Free Delivery

Free delivery

Free delivery available
Lifetime Guarantee

Lifetime guarantee

on internally installed products
Free Support

Free technical support

Free technical support

What is the Best Streaming Stick?

What is the Best Streaming Stick?

Media streaming sticks have become part of the modern AV setup due to their ability to house all streaming Apps and be a simple one-stop show for everyone's streaming needs. 

But not all media streamers are the same. The best media streamers will provide a total and endless supply of TV shows, films, and music but there are performance differences too. Some look and sound better than others.

Whether it's Netflix, TV, Disney+, Apple, or some other service, a service dedicated it's a media streamer's job to deliver them.

With more competition in the market than ever, prices are low, standards are high and any gaps in their app offerings could be a killer weakness.

That's why we're asking the question, what is the best streaming stick? 


Chromecast with Google TV

Until the launch of the most recent Chromecast and, notably, the Google TV user interface that comes with it, Google was under Amazon's media streaming shadow. While the performance of this streamer and the Fire TV Stick 4K is comparable, Google's superior operating system takes the win.

Since 2021, Google TV has been available on smart TVs as the successor of Android TV. It's more appealing, easy, searchable, and, most importantly, terrific at suggesting what to watch next.

When it comes to improving the 4K HDR PAYG film and TV options, the addition of Apple TV and Apple TV+ has been a particularly important update. However, there is still no Apple Music app. If you require that, instead consider Amazon Fire Sticks or the more expensive Apple TV 4K.

Pros

Lots of app options, excellent HDR picture, Dolby Vision, and Atmos. 

Cons

No Apple content available, rivals sound more dynamic.

Amazon Fire TV 4K


Amazon's 4K streaming stick is a worthy second place finisher. It comes with an unbeatable price, 4K streaming, and support for numerous HDR formats, as well as the Alexa voice-activated personal assistant.

Netflix, the terrestrial catch-up services (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5), Now TV, BT Sport, Apple TV, Disney Plus, and the music services Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, and Tidal are all included as standard (of course). An official Rakuten app is the only minor missing.

Pros

Supports all current HDR formats, Dolby Atmos, and impressive performance.

Cons

Awkward size for a stick, limited 4K HDR film selection, too Amazon focused. 

Apple TV 4K (2021)

This is the most recent Apple media streamer, which took four years to get. The remote control has been updated, although the physical design has remained largely unchanged.

The processor has also been upgraded: Apple has replaced the old model's A10X Fusion chip with the A12 Bionic, claiming "more realistic games, more lifelike films, and more immersive sound." A new HDMI 2.1 connector adds support for 4K HDR content at up to 60 frames per second, as well as compatibility with Apple's spatial audio via AirPods Pro and AirPods Max headphones.

The variations are minor in terms of performance. There's a little more contrast here. The darkest blacks are a little darker, and there's a little more brightness and vibrancy on the other end of the spectrum. If you have the previous model, it's not worth upgrading, but if you're searching for the greatest premium video streamer available, this is it.

 

Pros

Excellent picture and sound, great usability and lots of App options.

Cons

Pricier than alternatives, no bundled HDMI cable.

Now TV Smart Stick

This is one of the cheapest ways to turn your old TV into a smart TV, costing about £30. Except for Amazon Prime Video, most of the major streaming providers are available, and it nudges you towards Sky's Now TV streaming service at every opportunity. Now TV can stream in 1080p, however it is limited to 720p. If you can live with the restrictions, it's a terrific way to watch Sky TV without paying for a membership.

Pros

Inexpensive, simple interface.

Cons

Limited app selection, Sky content limited to 720p.

 

Roku Streaming Stick+

Roku may not be as well-known in other areas, but it is a major participant in the streaming business worldwide, and this gadget is a safe pick. It's cheap, has 4K and HDR (although in limited formats for the latter), and doesn't require any external power. Because Roku doesn't produce its own shows, there's no pressure to watch them, unlike Amazon devices, and all of the big streaming services are supported, including Now TV (which isn't available on Amazon).

 

Pros

+Stable 4K picture, solid app selection.

 

Cons

No ethernet connection, no Dolby Vision.

 


Latest posts

Boost Your Wi–Fi Signal Strength at Home: Tips and Tricks
25/05/2023 00:00:00
Fibre Optic Cables & How They Work
23/05/2023 00:00:00
Solving Problems With LTE
28/02/2023 00:00:00
Ethernet Switches - 4 Reasons Why You Need Them
20/02/2023 00:00:00
5 Ways to Get More Out Of Your HDMI Set Up
09/02/2023 00:00:00
Virgin Media Tricks You Need to Know
08/11/2022 00:00:00
4 Ways to Cut your Energy Bills When Watching TV
07/11/2022 00:00:00
New Changes to Freeview and Virgin TV Channels
21/10/2022 00:00:00
LoRa and Helium Crypto Miners
20/10/2022 00:00:00
What Group of Aerial do you Need?
18/10/2022 00:00:00
Why You Need Rack Mount Patch Panels
18/10/2022 00:00:00
5G is Here - 4 Things You Need to Know
27/07/2022 00:00:00
Freeview Channel Update - The Changes You Need To Know
27/07/2022 00:00:00
5 Reasons You Need a Multi-Monitor Set-Up
16/06/2022 00:00:00
4 Things to Consider When Getting CCTV
14/06/2022 00:00:00
What is the Best Streaming Stick?
13/06/2022 00:00:00
How Fast is 5G?
10/06/2022 00:00:00
3 Ways to Make Fibre Internet Even Faster
08/06/2022 00:00:00
What Resolution Do I Need for My Security Camera?
07/06/2022 00:00:00
Do I Need Network Cabling In My House?
18/03/2022 00:00:00
3 Ways to Stop TV Streaming Buffering
17/03/2022 00:00:00
3 Cheap Ways to Transform Wi-Fi in Your Home
15/02/2022 00:00:00
Seam Welded Vs Extruded Aerial Masts: Which One Do You Need?
14/02/2022 00:00:00
The Top 3 CCTV Trends for 2022
14/01/2022 00:00:00
3 Ways to Create the Ultimate Home Office in 2022
13/01/2022 00:00:00
Three Ways to Create the Perfect Home Set Up for Christmas
13/12/2021 00:00:00
Do you need a Hard Drive for CCTV?
08/12/2021 00:00:00
What is a WLAN and Why Do I Need One?
16/11/2021 00:00:00
How to get the Perfect Freeview TV Signal
15/11/2021 00:00:00
Are Fibre Optic Cables worth it?
28/10/2021 00:00:00
How to Set Up Surround Sound with HDMI
18/10/2021 00:00:00
3 Ways to Improve Your TV Signal Today
12/10/2021 00:00:00
Image Resizing: Upscaling & Downscaling
12/10/2021 00:00:00
Do You Need CCTV in 5MP?
30/08/2021 00:00:00
3 Reasons You Need to Upgrade your HDMI Cables
25/08/2021 00:00:00
5 Tips to Get the Strongest Wi-Fi Signal
23/06/2021 00:00:00
5 Things You Need to Know About TV Wall Mounts
21/06/2021 00:00:00
4 Reasons you Need Home CCTV
07/06/2021 00:00:00
How to Create the Best Home Setup for the Euros 2021
04/06/2021 00:00:00
3 Ways to Fix a Picture Break on your TV
10/05/2021 00:00:00
How to Solve the Sound Issues with your TV
10/05/2021 00:00:00
Happy Birthday to Blake UK!
01/04/2021 00:00:00
New Site Designed for you
15/12/2020 00:00:00