This article / review is targeted mostly towards less tech-oriented folks... and/or folks looking for a more thrifty solution.
Getting "streaming" content to a TV screen is a common issue. Any streaming player can be a solution. The price range can be about $35 to $100 (or more). Best Buy (or any similar big-box store) is a good place to shop locally, if you want more variety.
I have not looked at a full spectrum of these products for a while (3 years?), so upon looking a bit more closely, I learned a bit. Prices are a lot different (the basics are a lot lower).
The "Roku" box is always the one I recommend first. It is the easiest to use (and get help for), and less likely to fail (it is nearly a 100% solid-state device, with the buttons being the only mechanical moving parts). It is a very solid product. They pretty much set the standard that everyone else follows.
$90 ... @ Costco
This would be a good choice because of the ease of dealing with Costco, and the "Concierge Service" they offer with all electronics. I've used that, and it is outstanding. Also: This is the top of the line device for Roku, so it would meet any possible need in the family. ... It may be "overkill" though, as it is capable of producing an image far more advanced than most current TV's that folks hove (though it will automatically adjust for your TV resolution). ... It has all the top-notch extras you can get though, if that is what you want.
Soooo...
Roku has 7 products ... you may find one of those more to your liking.
Among them is the:
$30 ... @ Best Buy
... Now that I review the products... this may be the best bet for most folks. It is the best match for any HD or Full-HD TV you are using.
(You do not need to consider the Express+, if your TV has an available HDMI port.)
(My 90 y/o mother uses a Roku device that is probably most similar to the Roku Express.)
Roku Premiere 3920R - $40 ... is a good choice because it will match up better to a more advanced TV. But those TV's often have something like this built-in. (So I suspect that this product has a very narrow audience range.)
The next step up is the Premiere+ ($50) ... which includes a remote with voice capability. You may find this worth it, but I have never used one, so I cannot vouch for their ease of use. I suspect it is pretty good though. Voice recognition is extremely advanced these days.
The Roku "Streaming Stick" ($50) is basically a compact version of the Premiere+.
The Roku "Streaming Stick+" ($60) is basically a compact version of the Ultra 4K, with a bit less functionality.
For more details, see: How to pick the right Roku - Wired Magazine
Other Devices
Costco has a Blu-Ray player that can add "Smart TV" functionality to your current TV. If you do not have a Blu-Ray player, this could be a good solution. Big-box stores have many other choices. The reviews at Costco are all over the map, but I own one of these, and so far so-good. (I mostly use it to just play DVD & Blu-Ray disks to my TV / PC screen.)
$60 @ Costco
... The SNAFU with these are that they are more "mechanical"... which makes them more susceptible to failure.
The Google "Chromecast" device is very popular. They run about $35.
These are nifty gizmos, but they are intended to stream from a Smart-Phone or Tablet (PC-device)... which means you need one of those too. "The Kids" will love this, but I have found that less "tech oriented" folks find it harder to use.
... This is an excellent option if you want to use a Tablet PC more, as it is far more versatile than a simple Roku box, but the learning curve is substantial.
... You may want to consider adding this someday. It makes it easy for visitors to "stream" to your TV (so it is just a nice household feature to have). You may need / want to add a HDMI hub though, if you run out of ports, and do not want to plug / unplug devices on a regular basis.
... These (the newer ones) also work with "Google Home" (i.e. "OK Google"), which is "Smart Home" tech, like the Amazon "Alexa" products.
The last device I will mention in this category is the Fire TV Stick - from Amazon ($40), which interfaces nicely with their "Alexa" products. This is very similar to the Roku "Stick" products.
People choose one or the other (or both) depending on which is their favorite product line (Google vs Amazon). My money is on Google for longevity of smart home tech, but Amazon packages things very nicely. It is a pretty close race right now.
Apple TV is another option, starting at about $150 (for the standard version), and $180+ for the "4K" version (the latest & greatest in TV display tech). I think Apple is the best, but everything they do costs more, so unless you really like spending money on high-tech stuff, it is probably not the best choice.
4K / UHD is quite nice. You see these on display at all tech stores (including Costco). You pay for it though... and true 4K content is limited (just like when Full HD & Blu-Ray were first introduced).
That is a good article... if you want to know more.
In a nutshell, the current digital TV tech out there in order (of release, or lowest to highest resolution) is:
- standard definition (480p/540p) ...
- Very rare in digital, as it is mostly a 4:3 (square) aspect ratio (like old analog "tube" TV's).
- The following are all closer to the current popular favorite, 16:9 (rectangular) format:
- high definition (720p)
- full high definition (1080i/p)
- ultra high definition (2160p)
Most TV's today are either HD (#2), or Full HD (#3)... In either case, all the recommended products above will work with it.
:-)
