Cut the Cord and Stream!
TV streaming devices (not to mention TV's themselves) have come a long way since the Apple TV was introduced in 2007. Today, a subset of even the smallest "stick" style streamers can support 4K high resolution streaming, allowing you to view stunning 4K HDR video when you have access to a high speed internet connection and the right TV. We've broken down our top picks by portability and features to make your selection process a breeze. Find out more below...
Additional Considerations

Internet Connection and Power Source
To Ethernet or Not to Ethernet? – Among the options in our comparison, only the Fire TV Cube and Roku Ultra come with an Ethernet port (or adapter) included to allow you to plug the device directly into your router. An optional Ethernet adapter can be purchased with the Fire TV Stick 4K, while there is no way to connect the Roku Streaming Stick+ directly to your router. Because displaying 4K video requires considerable bandwidth, you will want to use an Ethernet port if you are running on anything less than a 5-gigahertz wireless router. If this is the case, consider purchasing the Fire TV Stick 4K with the Ethernet adapter, the Fire TV Cube or Roku Ultra and try to avoid the Streaming Stick+.
USB Power – If you want to power your portable streaming device directly from your TV, go with the Fire TV Stick 4K or Roku Streaming Stick+ and use a more modern TV with a powered USB port. Specifically, these streamers can be plugged directly into your TV’s USB ports, virtually eliminating visible cords and the need to bring along the included outlet-based power sources. However, the power output from USB ports found in older TVs may be less than ideal, causing the devices to respond slowly or drop out (we believe this is the reason why Roku and Amazon instruct users to power their "stick" style devices from wall outlets). In short, if you have an older TV or find that your device is slow and/or dropping out, it may be necessary to power your device from a wall outlet.
A Question of Fit
HDMI Positioning – If your TV is in a very tight space with HDMI ports that point towards a wall or some other immovable object, it may be a good idea go with the Fire TV Cube or the Roku Ultra. Specifically, the Fire Cube and Roku Ultra use standard flexible HDMI cords (purchased separately), which can be manipulated into tight spots. The HDMI interfaces for the Roku Streaming Stick+ and Fire TV Stick 4K, on the other hand, are incorporated directly into the hard plastic body of the streamer.
YouTube vs. Prime Video – If you use both YouTube and Prime Video, then Roku devices are likely the options for you as they supports both platforms. If you are big on YouTube, then Fire devices are unfortunately not a great choice as they do not (currently) support YouTube or the Google Play Store.
Other Devices – If you already have a Google Assistant enabled home, it may make sense to go with a model by Roku; the same for the Fire devices if you are already using Alexa devices at home. In short, make sure to purchase a device that works with the gear you already have. Duh.


Good Information to Know
As General Matter – Related to the USB power discussion above, many newer TVs already come with built in streaming devices. It may make sense to check—if you are happy with the built-in device and don’t need a portable streamer to travel with you, there is no need to purchase a standalone unit. Along these lines, if you have an older TV that is not capable of displaying 4K resolution, it may make sense to go with a less expensive streamer that displays in 1040p or even 780p.
Streamers Are Not DVRs – Many first time buyers of streaming devices are surprised to learn they cannot download videos directly to a streamer to play when offline. Instead, it is necessary to "cast" the video from another device capable of storing offline video. While all of the devices in our comparison can play video cast from other devices (with varying degrees of complexity), in our opinion Apple's AirPlay function is the most seamless—keep the Apple TV 4K in mind if you plan on frequently using your streamer in offline locations. And remember that casting is typically only at a resolution of 1080p or less.
Make Sure Your TV Supports 4K HDR – Funny as it may sound, viewing video in 4K doesn't provide the mind blowing picture one would think—the difference in resolution compared with 1080p is so minute you'd have to sit comically close to your typical 50 inch TV (2 or so feet away) to notice. What you will notice, however, is 4K video displayed over a TV that supports HDR. This is because HDR enhances the contrast between the lightest and darkest colors on your TV, making the display noticeably more brilliant. All of the devices in today's comparison support 4K HDR content: make sure your TV supports this as well.
Why Four Best?

But Seriously . . .
We started Four Best on the premise that a great deal of the information required to properly evaluate a given product is already right in front of your (and our) eyes. In fact there is too much information! A crucial skill necessary to picking the best products is instead the ability to cull through the available information, focusing on what should really drive a purchase decision.
To make those crucial determinations as to what matters and what doesn’t, we begin by thinking through what really matters to us when we use a particular product. We then use the that type of product to further refine the features we care about and that we think you will care about too. Next we search the web, looking to manufacturer’s websites, product specifications, consumer reports, expert blogs, research reports and the like to obtain crucial insights and the facts.
Finally, we distill the results of our research and combine it with our own experiences as consumers, professionals, techies, mothers, fathers, hobbyists, designers, software engineers, attorneys (sorry) and more. Ultimately, this process results in the reviews we present to you. We hope you enjoy!
Credits:
- Photo of couple with remote by JESHOOTS.com.
- Photo of woman watching TV on road from iStock.
- Photo of Ethernet cable and router from iStock.
- Photo of men hanging TV from iStock.
- Photo of man staring into multiple screens from iStock.
- Photo of group jumping in office from iStock.
*Images have been cropped and/or resized.