Stuff UK — June 2017

TEST

WINNER

GROUP TEST STREAMING STICKS

BEST FOR

SLICK

SEARCH

BEST FOR

BUDGET

BASICS

BEST FOR

BUTTON

BASHING

What is it?

The second edition of Google’s diddy disc is

getting on two years old now, and it’s starting

to show its age. With no support for Amazon

Instant Video it’s still locking you out from

Netflix’s biggest rival – a fault that’s not quite

made up for by the ability to ‘cast’ content to

your TV from other devices. And it doesn’t

come with a remote, which can be a pain if

you’re up to other stuff on your phone.

Is it any good?

What the Chromecast does do, it does

extremely well. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Now

TV and loads more are all available to dig into,

while setup is absolutely effortless – you’ll

be slack-jawed in wonderment at The OA in

just a couple of minutes. Wi-fi reception is

sterling, so cliffhangers are rarely interrupted

with unwanted buffering.

Price £30 / stuff.tv/ChromecastHD

What is it?
A meat-and-potatoes kind of streamer, this
Roku doesn’t boast any fancy tricks but does
come with a dedicated remote and a wealth of
content to treat your peepers to. Roku claims
it’s got over 2000 channels, but all you need
to know is that every major service you’d want
is bundled in – alongside the WWE Network
and plenty more curios. Its app has also been
spruced up to make searches a doddle.

Is it any good?
The original Roku stick was frustratingly
slow to use, but that’s all been sorted with
a new quad-core processor that flits across
menu screens in breezy fashion. So long
as you don’t lose it, this stick’s diminutive
remote is a nice touch and even comes with
buttons allowing you to skip directly to Netflix,
YouTube and the Google Play store.

Price £40 / stuff.tv/RokuStick

What is it?

Amazon has pepped up its streaming stick so

it’s now faster than ever and supports voice

commands via the Alexa assistant. You know,

the same smartarse that’s found in the Echo

and Echo Dot. This means it’s the cheapest

Alexa-enabled device you can own, as well

as an impeccable streamer in its own right. It

has almost all the apps you’d hope for... even

Amazon’s streaming nemesis, Netflix.

Is it any good?

This is both faster and slicker to use than

the old Fire TV Stick. Part of that is due to

an updated processor, but it’s really voice

search and a refreshed user interface that

make the difference. It presents you with a

slew of content to quickly rifle through – or

just hold down a button on the remote and

say what you’re looking for out loud.

Price £40 / stuff.tv/FireStick

Roku Streaming Stick Google Chromecast

Stuck with a non-smart TV? These widgets will introduce it to a new world of VoD

Streaming sticks

Stuff says ++++,

A good streaming power-up, but there are

better alternatives about

Stuff says +++++
An unfussy streaming stick that supports all
the major streaming platforms

Stuff says +++++

Amazon’s improved magic wand is an

absolute bargain of a streaming stick

3 OF THE BEST

Amazon Fire TV Stick