Cyber Monday has just ended, and if you've just bought a brand new 4k TV, or just want a new streaming device, now is as good as ever. After all, you wouldn't want to miss out on The Mandalorian craze now, would you? If you're more of a Netflix person and Disney+ isn't really your thing, don't worry because The Witcher is coming on Netflix this Dec. 20.
So if you're worried as to how to best enjoy Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, what have you, in all its 4K glory, we're going to round up the best streaming devices and help you find which device suits you best.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has a retail price of $50, but you can generally find it for about $40. The Fire Stick 4k is the most powerful dedicated Amazon TV Stick, which allows it to support 4k playback at 60 fps. Additionally, it also supports Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HLG, HDR10+, and Atmos Audio.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is best for people in the Amazon ecosystem. People who have Amazon Prime already get Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Music, on top of the obvious delivery perks. It's no surprise that many people choose Amazon Prime Video over Netflix.
Amazon Fire TV Cube
The Amazon Fire TV Cube sells for a much heftier $120 and is, in many ways, quite the same as the Fire TV Stick 4k. It supports the same features, such as 4k playback at 60 fps, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HLG, HDR10+, and Atmos Audio. What sets it apart is that the Amazon Fire TV Cube is an ecosystem all by itself.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube contains eight microphones, acting as an Amazon Echo Dot to allow you to control the rest of your Smart Home Devices. It also comes with an Alexa Voice Remote if you're more comfortable with a physical remote or just don't want to wake people up. The Fire TV Cube is also the only streaming device that lets you control compatible cable and satellite boxes, from brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, Comcast, DISH, and DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse.
Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K 64 GB Model sells for $199, comes with all the bells and whistles a streaming device should have, and works flawlessly with the entire Apple Ecosystem. It supports the usual 4k 60 fps, Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound. The Apple TV 4K can be controlled with the Siri voice remote or your iPhone. The Apple TV Remote app available on Apple devices lets you control your Apple TV, auto-fill passwords, share photos with AirPlay, and control your smart home.
It packs the powerful A10x Fusion Chip used in the iPad Pro 10.5" 2017 and the iPad Pro 12.9" 2nd Gen 2017. The powerful six-core CPU handled video editing like a champ, so it's no surprise that the Apple TV 4k is one of the fastest streaming devices available today.
Finally, the Apple TV device is also the best way to watch Apple TV+. Apple's newest streaming platform, unironically named Apple TV+, is an ad-free streaming service that fits right into the Apple Ecosystem. Starting at just $4.99, it's one of the most enticing streaming platforms right now. Furthermore, purchasers of Apple TV devices, as well as other Apple products, get 12 months of streaming for free.
ALSO READ: Easy Ways to Use Disney with Apple TV and Up Next
Google Chromecast Ultra
The Google Chromecast Ultra is $69 and is on the cheaper end of 4k streaming devices. The Chromecast Ultra, like most Chromecasts, remains relatively barebones. It doesn't work as a standalone device and requires a device to cast to it. It still supports 4K 60 fps, HDR, HDR10, Dolby Atmos, and pretty much everything you would expect from a higher-end streaming device. The Chromecast Ultra is also the most intuitive for most people, only adding one cast button to the same streaming apps that they already use.
