The first is that Roku is the best platform when it comes to streaming media. We love the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and recommend it as the best streaming device to friends and colleagues, for two simple reasons. Be sure to follow our back to school guide for all of your shopping needs this season. Yes, there are great $50 streaming devices, but those above models offer hard-wired Ethernet connections that enable a more-stable stream, a must for students in dorms where Wi-Fi signals are going everywhere. Some of the best streaming devices are pretty darn expensive, so it's not unrealistic to hope upcoming back to school sales will bring the $99 Roku Ultra or $179 Apple TV 4K down to a more-affordable price. Best streaming devices back to school deals Here's everything you need to know about the best streaming devices. Using all of these devices often shows us the benefits of spending more on your streaming device, as the cheaper Fire TV devices control your whole home screen experience, while the Apple TV has no ads and more customization. Small touches keep the Roku Ultra (2020) on our list, such as its incrementally faster performance, and smoother streaming on Wi-Fi in larger houses (when it's not near the router). Not only do we spend hours and hours watching shows and movies from the top streaming services on these devices, but we compare them against those with similar prices, to help you figure out which is best for your budget. Some of us at Tom's Guide own multiple entries from this list of the best streaming devices, to see how they evolve over time. And while we used to have the Xbox One S on this list, Microsoft has stopped manufacturing that console, so we've swapped it out for the excellent Xbox Series S. The former's speed improvements make it the first Fire TV Stick we've put on this list, and the latter finally delivered a good remote. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is first Fire stick we've put on this list in a while, and we're curious how the already-great Apple TV 4K (2021) will get upgraded.
One of our editors just tried out the Roku Voice Remote Pro and found it's a must-have for a few reasons. You can make its streaming experience even better, though. It's our top pick for many reasons, and Roku's streamlined app-first OS is one of them.
Our current pick for very best streaming device overall is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, an update to a previous model that improved performance and added Dolby Vision.