Compare Streaming Devices

15 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 30 Aug 2026

Pick any two to four of the 15 ranked streaming devices and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Google TV Streamer (4K), Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd Generation) and Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

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Streaming Devices compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Google Google TV Streamer (4K)	Apple Apple TV 4K (2022, 3rd Generation)	Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K	Roku Roku Ultra	NVIDIA NVIDIA Shield TV Pro	Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max	Roku Roku Streaming Stick Plus	Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023)	Onn Onn 4K Pro (2026)	Onn Onn 4K Plus	Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation)	Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD	Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K, 2020)	Roku Roku Express 4K	Ugoos Ugoos AM6B+ (CoreELEC)
Tier	S	S	A	A	B	B	C	C	C	D	D	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 15	2 of 15	3 of 15	4 of 15	5 of 15	6 of 15	7 of 15	8 of 15	9 of 15	10 of 15	11 of 15	12 of 15	13 of 15	14 of 15	15 of 15
Ladder points	983 LP	950 LP	733 LP	675 LP	607 LP	514 LP	424 LP	402 LP	397 LP	303 LP	223 LP	101 LP	92 LP	60 LP	31 LP
Our verdict	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.	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.	Good balance of cost and features.	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.	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.	All-in-one convenience but pricier.	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.	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.	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.	Limited user experience and niche appeal.
What reviewers rate	Runs latest Android TV OS Regular security patches and feature updates for at least three years Solid reliability record Highest RTINGS score among 2026 devices	Robust firmware support with over five years of OS updates Very low failure rate reported by owners Silicon designed for long-term durability Best overall streaming device per Wirecutter	Regular OS updates for at least three years Low failure rate reported by owners Excellent HDR support User-friendly interface	Custom silicon with five-year update support Handles high-bandwidth streams reliably Low failure rate reported by owners Best premium stick per Wirecutter	Tegra-X1+ processor for high performance Android TV OS with at least four years of updates Very low failure rate Best for gaming-centric users per Wirecutter	Faster processor than standard stick Improved Wi-Fi performance Four-year OS update commitment Recommended as best stick-style device by Wirecutter	Faster processor than base stick Regular OS updates for at least three years Comparable reliability to 4K stick Best option for most people	Top stick-style device per Wirecutter Good price/performance rating on RTINGS Strong mid-tier option Competitive price	Good reliability reported by owners Two-year firmware update support Very affordable Best media streaming device for most people per PCMag	Solid budget performer Good performance Best stick for HDR content Value-for-money	Top all-in-one device per Wirecutter High RTINGS score for performance and Alexa integration Fast hardware Hands-free Alexa	Very low cost Two-year OS update support Solid reliability record Super affordable	Solid hardware base Three-year OS update support Good value for Google TV integration Solid mid-tier option per Wirecutter	Affordable Solid performance Lowest price HDR10+ & Dolby Vision	Community's answer for Plex and Dolby Vision playback Recommended by the most demanding home-theater owners
Where it falls short	No lossless audio passthrough	Recent price increase frustrates owners	Nothing recorded	Nothing recorded	Hardware is seven years old and has never been updated Needs a custom launcher to remove ads and bloatware	Occasional firmware crashes Higher failure rate than newer models Amazon killed APK sideloading on its newest Fire TV devices Ads every time users switch to the Firestick; owners are sick of it	Trims features such as Dolby Vision versus the Stick 4K	Same ad-heavy Fire OS caveats as the 4K Max Same Vega OS transition uncertainty Better bought on sale than at full price	Lacks HDMI-ARC support Lower score than cheaper rival Marginal picture improvement over the Plus model Lacks feature set of higher-tier sticks	Higher failure rate than the 4K Pro No additional reliability despite higher price No full remote Slower streaming	Costs more than twice the 4K Max, which delivers nearly the same streaming experience Amazon's Vega OS transition makes the long-term software future of premium Fire OS hardware genuinely uncertain	No HDR10+ No 4K Poor picture quality Only supports HD, no HDR or 4K	Software support lags behind newer devices Lacks hardware upgrades Discontinued by Google 8GB of storage was a chronic complaint throughout its life	Lacks custom silicon Only two-year OS update support Noticeable failure rate No advanced features	Limited app support Poor user experience Hardware is outdated Lacks mainstream app support
Evidence behind it	22 sources across 22 outlets	57 sources across 45 outlets	30 sources across 30 outlets	36 sources across 31 outlets	26 sources across 26 outlets	8 sources across 8 outlets	9 sources across 9 outlets	24 sources across 21 outlets	5 sources across 4 outlets	3 sources across 3 outlets	43 sources across 40 outlets	10 sources across 10 outlets	1 source across 1 outlet Thin sourcing, read it as provisional	11 sources across 10 outlets	15 sources across 12 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 10 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	2 of 9 research runs	3 of 10 research runs	Not flagged	2 of 7 research runs	1 of 9 research runs	4 of 9 research runs	2 of 3 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Where to buy	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it

Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.