
But more actionably, it means that in addition to being able to “cast” video and music from your phone, laptop, etc., Chromecast has all the standalone app capabilities of its competitors. What does that mean? It means that Google is really bad at telling you what stuff does.
#CHROMECAST VS ROKU TV FULL#
The newest version of the Chromecast isn’t really a Chromecast anymore: it’s “ Chromecast with Google TV,” which is to say, Android TV, which is a full operating system. And thanks to a recent update, Roku also finally has access to HBO Max.Ĭhromecast: More Options, More Issues Justin Duino / Review Geek You have to go into the apps themselves to start browsing content.
#CHROMECAST VS ROKU TV PLUS#
Roku’s homepage is about the apps, just the apps, ma’am: Users see a grid of the services they can access, plus live TV and HDMI inputs if their TV is Roku-branded. And all of them are going to be inexpensive compared to other options in the same form factor.īut Roku is also the most focused of the popular smart TV platforms, if only because its approach is somewhat old-fashioned. You might even find a soundbar or two that runs it. First, it’s the most widely available: In pretty much any electronics store, online or brick-and-mortar, you’re going to find both Roku streaming sticks and TVs preloaded with Roku software. Roku gets our top spot for a couple of reasons. Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity Roku And despite its rock-bottom pricing, the device delivers a good experience and access to all popular streaming services.įinally, if you prefer Roku's style of content delivery without overwhelming choices, Apple TV 4K (2022) is the closest you can get on that front, but you'll have to shell out a pretty penny for it.Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity At just $20, it can stream in 4K and comes with the Google TV interface. Value-conscious buyers or people on a tight budget will appreciate the Onn Google TV 4K Streaming Box.
#CHROMECAST VS ROKU TV PC#
It offers 4K streaming from all popular services and can play PC games in 4K HDR via GeForce Now. It offers a modern user interface, a snappy performance, and access to its solid voice assistant.īut if you need power and versatility, it's hard to go wrong with Nvidia Shield TV Pro. Our editor's choice, the Chromecast with Google TV (4K), has a lot going for it.

But if you want to switch, plenty of excellent alternative streaming devices are on the market. Roku media streamers have several advantages, with the easy-to-use interface being one of the big ones.

Replace your Roku with a new media streamer The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) makes sense if you care for a smart speaker and value hands-free access to Alexa voice commands. All these features and functionalities will set you back $140, plus the cost of an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable, as one is not included in the box. You can use it to find or play content, control smart home devices, and do much more without needing a remote - something that's impossible on other Amazon Fire TV streamers. The Amazon streamer offers hands-free access to Alexa voice assistant thanks to its smart speaker internals. The HDMI input comes in handy if your TV lacks HDMI inputs. There's also an HDMI input to pass through a gaming console, router, cable TV box, or another device's output through it to the TV. Other Cube highlights include the ability to play 4K video, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. As a result, it's quick, and you won't face any lag or slow-down. It's also the fastest and most powerful media streamer in Amazon's portfolio. The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) differs from any of our other recommendations because it does the double duty of a media streamer and a smart speaker. Also, the Ethernet port and thread networking support is limited to the more expensive 128GB model. And you'll need an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable to fully realize its potential. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't bundle an HDMI cable in the box. The Apple TV 4K also supports all major HDR standards, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and it can decode or pass through Dolby Atmos surround-sound audio format. The 3rd generation Apple TV, the latest version of the device, is considerably cheaper than its predecessors and starts at $129.įor this price, you get a powerful Apple A15 Bionic chip to keep everything running smoothly, an extremely easy-to-use user interface, a well-stocked app collection, and support for game controllers.

If you are already a part of the Apple ecosystem, there is no better Roku alternative. The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) may be more expensive than every Roku streaming device, but it's one of the best media streamers on the market, if not the best. $147 at Amazon $150 at B&H Photo Video $130 at Best Buy
