10 Most Popular Connected TV Devices for Streaming

With the number of devices designed to help you stream content via your television, or connected TV, growing each year, it can take time to keep track of all the changes to the options available to you. 

However, these ten connected TV devices are great examples of where technology is headed regarding streaming content and are worth checking out if you’re looking for new ways to watch your favorite movies and shows.

What is Connected TV

You’ve heard about it and probably seen a commercial, but what is connected to the TV? Connected TV (also known as internet TV, web TV, over-the-top (OTT), and IPTV) has been around since the early 2000s, and though it’s not universally adopted yet, it’s certainly getting there! So what exactly does this mean? 

With connected TV, you can access live and on-demand programming by streaming media directly to your television via an internet connection. Below, we cherry-picked and reviewed the ten best-connected TV devices worth checking out. 

Also Read:- Best Devices to Binge-Watch HBO Max in Australia!

The Roku Express is a basic, entry-level player that offers access to over 500,000 movies and television shows. It comes with an HDMI cable and has an intuitive interface which is perfect for first-time users of streaming devices. 

The remote control has buttons that allow you to browse content easily or search by voice. It also comes with a headphone jack to watch your favorite programming without disturbing others in the room. In addition, you can connect the device to any TV set with an HDMI port.

If you are looking for something more high-tech than the Roku Express, this is right up your alley! You will need to use your smartphone or tablet to stream videos from apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and more. 

The advantage is that your phone will be the controller while giving you access to all these great features. Setup requires simply plugging the device into one of the HDMI ports on your TV and connecting it to power via a USB cord. 

Once complete, use a WiFi connection on your mobile device to connect to Chromecast, open the desired app (such as Netflix), and select “Cast” from inside the app before selecting the screen with your connected TV listed.

The Apple TV 4K is a great device compatible with AirPlay and HomeKit, making it perfect for business owners looking to stream their content on a 4K television. AirPlay allows you to push content from your mobile device or computer to the Apple TV, while HomeKit controls everything from lights, locks, and thermostats remotely. 

Creating personalized playlists of your favorite movies, shows, and music in one place also sets this device apart from its competitors. 

For those business owners looking for a simple solution without any complicated features, the Apple TV 4K is perfect! In addition, business owners should consider getting this product if they want an affordable stream of their content on a larger screen.

Apple TV allows you to stream movies and TV shows within the entire Apple ecosystem. In addition, Apple TV offers apps like Fitness+, Apple’s workout program, and movies, music, and podcasts available on iTunes.

The Amazon Fire Stick is one of the market’s most popular and affordable streaming devices. It plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and allows you to stream content from various services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, and Amazon Prime Video. 

The device also has a remote control to easily browse menus and search for your favorite movies or shows without getting off the couch. And if you’re looking for something specific, just ask for “Alexa.” 

The Fire Stick has an easy-to-use interface that will make it easy for first-time users to learn how to use it in minutes. Plus, its fast quad-core processor means you won’t have any buffering problems watching 4K videos. 

Also Read:- Best live Tv streaming Services.

VIZIO SmartCast M-Series and P-Series are a family of televisions with powerful performance and stunning picture quality. With the VIZIO SmartCast app, you can stream content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and more on your VIZIO display. 

In addition, the built-in Google Chromecast and Apple Airplay functionality allow you to cast videos from thousands of apps to your television. 

To get started, plug the included HDMI cable into your M-Sereis or P-Series display and then connect to your WiFi network. Once connected, use any of these popular streaming apps for instant entertainment.

The NVIDIA Shield is a great device if you’re looking to stream Netflix, Hulu, and other popular apps. It also has a built-in Google Chromecast to use your phone as a remote control. The downside is that it’s expensive and has no preloaded streaming services. You’ll need to buy these separately from the app store on your device. 

In addition to its fast TegraX1+ processor, the Shield TV Pro supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and two USB-C ports. Furthermore, this model streams in native 4K and can upscale 720P and 1080P video to 4K with the company’s AI neural network. 

Besides the Ethernet port, HDMI connector, and microSD card slot, this device runs on Android, so you can access most Google Play Store titles. 

The main difference between this machine and similar products is that the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro will give you access to NVIDIA’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service. The service uses your fast internet connection to provide a cinematic-quality experience.

The SkyStream ONE is a streaming device that can be used with any screen, whether an old-school TV or a smartphone. It works by connecting to your WiFi network and then lets you stream your favorite channels, shows, and movies from anywhere in the world. 

Plus, it has installed apps like YouTube and Netflix so that you can get started immediately. With SkyStream ONE, you’ll never have to worry about getting out of bed at 2 am just because there’s no episode of The Walking Dead on until morning. Above all, this device is super compact, so it won’t take up too much space on your nightstand! 

Tivo Stream 4K is a great streamer that deserves a place in this hall. Unlike other streaming devices, it comes with HBO and The Peacock Network. Sling TV users will like its live TV integration, and Google Assistant is there to follow your voice commands.

Unfortunately, we would have liked to see a better programming interface with the Stream app and more intuitively programmed recommendations for what we’re interested in, as well as the gold-standard treatments for Hulu and YouTube TV.

The Slingbox M2 is a streaming device with a built-in WiFi adapter to connect to the internet without any cables. It also has a dual tuner, which can record two shows simultaneously. This device is affordable and doesn’t have bells and whistles like voice control or 4K capabilities. 

However, if you want to be able to stream your favorite show from anywhere in the world, then this is a great choice! 

For Comcast Xfinity Internet customers, Flex gives them access to streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, along with the ability to monitor and control other devices on the network. 

While the number of available services on Flex is less than on some other devices—i.e., no Disney+ or Spotify—and the inability to access these limits its usefulness, it also gets earlier access to some streaming services such as NBC’s Peacock that debuts nationwide in July. 

If Peacock Premium isn’t yet available on Flex devices (it should arrive soon), there’s no harm in picking one up and waiting for other streaming services to become available.

Wrapping up

It’s not surprising that many people now stream content on their TVs. The shift in how we consume media is evident, and with so many connected devices on the market, it can take time to choose one. However, We hope this list has helped you find the perfect device for your needs!

---

Share