It's simply amazing how streaming has completely transformed how we watch movies and TV shows. Where just a few decades ago you had to wait for DVDs in the mail, pore through the shelves of VHS tapes at Blockbuster, or stay up late to catch a midnight movie. Now everything is at your fingertips, depending on the number of services you're subscribed to.
While some TVs come with streaming apps built in, not all do. That's why portable, convenient streaming devices are shine. Load in your passwords and watch your favorite shows and films wherever you have a screen and a quality Internet connection. Here are our picks for the best deals on streaming devices right now.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
Stream in high resolution with this plug-and-play device. $44.99 at Amazon$49.99 Save $5.00 Shop Now
Not the biggest price drop, but 10% off of the Fire TV Stick 4K is nothing to sneeze at. We gave it an Editors' Choice award in our review, calling it the "best media streamer you can buy for under $50." It's simple to set up, with one end going into your display's HDMI port and USB micro power on the other. The included Alexa voice remote lets you navigate your content the old-fashioned way with your fingers or through the power of speech. Performance is solid, powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz CPU with 8GB of memory.
TiVo Stream 4K
One of the oldest names in the DVR market does streaming too $24.99 at Best Buy$39.99 Save $15.00 Shop Now
Black Friday deals have already started to hit at Best Buy, and one of the deepest cuts is $15 off of this TiVo dongle and remote combo. 4K streaming has never been easier. Onboard Google Assistant gives you hands-free access to your services, and the stick boasts 8 gigs of internal storage. This offer comes with three free months of AppleTV for new subscribers, along with a free month of live TV through Fubo. Give our full review of the TiVo Stream 4K a read.
Chromecast with Google TV
1080p streaming in a sleek white package with Google Assistant $19.99 at Amazon$29.99 Save $10.00 Shop Now
If you're a Google aficionado, this is a tremendous 33% deal on a Chromecast dongle. Easy to operate and compatible with most TVs, you can install apps and services from the Google Play store with the press of a button on the simple remote. It also supports Google Assistant voice control. Performance is speedy and reliable. For a deeper dive read our full review.
Roku Ultra LT
Smooth wired or wireless streaming at a huge discount $34.00 at Walmart$80.00 Save $46.00 Shop Now
Roku's well-reviewed plug-in box is on sale at Walmart for a massive $46 off retail price. The Ultra LT box boasts intuitive access to all the major streaming services, and it even comes with a pair of headphones if you want to watch shows without annoying the rest of your household. 802.11ac dual-band wireless means zippy performance.
- Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) for $24.99 (List Price $49.99)
- Google Chromecast 4K Streaming Stick With Google TV for $37.99 (List Price $49.99)
- Roku Streaming 4K Stick Streaming Device for $29.98 (List Price $49.99)
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) for $39.99 (List Price $59.99)
- Apple TV 4K 64GB Streaming Device (2021 Model) for $169.95 (List Price $199)
- Roku Express 4K+ Streaming Media Player for $24.98 (List Price $39.99)
- Fire TV Cube 4K HDR Streaming Device (3rd Generation) for $109.99 (List Price $139.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
FAQ
What are the main kinds of streaming media devices?
Dedicated streaming devices are divided into two types. Stick-style streaming devices typically plug directly into a TV's HDMI port without an extra cable. They're smaller in form factor making them a good pick when space is at a premium. Plug-in boxes are larger, attach to the display with an additional cord, and often include additional ports like an Ethernet input for wired connection to your home network.
What kind of Internet connection do you need for streaming media?
The absolute minimum speed you need to have in your wireless or wired Internet network is 5MBps for streaming video. That's sufficient for standard definition TV or movies, but you can expect buffering and interruptions if anything else is using bandwidth. Ideally, you'll be able to tap at least 25MBps, which is what the FCC defines as "high-speed" broadband. That's the minimum you'll need for 4K or HDR video.
Which streaming device is right for me?
In general, most streaming devices are going to be pretty similar in terms of functionality, with access to the major and niche services available. Where they differentiate themselves is typically in their operating systems and added features. If you already have Amazon Echo devices, a Fire TV stick makes sense to tie into that ecosystem. Apple or Google smart home users have the same options. For even more details, read our in-depth media streaming buyer's guide.
