The best streaming device for your TV is usually the one that matches the phone and smart-home gear you already own. Roku is the simplest for anyone, Google TV Streamer suits Android and Google homes, Apple TV 4K suits iPhone homes, and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the cheapest way to get a 4K picture. Apple’s new Apple TV 4K goes on sale today, Nov. 13, 2026, so here is how all four compare.
Disclosure: TechCity may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, TechCity earns from qualifying purchases. We picked these four on research, not hands-on testing: maker spec sheets and prices from Apple, Google, Amazon and Roku, checked Nov. 13, 2026.
The short version
Pick the streaming device that matches your phone and smart home, then check that it supports your TV’s HDR format. Here are the four we would buy and who each one is for.
- Roku Ultra is the easiest pick for anyone, with Wi-Fi 6, a wired internet port and a remote you can make beep when it gets lost.
- Google TV Streamer costs $149.99 on the Google Store and doubles as a smart-home hub with Thread and Matter support.
- Apple TV 4K (4th generation) costs $299, goes on sale Nov. 13, 2026, and has the A19 chip, 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi 7.
- Fire TV Stick 4K Select launched at $39.99, which works out to about $8 a year if you keep it five years.
- The downside: the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the new Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen) do not support Dolby Vision, so check your TV’s HDR format before you buy one.
Best streaming device by the home you already have
| If you… | Get this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the simplest setup for anyone | Roku Ultra | Wi-Fi 6, wired internet port, lost-remote finder |
| Use Android or Google Home | Google TV Streamer | Smart-home hub built in, 32GB storage, wired internet port |
| Use an iPhone and other Apple gear | Apple TV 4K (4th gen) | Works with your Apple account, Find My for the remote, Thread for smart-home gear |
| Want 4K for the least money | Fire TV Stick 4K Select | Cheapest 4K stick here, plugs straight into the TV |
1. Best for most people: Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra is the one to buy for a parent, a guest room or anyone who just wants their apps to load without a learning curve. Roku’s page lists 4K at 60 frames per second, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+, Wi-Fi 6, and a built-in Ethernet port for a wired connection. It comes with the Voice Remote Pro, which is backlit, rechargeable, works hands-free and has a lost-remote finder.
The downside: Roku does not list a price on its own site (Best Buy had it at $99.99 on Nov. 13, 2026), and its Ethernet port tops out at 100 megabits per second, slower than the gigabit ports on the Google and Apple boxes.
Skip if: you want your streaming box to also run your smart-home gadgets. The Google and Apple picks do that job.
Roku Ultra · paid link
2. Best for Android and Google homes: Google TV Streamer
The Google TV Streamer costs $149.99 on the Google Store, checked Nov. 13, 2026. According to Google’s spec page, it plays 4K HDR at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, has 32GB of storage, Wi-Fi 5 and a Gigabit Ethernet port. It is also a Thread border router with Matter support, which means it can act as the hub that connects newer smart lights, locks and plugs. You can find a lost remote by pressing a button on the back of the streamer or by asking “Hey Google.”
The downside: it uses Wi-Fi 5, an older standard than the Wi-Fi 6 on the Roku Ultra or the Wi-Fi 7 on the new Apple TV. If your router is far from the TV, plug in the Ethernet cable.
Skip if: your household runs on iPhones and Apple accounts. The Apple TV 4K fits better.
Google TV Streamer · paid link
3. Best for iPhone homes: Apple TV 4K (4th generation)
The new Apple TV 4K costs $299 and goes on sale today, Nov. 13, 2026. According to Apple’s spec page, it has the A19 chip, 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi 7 and Gigabit Ethernet, and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. It also has Thread, a wireless standard that newer Matter smart-home accessories use to connect. The Siri Remote charges over USB-C and works with Find My, including Precision Finding, so your iPhone can point you to it in the couch.
The downside: it costs about twice as much as the Google TV Streamer, and if you mostly stream shows, you will not need most of that extra power. Our review of whether the new Apple TV 4K is worth $299 goes deeper.
Skip if: you mostly watch Netflix and YouTube and do not use other Apple devices.
Apple TV 4K (4th generation) · paid link
4. Best budget pick: Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick 4K Select at $39.99 in September 2025, and Best Buy listed it at $49.99 on Nov. 13, 2026. It plugs straight into an HDMI port, streams in 4K with HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and has 8GB of storage and Wi-Fi 5. It runs Amazon’s Vega OS and comes with an Alexa voice remote.
The downside: no Dolby Vision, and you need a separate adapter for a wired internet connection.
Skip if: your TV’s best picture mode is Dolby Vision, or you want a box that will feel fast for many years.
Fire TV Stick 4K Select · paid links
The Dolby Vision check before you buy a streaming device
Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are two formats that make bright and dark scenes look better on a TV that supports them. Many TVs support one and not the other. Check the HDR formats listed on your TV’s box or in its picture settings, then match them:
- Dolby Vision TV: Roku Ultra, Google TV Streamer and Apple TV 4K support it. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not.
- HDR10+ TV: all four picks support it.
- Newer Fire TV sticks: Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen), released Sept. 30, 2026 at $59.99, also leaves out Dolby Vision, so do not pay more for it expecting that format.
The upshot: a cheaper stick with the right HDR format will look better on your TV than an expensive box with the wrong one.
What each one costs per year
Most people keep a streaming device for years. Spread over five years, using the maker prices above:
| Device | Maker price | Per year over 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K (4th gen) | $299 | $59.80 |
| Google TV Streamer | $149.99 | $30.00 |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Select | $39.99 (launch price) | $8.00 |
| Roku Ultra | Not listed by Roku ($99.99 at Best Buy, Nov. 13) | $20.00 |
Whichever you pick, take five minutes to turn off ad tracking in its settings. Our guide on how to stop your smart TV from tracking what you watch covers the settings for Roku and Google TV. And if the TV itself is the problem, see the best TVs to buy this holiday season at every budget.
How we picked
We did not test these devices hands-on for this guide. We compared each maker’s own spec pages for picture formats, Wi-Fi, wired internet, storage, remote features and smart-home support, and used maker prices checked on Nov. 13, 2026. Store prices change often, so check the current price before you buy.
