![]() It comes with 8 gigabytes of storage and 2GB of memory, rather than the 16GB/3GB in the Pro. The Shield TV lacks the two USB slots found on the Pro but has a microUSB card slot for adding storage. The Shield has a remote-finder button on the unit, a feature available only via the Shield TV app with the Pro model.Īpart from price, the main differences between the models are related to memory and storage. There’s built-in support for the voice-powered Google Assistant, and they will work with Amazon Alexa devices. Both systems’ smarts are based on the Android TV platform. The Nvidia Shield TV and the pricier Nvidia Shield TV Pro model (below) both have the same fast processor and artificial intelligence upscaling that will convert lower-resolution content to 4K, plus support for Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X 3D sound. With the Apple TV app now becoming available on more devices, including smart TVs and streaming players, owning an Apple TV may become less important than in the past. A USB-C charging port replaces Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector.īest for: Those who are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and use iTunes for content-and don’t mind paying a premium for an Apple device. (It also supports Dolby Atmos 3D sound.) Like the model it’s replacing, the new Apple TV 4K comes with a redesigned Siri remote that has a clickpad rather than the love-it-or-hate-it touchpad. It also has a faster processor and adds HDR10+ support in addition to Dolby Vision. (We tested the 128GB model.) The only real differences between the two are price, and that the 128GB version has an Ethernet jack for a wired connection to your network. While the 32-gigabyte version, $129, is less expensive than its predecessor, it remains among the priciest streaming players available. The streaming devices below are listed alphabetically.Īpple TV has always made sense for those who already live in Apple’s world, and the new Apple TV 4K is no exception. Like all the products CR tests and rates, we buy all our streaming devices at retail outlets, just like you might. We also judge companies by how they handle security procedures, such as encrypting all user communications by default, enabling automatic security updates, and protecting against known security vulnerabilities.Ĭonsumer Reports is a nonprofit member organization that works to create a fairer, safer marketplace. We evaluate the various ways brands collect, use, and share consumer data how well they protect it and how transparent the companies are about their data practices. ![]() Some models also support the Dolby Vision or HDR10+ format.Ĭonsumer Reports has now added data privacy and security scores in the ratings for all the streaming devices we test, in addition to attributes such as picture quality and ease of use. All these models support the HDR10 format, and many now also support HLG, which is likely to be used by some “Next Gen TV” broadcasters when they start sending out these new over-the-air TV signals to antennas. When done right, HDR boosts a TV’s brightness, contrast, and color, making the pictures on the screen look more like real life. The newest 4K models in our streaming media device ratings support high dynamic range (HDR) technology. Prices for the 12 models below range from about $35 to $200, and they fluctuate throughout the year, so it pays to look for deals. ![]() In general, streaming devices are either set-top models or small stick-style players that plug directly into an HDMI slot on the TV. You need to decide on a platform as well as a specific model. The 4K streaming media device market is dominated by just a few software platforms: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Roku. And if your smart TV is a few years old, you might find that the apps for streaming services you use are outdated or missing altogether. These add-on devices might outperform your smart TV’s built-in system, or they might offer features or services you can’t get from that TV. ![]() In my own home, four of our five smart TVs are connected to either an Amazon Fire TV, an Apple TV, or a Roku streaming player. In addition, plenty of us who have smart TVs decide to add a streaming device. However, that still leaves a lot of people who need a streaming device to access online streaming services, from Amazon Prime to YouTube TV. homes with internet access now own a smart TV, according to research firm Parks Associates. If you’ve bought a TV lately, there’s a good chance that it’s a smart TV with the ability to stream TV shows and movies, no extra devices needed. ![]()
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