Best streaming devices, ranked by critic score
5 ranked by critic score · 48 professional reviews
Streaming sticks and boxes, judged on speed, picture, remote and interface.
Image: AppleApple TV 4K (3rd generation)
All 10 reviewers recommend the Apple TV 4K as the fastest, cleanest streaming box, with excellent picture and sound. It works best if you already use Apple devices, and it costs more than a stick.
The catch: Expensive, and best inside Apple's world.
6 of these 10 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.
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- 1Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)Best overall10 reviews87Image: Apple
- 2Photo comingAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)Best stick11 reviews84
- 3Roku Streaming Stick PlusCritics agree5 reviews84
Image: Roku - 4Google TV StreamerSmart home hub14 reviews83
Image: Google - 5Roku UltraBest remote8 reviews83
Image: Roku
The best streaming device, according to professional reviewers, is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation): critic score 87 out of 100 from 10 reviews, 10 of them positive. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: price.
Common questions
What is the best streaming device?
The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), with a critic score of 87 from 10 professional reviews. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: price.
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) vs Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen): which is better?
Critics score the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) 87 and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 84. We list the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) under “Best stick”. Its main drawback: very Amazon-centric menus.