# Best Streaming Devices: the stierproducts tier list - Source: https://stierproducts.com/categories/streaming-devices - Last researched: 2026-08-30T07:12:32.312Z - Products ranked: 15 - Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology - Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence. TV streaming boxes/sticks; NOT the TVs themselves. ## Summary On the stierproducts streaming devices board, Google TV Streamer (4K) ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd Generation) (#2, S tier) and Roku Streaming Stick 4K (#3, A tier). The board ranks 15 streaming devices from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 30 Aug 2026, drawing on 272 outlet citations across the board. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: Onn 4K Plus, Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation), Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, and 3 others. ## Ranking | Rank | Product | Brand | Tier | LP | Outlets | Verdict | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Google TV Streamer (4K) | Google | S | 983 | 22 | Google’s latest streaming stick runs the newest Android TV OS, receives regular security patches and feature updates for at least three years, and has a solid track record of reliability in owner-reported data. | https://stierproducts.com/products/google-tv-streamer-4k | | 2 | Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd Generation) | Apple | S | 950 | 45 | The 3rd-gen Apple TV delivers the most robust firmware support and longest software life of any consumer streaming box. It receives continuous OS updates for over five years, has a very low failure rate in owner surveys, and its silicon is built to last. | https://stierproducts.com/products/apple-tv-4k-2022-3rd-generation | | 3 | Roku Streaming Stick 4K | Roku | A | 733 | 30 | A step below the Ultra but still receives regular OS updates for at least three years. Its hardware is reliable, and owner reports show a low failure rate. It offers excellent HDR support and a user-friendly interface. | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-streaming-stick-4k | | 4 | Roku Ultra | Roku | A | 675 | 31 | The Ultra’s custom silicon and Roku OS are updated for at least five years, and its hardware is built to handle high-bandwidth streams. Owner surveys show a low failure rate and the device has no known major firmware regressions. | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-ultra | | 5 | NVIDIA Shield TV Pro | NVIDIA | B | 607 | 26 | Shield’s Tegra-X1+ processor and Android TV OS give it the longest firmware lifespan of any box, with updates expected for at least four years. Its hardware is designed for high-performance streaming and gaming, and owner reports show a very low failure rate. | https://stierproducts.com/products/nvidia-shield-tv-pro | | 6 | Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max | Amazon | B | 514 | 8 | The Max variant adds a faster processor and better Wi-Fi, and Amazon has committed to four years of OS updates. Its hardware reliability is comparable to Roku Ultra in owner data, making it a solid mid-tier pick. | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max | | 7 | Roku Streaming Stick Plus | Roku | C | 424 | 9 | The Plus variant offers a faster processor than the base stick and receives regular OS updates for at least three years. Its reliability is on par with the standard 4K stick, making it a good mid-tier pick. | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-streaming-stick-plus | | 8 | Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023) | Amazon | C | 402 | 21 | Good balance of cost and features. | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-2nd-gen-2023 | | 9 | Onn 4K Pro (2026) | Onn | C | 397 | 4 | Despite being a budget model, the Onn 4K Pro has shown good reliability in owner surveys and receives at least two years of firmware updates. Its low price makes it an attractive entry-level option for cost-conscious buyers. | https://stierproducts.com/products/onn-4k-pro-2026 | | 10 | Onn 4K Plus | Onn | D | 303 | 3 | The Plus variant is essentially the same hardware as the Pro but with slightly higher price and no added reliability. Owner data shows a higher failure rate than the Pro, making it a poor value for longevity. | https://stierproducts.com/products/onn-4k-plus | | 11 | Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation) | Amazon | D | 223 | 40 | All-in-one convenience but pricier. | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-cube-3rd-generation | | 12 | Amazon Fire TV Stick HD | Amazon | F | 101 | 10 | The HD stick is a very low-cost option that still receives two years of OS updates and has a solid track record of reliability. It’s an excellent choice for budget buyers who don’t need 4K or HDR. | https://stierproducts.com/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-hd | | 13 | Chromecast with Google TV (4K, 2020) | Google | F | 92 | 1 | Although released in 2020, the device still receives OS updates for at least three years and has a solid hardware base. It’s a good value for buyers who want Google-TV integration without the higher price of newer sticks. | https://stierproducts.com/products/chromecast-with-google-tv-4k-2020 | | 14 | Roku Express 4K | Roku | F | 60 | 10 | The Express is a very low-end stick that lacks the custom silicon of higher tiers. It receives only two years of OS updates and has a noticeable failure rate in owner data, so it’s not worth buying for anyone who cares about longevity. | https://stierproducts.com/products/roku-express-4k | | 15 | Ugoos AM6B+ (CoreELEC) | Ugoos | F | 31 | 12 | Limited user experience and niche appeal. | https://stierproducts.com/products/ugoos-am6b-coreelec | ## Flagged as ones to avoid These entered one or more research runs as a product buyers cross-shop but should not buy, rather than as a pick. - Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (#6, B tier): flagged by 1 of 10 runs. - Onn 4K Pro (2026) (#9, C tier): flagged by 2 of 9 runs. - Onn 4K Plus (#10, D tier): flagged by 3 of 10 runs. - Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (#12, F tier): flagged by 2 of 7 runs. - Chromecast with Google TV (4K, 2020) (#13, F tier): flagged by 1 of 9 runs. - Roku Express 4K (#14, F tier): flagged by 4 of 9 runs. - Ugoos AM6B+ (CoreELEC) (#15, F tier): flagged by 2 of 3 runs. ## Tier meanings - S: Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category. - A: Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best. - B: Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing. - C: Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price. - D: Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money. - F: Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere. ## How to read this - Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand. - LP is the product's points on this category's ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories. - Outlets is how many distinct outlets are cited for that placement. The per-product page lists each citation, and shows which of their links were fetched and confirmed before publishing. - Nothing is hidden: every product the research placed is on this board.