The best streaming devices you can buy

It’s that time of year again. Either you’re scrambling for a gift idea for a loved one, or they’re hyperventilating over what they can possibly get you. Here’s a solid idea — a streaming device. Because nothing says family like staring at the TV while you binge “Stranger Things” for a third time this month.

There’s a slew of streaming sticks, boxes and devices on the market, though. And buying the wrong one can mean the difference between streaming your favorite shows and not. So to help you make sure you or your loved ones get the best box, I’m breaking them down the best of the best to help you understand what you do and don’t get.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus offers 4K, HDR streaming and plays Google and Amazon content.
The Roku Streaming Stick Plus offers 4K, HDR streaming and plays Google and Amazon content.

Out of all of the streaming devices on the market, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is my hands-down favorite. On sale for $49 from its usual price of $69, the Streaming Stick Plus offers the same functionality of Roku’s (ROKU) more expensive Roku Ultra, which is on sale for $89, but normally retails for $99. The Ultra does include a remote with a built-in headphone jack, though, while the Stick Plus just has a standard remote. Still, that’s not a major issue.

With the Stick Plus you can stream 4K, HDR content, and get access to both Google’s Google Play Movies & TV app and Amazon’s Amazon Prime Video. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about either company pulling their services from Roku, since the device maker doesn’t offer a competing service.

The one issue with the Stick Plus is that you can only stream one kind of HDR content, which is content that uses the HDR-10 standard. See, the entertainment industry uses two forms of HDR, the aforementioned HDR-10 and Dolby Vision. So if you want to watch content that uses Dolby Vision, you’ll still be able to see it — just not in HDR.

Amazon Fire TV

Amazon’s Fire TV can play 4K, HDR content and interact with your smartphone devices, but don’t expect to play Apple or Google content.
Amazon’s Fire TV can play 4K, HDR content and interact with your smartphone devices, but don’t expect to play Apple or Google content.

Roku’s Streaming Stick Plus is my favorite streaming device, but if it didn’t exist that title would go to the Amazon Fire TV. For its latest iteration, Amazon (AMZN) has cut down the Fire TV’s body to a diamond-shaped dongle that hangs from your TV’s HDMI port. It’s less intrusive than the older Fire TV box, which means more room on your TV stand for random knickknacks.

The Fire TV also comes with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in. That means you can ask the Fire TV to do things like lower the lights or check the front door camera, and it will do exactly that without you ever having to leave the comfort of your couch.

Like the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, the Fire TV supports 4K, HDR streaming, though only the HDR-10 spec. Amazon is currently offering the Fire TV for $54, down from its usual price of $69. The only issue with the Fire TV is that, since it’s an Amazon product, it doesn’t have access to Google Play Movies & TV service.