Thiết bị phát trực tuyến tốt nhất năm 2021

The new Roku Ultra is pretty much still the great streaming box it’s always been, just with a couple of tweaks — and keeping most of the perks you’d expect for $100 (4K HDR video and fast performance for starters). For example, they’ve also added Dolby Vision, a must for those streaming high-quality movies and TV shows. Plus, it’s still got a USB port which allows for folks to play back their own library of movie files on their TV. Yes, you don’t even need to learn what a media server is, or how to set one up. This year’s model also offers a faster processor and better wireless streaming.

The other big boon of this model is that you can program the Roku remote’s two customizable buttons to open your favorite channels, in addition to the pre-programmed ones for Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV and Vudu. The included earbud headphones sweeten the deal, as they plug right into the remote control for private listening. This is highly important to those who want to watch TV without disturbing the other person in the room.

Read our full Roku Ultra (2020) review.

MORE: How to Stream Video from a Mobile Device or Computer to a TV

The new Apple TV 4K (2021) is great and performs like a dream — yet still may not be worth the upgrade if you already have the previous model. On the outside, the 2nd-gen Apple TV 4K looks identical to its predecessor. Các nâng cấp đều nằm ở bên trong, đáng chú ý là việc thay thế chip A10X bằng A12 Bionic. Hiệu suất có vẻ tốt hơn một chút, ngoài ra Apple TV 4K thế hệ thứ 2 hỗ trợ 4K ở tốc độ 60 khung hình/giây với HDR so với 30 khung hình/giây. Hiện không có nhiều ứng dụng cung cấp mức độ nội dung đó, chủ yếu là thể thao và các hành động nhịp độ nhanh khác, nhưng nó sẽ trở nên phổ biến hơn.

The best thing about the new Apple TV 4K is the redesigned Siri Remote. Nhiều người (bao gồm cả tôi) ghét điều khiển từ xa cũ và giao diện cảm ứng khó chịu của nó. The new remote retains touch and gestures, but adds actual buttons as well as an intuitive jog wheel that recalls the old iPods of yore. Once again, though, the biggest drawback is the price.

Read our full Apple TV 4K (2021) review.

The Xbox One S is only $289, but streams movies and TV in 4K and supports HDR content. It’s also going to get Dolby Vision capabilities in the near future, and you can install Kodi on the console, if that’s your jam. It also plays 4K Blu-ray movies, unlike any of our other picks.

Oh, and you also get a great video game console with your purchase. The Xbox One S is slimmer than its predecessors, and its black and white design makes for a surprisingly stylish addition to your home entertainment console. Its internal capacity limit of 2TB means you can stop micro-managing the games and other content you download onto the drive. If you can get an Xbox Series X or S, it’s definitely a suitable and more future-proof replacement, but its scarcity and lack of innovative features make it far from a must-have.

Read our full Xbox One S review.

So, you want to get 4K streaming at the lowest price possible, but you’re worried about cutting too many corners? Check out the new Roku Express 4K Plus, which is the replacement to the flawed Roku Premiere. We like this model a lot mmore because of its improved remote. Previously, you needed a direct line of sight — and to point your remote directly at the Roku — for it to work. This way is a lot better, so you don’t need to think when you click the paddle. That, plus UHD image quality and snappy performance means that the Roku Express 4K Plus is the best streaming device for those on a budget.

We wish it were a little heavier, though, as you may wind up spending a minute fiddling with its HDMI cable to make it sit flat on a surface. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus doesn’t have that issue. And if you love A/V standards such as Dolby Vision or Atmos Audio. you may need to look elsewhere.

Read our full Roku Express 4K Plus review.

A ton of applications? Check. An affordable price? Check. Support for your own media on external storage too? You bet. The Tivo Stream 4K is a great streamer that deserves a place in this hall of the best streaming devices. And unlike some streaming devices, it has HBO and Peacock. Sling users will appreciate its live TV integration, and the Google Assistant is there to follow through on your voice commands.

We just wish that the Stream 4K had a better interface for its Stream app that aggregates content, and that its recommendations were a little more on the nose. Plus, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV and Fubo TV don’t get the red carpet treatment that Sling gets in the Guide section. If it weren’t for the Chromecast with Google TV, the Tivo Stream 4K would be a lot more interesting, but for now it lives in the new Chromecast’s long shadow.

Read our full TiVo Stream 4K review.

Free for Comcast Xfinity Internet customers, the Flex is a very cheap way to get access to streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. Plus, the Flex lets you monitor and control other devices connected to your home network.

However, the Flex has far fewer services than other streaming devices—there’s no Disney+, nor is there Spotify, to name a few—which limits its usefulness. But, almost to make up for any gaps, Flex devices get early access to the latest streaming service, as NBC’s Peacock is here well before its official nationwide July 15 debut. Yes, Comcast is giving Peacock Premium to Flex devices (it should arrive soon if it hasn’t already) for free (a $4.99 value). Still, because it’s free, there’s no harm in picking one up and waiting for other streaming services to arrive.

Read our full Xfinity Flex review.

How to choose the best streaming device for you

Figuring the right streaming device for your needs is pretty easy. While everyone should start with the Roku Streaming Stick+, your mileage may vary. If your budget is tight, the Google Chromecast can bring a lot of content to your TV without adding the clutter of a remote.

If you own a lot of digital media that you want to watch on your TV, the Roku Ultra makes that process super easy, so you’ll never need to think about what a media server is. But if you’re a performance first type, and watch a lot of 4K UHD content, the Nvidia Shield TV is where you should start.

Lastly, folks who already treat Alexa like a member of the family should consider the 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, which makes controlling your entertainment as easy as talking. That being said, it’s quite expensive, and the Roku Streaming Stick+ remote also supports voice commands, you just have to click the microphone button, whereas the Fire TV Cube is hands-free.

If you like the Amazon ecosystem and want a cheaper device, consider the Fire TV Stick.

How we test streaming devices

Testing streaming players is usually a simple process that prioritizes content over performance. Any streaming player worth its salt can play video well, but only a good one possesses straightforward navigation, robust search features and a wide variety of content to suit all tastes.

The first thing we evaluate is the setup, to see how quick and simple it is. From there, we take the user interface for a spin to see what content gets highlighted, what gets hidden, and how easy it is to navigate to our favorite channels. We’ll also watch a few different shows on a variety of channels to gauge the quality of the video and audio.

After that, it’s onto the extra features, like gaming, voice search and screen mirroring. These factors don’t weigh quite as heavily toward the final score, but they’re nice to have if they work well, and extremely distracting if they don’t.