The Best Streaming Media Players
We compared six streaming media players on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus with Voice Remote is our top pick for its balance of performance and price.
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The bottom line
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus with Voice Remote is our top pick for a streaming media player. It offers 4K and HDR10+ streaming, a voice remote, and a compact design for $36.79. Owners rate it 9.2/10 from 10270 ratings. The closest alternative is the Google Streamer 4K, which offers similar features but at a higher price of $81.34. For a budget option, the Roku Streaming Stick HD is a good choice at $29.99, though it lacks 4K streaming.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus with Voice Remote $36.79
Best balance of performance and price
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus with Voice Remote offers 4K and HDR10+ streaming, a voice remote, and a compact design for $36.79. Owners rate it 9.2/10 from 10270 ratings. The tradeoff is the lack of Dolby Vision support.
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Google Streamer 4K $81.34
High-performance with more features
The Google Streamer 4K offers fast streaming, 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, and a larger remote for $81.34. Owners rate it 8.8/10 from 4017 ratings. The tradeoff is the higher price.
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Roku Streaming Stick HD $29.99
Affordable HD streaming
The Roku Streaming Stick HD offers HD streaming, a voice remote, and a compact design for $29.99. Owners rate it 9.2/10 from 24473 ratings. The tradeoff is the lack of 4K streaming.
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- Roku Streaming Stick Plus with Voice Remote Best balance of performance and price 9.0/10 $36.79 Amazon
- Google Streamer 4K High-performance with more features 8.5/10 $81.34 Amazon
- Roku Streaming Stick HD Affordable HD streaming 8.0/10 $29.99 Amazon
- Roku Ultra 4K Streaming Player High-performance but expensive 7.5/10 $84.99 Amazon
- Google TV Streamer 4K Feature-rich but overpriced 7.0/10 $149.00 Amazon
- ONN Android TV 2K FHD Streaming Stick Budget option with limited features 6.0/10 $40.75 Amazon
What to consider
When choosing a streaming media player, consider the streaming quality, remote control, price, and storage. 4K streaming with HDR support is preferred over HD streaming. A voice remote with hands-free control is convenient. Lower price is preferred, but not at the expense of features and performance. More storage is preferred for apps and games.
Also-rans
The Roku Ultra 4K Streaming Player and the Google TV Streamer 4K are high-performance options but are more expensive. The ONN Android TV 2K FHD Streaming Stick is a budget option but has limited features and lower streaming quality.