Best Streaming Devices 2025: The top choices tested and reviewed (2025)

We stream a lot video and a lot of audio, but, as with any product that needs plugging into another, we unpack the streaming devices and check what connections and accessories it has. Does it come with HDMI cable? Can it be powered by a TV’s USB port? Is there a need for an HDMI extender to plug it from the wash of cables around the rear of a TV? Aesthetics don’t count much for streaming devices, but functionality does.

And then there are the means of operating the device. We’re interested in the quality of the remote, its responsiveness and feel. If there’s voice control we use that to see if it’s quicker or easier than navigating with just the remote.

Of course, there’s the interface for the streaming device itself, and we use it extensively, just like any owner would, digging into how fluid and responsive it is, and whether it’s easy to find what you want. The advent of voice control ensures we’ll be testing how well the microphones receive our voices, how accurate the response from the voice assistant is, and how the digital assistant responds to commands.

Buffering is an aspect we consider, how speedy the device can be when loading up a stream (this, of course, is dependant on your internet speed). We’ll scour the app library to see which apps are supported and how it compares to other options on the market.

Then it’s time to actually watch and listen. Streaming devices can have an effect on picture but not necessarily a great one, and are reliant on the quality of your home cinema kit. Nevertheless, we’ll pay attention to the video, HDR and audio formats that are supported, assessing whether the streamer has everything you need to watch and hear your favourite content in the best way possible.

Finally, every element is judged against the price. If a streamer represents good value generally, we’ll be a little more lenient on aspects we’re not fans of. If it’s expensive, then the streamer has to put in a suitably powerhouse of a performance.

Apple TV 4K (2022)

Best streamer for Apple users

Even though it sits as the priciest entry on this list, the Apple TV 4K (2022) more than makes up for its price tag with an abundance of must-have features and a premium level performance that decimates the competition.

For starters, the updates streaming box now has the super fast A15 Bionic chipset inside, which makes the process of blitzing through menus an absolute breeze – and handy if you like to get a good bit of browsing in before deciding upon what to watch.

That chipset performance also extends to the video quality. On all TV sets that we used to test the Apple TV 4K, ranging from a budget set to a high-end OLED TV, Apple’s device was able to put out punchy, crisp visuals that made the viewing experience a true delight on all occasions.

There’s also a dedicated Ethernet port on the more expensive 128GB model, which is essential if you want a more stable internet connection when streaming high-data 4K video.

The device is slightly smaller than its predecessor, and while this isn’t the type of change you’d notice on a regular basis, it does come in handy if you decide to transport the Apple TV 4K from one location to another.

If you’re not already clued into the Apple ecosystem then there’s no need to worry – unlike Apple’s other products like the AirPods Pro 2 or the Apple Watch Series 8, you don’t need other Apple products to make the most of it. The core experience of the Apple 4K TV is so good that it’s an easy one to recommend to almost anyone.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Review: Apple TV 4K Box (2022)

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)

Best steamer for home cinema users

The Fire TV Cube replaces the 2019 model and features improvements to its design, connectivity and features. If you’re looking for a video streamer that knits your various home cinema kit together, this would be the streamer we would recommend.

It does come with a bump in price over the previous model, jumping to £139 / $129. It does come down in price to £109 in the Prime sales if you’re looking to save yourself some money.

The 3rd Gen Cube is much more attractive, ditching the plastic look of before with a wraparound fabric material that makes the Cube a stylish part of any home cinema system.

The biggest feature of the Cube has always been its hands-free Alexa capabilities and the built-in microphone easily hears your queries and fetches results for you. If you prefer Alexa off, you can switch the microphones off by pressing a privacy button on the device.

We’re not too fond of Amazon’s Fire TV interface and its focus on Prime Video. In that respect, Sky Stream and Apple TV are more democratic in shepherding users to content from various providers, an approach we prefer considering we use those other subscriptions.

There’s an HDMI input included, which allows devices such as a PS5 to connect the Cube. It also recognises auto low latency mode for a quicker performance with games. Wi-Fi 6E compatibility allows for a faster Wi-Fi performance with a compatible router. Even without one, the wireless performance was stable.

The Fire TV Cube supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, so it can optimise the picture for the best performance. Picture performance will depend on the calibre of your TV. The audio performance is solid too, producing a detailed, balanced, and clear sound with both stereo and Dolby Atmos tracks.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Fire TV Cube (2022)

Sky Stream

Best premium video streamer

The Sky Stream puck is the easiest way to get all the entertainment that Sky offers into your home. Having previously been an accessory to the Glass TV, it’s also available as a standalone streamer.

It is a small, simple device with a HDMI output, Ethernet for hardwired connection to a router and terrestrial connection that can offer Freeview HD in case the internet goes down. Sky is a closed system and this device doesn’t offer the same level of connectivity options as an Android or Fire TV device can do, so if you’re more interested in customisation or adding external products to a streamer like headphones or a keyboard, you may want to look elsewhere.

The Entertainment OS interface is one of the best we’ve used on a streamer. Unlike Fire TV, this is a much more democratic interface, more interested in aggregating content from all services rather than putting any one ahead of another. Discovery has been improved with a few rejigs of the interface. Playlist itself has been tweaked with the most recent episodes or series that you’ve added appearing first. We found these to be all sensible updates, though if we could change anything it’d be to have the Continue Watching rail higher up. In terms of using the interface, we found Sky Glass quicker whether scrolling through the menus or loading apps.

App selection isn’t anywhere near as large as Fire TV, Apple, Google or Roku, though we could make the argument that it’s quality over quantity. Nevertheless, all the big hitters are present when it comes to video options, though sport and music options could be buffed up with more options.

Sky Stream supports HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision HDR formats, leaving HDR10+ behind. That means TVs that support HDR10+ won’t be able to get the most of their picture performance, but for everyone else the Stream puck puts in a very good performance with HD and 4K HDR content, though this is dependent on how good your TV is. There are high levels of detail and sharpness where required, satisfying clarity and strong colours with HDR content. No problems were had in terms of stuttering or freezing images.

On the audio front the Stream puck supports Dolby Atmos, but this is only available if you subscribe to the UHD package. We did notice some audio distortion with some programmes every now and then, though not to the point where it became a pressing issue. In terms of streaming music from the device we found the Fire TV Cube to be a clearer, sharper sounding device, though the Stream does sound livelier and gets stuck into low frequencies with more aplomb.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Sky Stream

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2024)

Best streaming stick for Amazon users

In terms of performance, Amazon Prime customers won’t find a better streaming stick than the Amazon Fire TV 4K Max.In terms of value, there are better options such as the Fire TV Stick 4K, which we’re in the midst of reviewing.

Nevertheless, setting up the Fire TV 4K Max is straightforward with an HDMI port at one end and HDMI extender included which to prevent any potential cabling issues.

It comes with Amazon’s Fire TV Ambient Experience, which offers a series a gallery of images (or even your own pics) alongside widgets that’ll show details of your Ring devices and other connected Amazon devices to keep track of what’s happening.

We found the Fire TV 4K Max’s interface is easy enough to use, though like the rest of Amazon’s Fire TV devices, some won’t appreciate the Amazon-centric layout.Even so, there are a huge number of apps available to download such as Disney+, Netflix, Apple TV+ alongside much more.

Thanks to its extra processing capabilities navigating with the Alexa remote is impressively speedy, which is particularly noticeable if you’re upgrading from an older Fire Stick.It’s more fluid and faster than the previous Fire TV stick, but picture and sound quality is pretty much the same as before. If you can’t shell out for the Fire TV Cube, this is your next best bet, but if you aren’t really fussed by its faster UI, we’d suggest having a look at the less expensive Fire TV Stick 4K.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2024)

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

Best affordable 4K HDR streamer

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is still available, and remains an affordable 4K HDR alternative to the likes Amazon with its platform-agnostic approach to streaming.

The stick plugs into the HDMI slot on your TV with the option to order a free HDMI extender directly from Roku. The streaming stick comes with the same remote packaged with the Roku Streambar which we don’t love but is responsive enough. It also includes quick access keys for Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and Rakuten TV.

Roku’s interface has a consistent design with plenty of content to delve into and good curation with different categories. If you’re not a fan of the remote, you can use the mobile app to control the stick and search for content more easily.

Along with the usual streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, Roku offers access to catch-up and on-demand content from iPlayer and All 4. It misses out on some apps that others have, but even so, it’s still a big collection.

We found the performance to be great, offering excellent streaming with a stable Wi-Fi connection. HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision are all supported, as are DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Atmos for audio.Plug it into any TV and you’ll get the best HDR performance the stick is capable of

If you’re looking for a simple 4K streaming device that supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for less than £50 and you’re not swayed by Alexa’s smarts, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a great pick.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Roku Streaming Stick 4K

SQUIRREL_ANCHOR_LIST

£149$129

£49.99

£24

£139.99$129.99

£69.99$59.99

We’ve reviewed

See all reviews

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

£49.99

–

–

–

–

Roku

–

21.1 x 11.5 x 94.5 MM

26 G

B09HMN88PC

Roku OS 11

2021

3820EU

3840 x 2160

Yes

HDMI 2.0b, USB

802.11ac MIMO dual-band Wi-Fi

Black

DTS Digital Surround, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio, Digital Stereo

Yes

Yes

Apple TV 4K (2022)

£149

$129

–

–

AU$219

Apple

64GB

93 x 93 x 31 MM

214 G

B0BJMN44D8

tvOS 16.1.1

2022

–

–

Yes

Ethernet

HDMI, WiFi

Black

–

Yes

Yes

Sky Stream

£24

Unavailable

Unavailable

Unavailable

–

Sky

–

10.8 x 10.8 x 1.8 CM

–

–

Entertainment OS

2022

–

3840 x 2160

Yes

HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, aerial antenna

Wi-Fi

Anthracite Black

Dolby Atmos

Yes

–

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)

£139.99

$129.99

€159.99

CA$189.99

Unavailable

Amazon

16GB

86 x 86 x 77 MM

513 G

B09BZVGR73

Fire TV

2022

Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)

3840 x 2160

Yes

HDMI 2.1 input, HDMI 2.1 output,

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0 (for remote)

Black

Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo and HDMI audio pass-through up to 5.1.

Yes

Yes

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2024)

£69.99

$59.99

–

–

–

Amazon

16GB

–

–

B0BTFSYWWB

FireOS 8

2023

–

3840 x 2160

Yes

–

Wi-Fi 6E

Black

AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos

Yes

Yes