![]() While every device on this list supports the Prime TV app, the easiest way to browse your Amazon library and purchase content on the platform is via a dedicated Fire TV device. It might not have the games of some of the other devices on this list, but when has anyone ever played mobile games on their TV? It also has access to some extremely useful streaming apps like Locast, which you can use to stream local television without a digital antenna. It's got 4K HDR, works with every streaming service (even HBO Max, though that wasn't the case for a few months at first), an interface so easy to navigate your grandma can do it, and Apple AirPlay support. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is a stellar budget streamer with features that you have to pay more for everywhere else. It's more expensive than other options but, if you're all-in on Apple, you'll get more functionality than with other devices. One of the best tricks Apple TV has is onscreen Apple Watch integration when casting Fitness+ classes from your iPhone or iPad. ![]() It's also the best way to watch Apple TV+ shows (like the excellent Ted Lasso). With integration for the deeply excellent Apple Arcade game library (and support for game controllers), Apple Music and any media you've purchased through Apple, Apple TV makes it simple to easily access everything you're hooked into in the Apple ecosystem. The Apple TV 4K’s interface is very Apple-services-forward but relatively simple to use, with large onscreen icons and clear navigation. It also has an excellent Google Assistant baked right in so that you can search for things with your voice.ĭon't let a confusing user interface keep you from a much-needed Netflix and Chill session. The Stream 4K's algorithms are smart enough to make solid suggestions without extra input. There are just enough buttons to navigate the interface and quickly access all the commands you need, though TiVo faithful will note that the venerable "Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" buttons are a thing of the past. The TiVo Stream 4K comes with with an adorable little peanut remote (just like the big ones that come with TiVo's DVRs). That's fine if you're watching TV on the couch, less so if you're watching in bed. They want you to pick it up and activate the assistant for everything from finding shows to asking about the weather. Still, It's clear that Amazon designed the remote with voice in mind. It's a little more streamlined than Roku, but doesn't have the annoying touchpad of the Apple TV remote. The Alexa-enabled voice remote splits the difference between the Apple and Roku remotes. There's voice search as well if you need it, but Roku's interface is so easy to use, you're not forced to. Some versions even come with a headphone-enabled remote so that you can listen to shows without disturbing the rest of the household. The dedicated streaming service buttons on the face of the remote get you right into your most-used apps. The side-loaded volume buttons are unique to Roku and I've come to truly appreciate how easy it is to pick up the remote and adjust things without even glancing down. Roku's Streaming Stick+ is a functionality powerhouse, with just enough buttons that you can do everything you need, but not so many that you get lost trying to use it. Out of the devices on this list, the Apple TV's remote is the least functional. The touch-sensitive navigation ends up being far too fiddly for just picking up and clicking around. Unlike other voice remotes that retain dedicated buttons, Apple clearly wants you to use Siri for the majority of your navigation. It's a relatively uniform rectangle that you'll inevitably pick up upside down (and huff at in frustration). T3 Magazine/Future via Getty Images Apple TV 4KĪpple's Siri-enabled remote is a minimalistic affair, with just a handful of buttons and a touchpad-like surface at the top. The remote might be more important than the box.
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