Top Picks for Streaming Devices in 2025: Intelligent TV Sticks and Boxes Recommended by Our Professionals
The world of streaming has expanded, and with it, the competition among media streamers. In 2025, the market is dominated by the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer 4K, and NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, each excelling in different aspects.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K stands out as the best value streaming device, offering solid 4K and HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and wide app compatibility. It is praised for its ease and reliability, providing an excellent streaming experience without flashy extras.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is considered the best overall for its broad platform support and streaming capabilities. It is a versatile choice for any household.
For iPhone users, the Apple TV 4K is a favored option, integrating seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem and offering high-end performance.
For Android enthusiasts, the Google TV Streamer 4K delivers a native Android TV experience and boasts broad app availability. It is a solid option for those looking for synergy with Samsung or LG TVs.
The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is a premium, powerful choice that supports 4K HDR streaming with excellent media performance and gaming features. It caters to users seeking top-tier hardware.
Other noteworthy alternatives include the Walmart onn 4K Pro and Xiaomi TV Box S, providing competitive specs for users seeking alternatives to mainstream devices.
When choosing the best streamer, consider your TV’s 4K and HDR support to fully benefit from these devices, and factor in which ecosystem and apps you prefer for the best user experience.
The Google TV Streamer delivers sharp detail and balanced colours in terms of picture performance. However, it lacks depth, dynamism, and engagement in terms of audio performance. It runs the Google TV operating system and is a feature-rich option for those looking to avoid Apple's streamer.
Google TV has been upgraded with Gemini, Google's AI service, which bolsters content recommendations and can even summarise the plots of entire seasons of TV shows. The Google TV Streamer has replaced the Chromecast with Google TV.
Streaming has become the predominant way many people consume movies and TV shows. To enjoy HD and 4K content, a fast broadband connection is required. Before choosing a media streamer, it's important to check which services each device offers, especially as exclusive, original TV shows and films are all the rage.
Early smart TVs may lose app support for their operating systems, making dedicated media streamers necessary to regain smart functionality. The Google TV Streamer is designed to sit alongside the TV and has a greater focus on smart home and AI functionality. It is more expensive compared to the Amazon Fire TV Stick (3rd Generation) and the Google Chromecast with Google TV.
In the future, there may be an Amazon Fire TV 4K Max review. Dedicated media streamers tend to deliver a higher-quality streaming experience compared to built-in smart TV features. Smart TVs with built-in internet-enabled features are the norm, with different manufacturers favouring various operating systems such as Tizen (Samsung), webOS (LG), Vidaa (Hisense), Google TV, and Android TV.
Streaming provides a more convenient way to watch TV, even if some prefer the higher quality picture and sound delivered by Blu-rays. The Apple TV 4K (2022) has been our favorite streamer and an Award-winner since its release in 2021, boasting a faster processor and improved visual and audio performance compared to its previous model.
The Apple TV 4K is favored for iPhone users, integrating well with Apple's ecosystem and offering high-end performance. The best dedicated media streamers for movies and TV shows in 2025 include the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer 4K, and NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, each excelling in different aspects like value, platform compatibility, and performance.
- The world of streaming has expanded, with Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Apple TV 4K, Google TV Streamer 4K, and NVIDIA Shield TV Pro dominating the market in 2025.
- The Roku Streaming Stick 4K offers solid 4K and HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and wide app compatibility, making it the best value streaming device.
- The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the best overall, known for its broad platform support and streaming capabilities, making it a versatile choice for any household.
- For iPhone users, the Apple TV 4K is a favored option due to its seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem and high-end performance.
- For Android enthusiasts, the Google TV Streamer 4K delivers a native Android TV experience and boasts broad app availability, making it a solid choice for synergy with Samsung or LG TVs.
- The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is a premium, powerful choice that supports 4K HDR streaming with excellent media performance and gaming features, catering to users seeking top-tier hardware.
- Streaming has become the predominant way people consume movies and TV shows, requiring a fast broadband connection for HD and 4K content. It's important to check which services each device offers, especially as exclusive, original content is all the rage.
