Quad-Core Cortex A55 Processor (64-bit), ARM G57 MC2.Android AOSP 11, upgradeable via OTA
- 8K ULTRA HD Video Playback: Experience the future of visual clarity with seamless 4K/8K UHD video playback. Enjoy a vast array of video formats, including AV1, VP9, H.265-10, AVS3, and AVS2, for unparalleled visual immersion
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM+128GB eMM 5.1: MINIX U8K is crafted to be the core of your home entertainment. It’s the pinnacle of power, speed, and entertainment, delivering a stable, smooth, and fast performance for the ultimate Android Box experience
- Enhance your visuals with AI-powered technology. The AI-SR upscaler boosts 1080p to 2X, 720p to 3X, and 480p to 4X detail. Combined with AI-PQ, it analyzes scenes in real-time, optimizing picture quality for an immersive viewing experience
- Dual-Band 2x2 MIMO 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit Ethernet: Experience the future of wireless networking with ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6. Enjoy low-latency streaming and downloads, ideal for 4K/8K streaming and online gaming, even in crowded networks
- FOTA Update Capability: Stay up-to-date with the latest features and security patches through Firmware-Over-The-Air (FOTA) updates
- The U8K-ULTRA includes the MINIX A3 Pro Wireless Six-Axis Gyroscope QWERTY Keyboard, featuring voice input and a six-axis gyroscope. This smart TV box simplifies app navigation, content search, and media management with precision and ease
- Elevate your entertainment experience with a powerful processor for lightning-fast app starts and fluid navigation.
- Play Xbox games with no console required - Stream Forza Motorsport, Starfield, Palworld, and discover hundreds of other high-quality games directly on your Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via cloud gaming.
- Smarter searching starts here – Find movies by actor, plot, and even iconic quotes with AI-powered Fire TV Search. Try saying, "Alexa show me action movies with car chases."
- Enjoy the show in 4K Ultra HD, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
- The first-ever streaming stick with Fire TV Ambient Experience lets you display over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality art and photography.
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max has 16GB of storage—double that of Fire TV Stick 4K and our other streaming sticks, for even more apps, games and downloads.
- Stream more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Control your TV and connected devices with an upgraded remote that includes voice control, a recents button, and dedicated channel buttons to surf live TV.
- Enjoy fluid gameplay and fast-rendering graphics with a lightning-fast processor. Access popular games with an Amazon Luna subscription—no console required.
- Get fast streaming and enjoy a crystal clear picture up to 4K and brighter colors with HDR. **
- Ask to search for specific shows, or by mood, genre, actress, and more. Talk to Google and say, "What should I watch?" And use the remote to control the volume switch inputs, play music, and get answers on-screen.
- Get personal suggestions based on your subscriptions, viewing habits and content you own.
- Because Chromecast breathes life into existing TVs and is designed with recycled materials, it helps keep waste out of landfills.
- Create a kids profile to set up an area for your children to access a fun collection of family-friendly movies and shows. Pick from a selection of playful themes, and set parental controls to restrict what content can be seen, limit watching time, and set a bedtime.
How to choose a good streaming media players
Does the idea of finding a fantastic streaming media players make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in streaming media players. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top streaming media players products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top streaming media players on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top streaming media players brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top streaming media players based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the streaming media players were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good streaming media players, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your streaming media players.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting streaming media players for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our streaming media players. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what streaming media players should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on streaming media players.
