THE WINNER
Roku Streaming Stick+
Smart functionality that absolutely anyone can use
A
T LEAST THUS far, the Apple TV
app doesn’t play nicely with any of
these 4K streamers. So why would
you want one? It’s simple: each and every
one of them makes even a smart TV more
pleasing to use, and just that little bit
smarter — or turns any old TV into a smart
one. And considering that the revamped
Apple TV app is (at this point) a collection
of other subscription services, which have
their own apps and generally do support
these devices, you’re not missing out on
much until Apple TV+ launches. Plus,don’t forget that the hardware Apple TV
is still a thing — if Apple TV+ is your aim,
and you don’t have a Samsung TV made
in the last year or so, that’s the way to
guarantee compatibility.
Each of the three has their own
benefits, but we’ve opted for the Roku as
our winner. It doesn’t quite have the flash
of the Fire TV Stick+ or the simplicity of
the Chromecast, but it’s a workhorse with
an interface anyone can understand.
Throw a visitor the remote, and they’ll
have content on your screen in seconds.
Amazon Fire TV
Stick 4K
$49.99 From amazon.com
Specs Alexa voice remote, HDR, HDR10+Our first reaction to the
Fire TV 4K was surprise:
it’s super slick, with a
quick setup pulled off
entirely on the TV (as long as you have
an existing Amazon account) and lots of
streaming app compatibility. Its abilities
even extend as far as games, with titles
like Asphalt 8 entirely playable through
its awkward remote control. It’s not all
roses — the integrated Alexa assistant is
finicky and doesn’t seem to like playing
with apps like Plex, its screen mirroring
function doesn’t work with iOS or macOS,
and digging down through categories
is infuriatingly difficult. But the overall
experience is pleasant and, as a
standalone device, its neat remote makes
it a great way to smarten up a dumb TV.
Roku Streaming
Stick+
$59.99 From roku.com
Specs Remote, HDR, HDR10Close in physical stature to
the Amazon Fire TV 4K
(but lacking its short HDMI
extension cable, meaning this will jut out
of the back or side of your TV), the
remote–toting Roku is similar in features,
simple to set up, and straightforward to
get streaming on. And its independent
nature means it might well have the
most wide–ranging app support, too. It’s
unfussy, and we appreciate the generally
calm interface, which keeps all the
services separate and easy to access. You
can also use it in a similar manner to a
Chromecast; if your phone app supports
it, you can cast content straight to the
Roku without needing to use its interface.
That’s a plus, but it does feel less
luxurious than the Fire TV 4K.
Google Chromecast
Ultra
$59.99 From store.google.com
Specs Wireless only, HDRWhile the other two
units here add smart
(or perhaps smarter)
features to your TV, the
Chromecast reroutes those smarts to
add them to your phone or web browser
instead. There’s no included remote
control, and no hosting apps on the
device itself: the Chromecast is simply
a conduit for your media. That means
you won’t have to deal with any awkward
or inconsistent on–board apps, but it
does push the problem to your phone.
Many apps are happy to stream to
a Chromecast, some (including Apple
TV, thus far) are not. For those that do
work, the Chromecast is a quick and easy
way to beam content to a TV. It’s simple,
reliable, and instant.4K–capable smart TV streamers
With an easy–to–use interface and wide–
ranging app support, the Roku gets top spot.n use
Image rights from top–left: Amazon, Roku, Google, Roku.Next-gen television
maclife.comAUG 2019 73