![]() ![]() They stay out of the way because they're just behind the TV. The Express, Express+, Streaming Stick, and Streaming Stick+ are all sticks. Roku: Roku products can really be broken down into two categories: sticks and boxes.It just sort of hangs there behind your TV. Google Chromecast: It's a little dangly circle attached to a short HDMI cable.I don't mind the look of the SHIELD, but I can definitely see why some people might. It's bigger and has a somewhat jagged "gamer" aesthetic. The SHIELD, however, is a lot more.out there. If you want small and out-of-the-way, go with the Xiaomi Mi Box. Android TV: Again, Android TV isn't a box, but a platform.Honestly, as affordable as the fully-powered Fire TV is now, I don't even know why the stick exists. It's weaker, but cheaper, than the Fire TV. The Fire TV Stick is literally a stick-it plugs in and just sort of stays out of the way. The thing is, it packs a huge punch under that tiny hood. It literally connects to the TV and then sort of just hangs there.a lot like a Chromecast. Amazon Fire TV: This is the only full-featured box on the list that is more of a streaming "stick" than an actual set-top box. ![]() Very clean and minimal (like most Apple products), this one is sure to sort of blend into the background in most home theater setups. Apple TV: It's a pretty small, black, non-descript box.Things have changed since then, even if only slightly. Just a couple of years ago, most of these boxes were about the same size, and they were mostly boring squares. (Though lower-end Rokus can do this through the mobile app).įorm factor may or may not be a big deal to you, and that's okay. It offers 4K playback, Ethernet, USB, microSD cards, and private listening by plugging headphones into the remote. But if you're looking for full-featured goodness, Roku Ultra is where it's at. If you're looking for simplicity and affordability, Roku Express is your huckleberry. Roku: Like Android TV, there are a lot of options here, each with its own set of features.Instead, Chromecast is clean, minimal, and easy to use-not to mention cheap (at least for the non-4K version). Google Chromecast: Simplicity is the selling point with the Chromecast, so you won't find a lot of bells and whistles.The SHIELD also supports 4K video and private listening via headphone jacks on the remote or game controller. So yeah, you can literally turn your SHIELD into a server. For example, the NVIDIA SHIELD not only has incredible game support, but also access to Google Assistant, support for Samsung SmartThings, Plex Server integration, and an optional 500GB build. You can keep it simple and cheap, but the more you pay, the more features you get. Android TV: Like with the other sections, Android TV is kind of a mess-only because there are so many boxes.Also like Apple TV, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick have game controller support and a decent choice of things to play. It's not quite as powerful in terms of media control, but it's still cool. Amazon Fire TV: Like with the Apple TV, Amazon's digital assistant Alexa is along for the ride here.Otherwise, Apple TV has controller support and a decent game selection thanks to the iPhone and iPad's compatible game library. It's integrated into Apple TV, so you can talk to it like your phone-and it can do cool stuff like repeat a mumbled line with subtitles enabled, search movies by genre (and sub-genre), check the weather, and more. Apple TV: The biggest thing here is Siri.Which ones matter to you depend on what you're looking to do with your box. It also supports casting from your phone, making it available for essentially all the boxes we're talking about here.Īpart from basic usability, each box has some exclusive features that make them more compelling. ![]() It's available on Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and SHIELD. Plex, on the other hand, is a little more ubiquitous. For example, Android TV supports Kodi out of the box, but most of the others require quite a bit of hackjob work to make it happen. If you're looking for Kodi or Plex support, things get a little harrier. Like I mentioned earlier, Amazon Prime Video is available on Fire TV (of course), Apple TV, and Roku, but it's also exclusively available on NVIDIA SHIELD where Android TV is concerned. Google Play is a bit of a mixed bag-Movies is available on Android TV, Chromecast, and Roku, but none of the others. For example, you're not going to get iTunes access anywhere but Apple TV. That's sort of a half-assed solution if you ask me, but it is a solution nonetheless. So if your provider supports Chromecast, it's also technically usable on Android TV, even if it doesn't have a dedicated interface. For Android TV users, keep in mind that it has built-in casting options, effectively making it a Chromecast as well as a set-top box. If that's the case, I highly recommend going directly to your TV provider for device compatibility. ![]()
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