In this update, we have added Chromecast with Google TV, which although launched globally in 2020, was recently launched in India. The new Chromecast runs a much improved Google TV user interface on top of Android TV and supports Ultra-HD HDR streaming in addition to other useful features like HDMI CEC and Google Assistant.
Many people can be happy watching regular TV programming using a set-top box, and indeed the quality of content on most TV channels today is much better than it was a few years ago. Movies, sports, music and news are all there, but the biggest problem with this method of accessing content remains the fixed schedule. You need to tune in at the right time or do whatever is playing when you tune in.
However, many people are now opting for a more convenient way to watch video content — streaming. The easiest way to access video content is through an app on your smartphone, which can access the content you want using either mobile data or Wi-Fi. But the biggest problem with it is the screen — it’s too small and doesn’t offer a great viewing experience.
That’s where streaming devices come in. These small gadgets only require power and a Wi-Fi connection to bring online content from free and premium streaming services, allowing you to access a large catalog of quality video content, including TV shows and movies, while enjoying the viewing experience on your big screen. TV.
Why should you buy a streaming device?
One of the best reasons to buy a streaming device is to enjoy the wide variety of content currently offered on streaming services on the big screen. While many great TV shows and movies can actually be watched on traditional cable or DTH TV, some of the best new TV shows are being released by streaming services that double up as production houses like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Moreover, many popular shows like House of the Dragon can be seen first on streaming services in India even before they air on mainstream TV channels. Apart from this, many popular shows and movies are also available to watch on demand on streaming services, so you can choose what you want to watch at your convenience.
You can pause content when you need a break or watch an entire series at once rather than waiting for an episode every week. The idea of flow suits anyone with a busy and unpredictable lifestyle.
Streaming devices require only a good internet connection and a suitable TV at home to make the most of the features of whatever device you buy. If you have a 4K HDR TV, it makes sense to choose a device that supports 4K streaming. It’s also worth choosing your device based on the streaming services you want to access; Make sure the services you use most often have the right apps on your chosen streaming device. You can also pick up a media streaming device if the software on your smart TV seems outdated or buggy.
Best Streaming Device: Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen)
Amazon’s most powerful streaming device to date, the Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) is unique for one big reason – hands-free Alexa voice assistance. Combining the capabilities of the Fire TV streaming device and the Echo smart speaker, the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) lets you stream in 4K HDR and control the experience and connected devices using just your voice.
The Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos formats for high dynamic range and sound encoding, respectively, and runs an updated Fire TV user interface. The streaming device supports all major apps including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube and Apple TV. While Amazon’s own Prime Video is highlighted on the user interface, it’s easy and convenient to access content from various other services with great apps available for the interface.
Price Rs. 12,999, the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) is quite expensive, and is priced at Rs. is much more than 5,999 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. The latter has largely the same capabilities when it comes to core functionality, supporting 4K streaming, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You can also consider the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is slightly more powerful than the Fire TV Stick 4K in terms of processing power and also benefits from better connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 router support.
However, the Fire TV Cube is more powerful in terms of hardware, and hands-free voice assistance from Amazon’s Alexa makes it a boon for power users. The hands-free functionality works well and can be used for many purposes, including controlling the TV or home entertainment setup.
Although you can connect it to any television and enjoy the benefits, the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) is best used with a high-end home entertainment setup that includes a soundbar, or AV receiver and multi-speaker system. You can use it not only to add hands-free voice capabilities to your existing home entertainment setup, but also as a capable streaming source device that can send the best possible signal to your system.
If you don’t have a 4K or HDR TV, you may prefer the Amazon Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen). It is much more affordable than the 4K version at Rs. 3,999, and was launched in late 2020 with new hardware and now sports the new Fire TV UI. While the device obviously doesn’t support Ultra-HD streaming like the 4K version, it’s fine as long as you’re using it with a Full-HD television.
If you want to save a little more money, then Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite The price is Rs. 2,999, and offers a lot of capabilities, including full-HD streaming of the Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) and access to all apps and services available on the Fire TV UI. Moreover, the Fire TV Stick range now supports Miracast screen mirroring as well.
Best for Apple users: Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen)
If you’re an Apple fan, and heavily invested in Apple’s software services, the Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) is probably on your wishlist. Price Rs. 18,900 in India later, this streaming device runs on the company’s tvOS platform and features a new and improved remote for easy navigation and voice control via Apple’s Siri voice assistant. Under the hood is the Apple A12 Bionic processor, which, while a bit dated, still has enough power for the Apple TV 4K’s streaming and gaming capabilities.
What makes this streaming device special is that it is not only good at its core capabilities, but also a very interesting casual gaming device, thanks to the Apple Arcade subscription service. For its core video streaming functionality, you get access to popular services such as Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and many others.
Apple TV 4K especially if you’re using the Apple ecosystem – both hardware and software considered. AirPlay support means Apple TV 4K will work well for mirroring your iPhone, iPad or Mac computer screen to your TV, and Ultra-HD with Dolby Vision HDR support lets you get the best out of streaming content.
Perhaps that’s the price it’s worth holding this device back and keeping it from being our top pick. here Rs. 18,900 For the 32GB version in India, the Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) is significantly more expensive than most streaming devices available today, which offer capabilities that aren’t significantly better. However, if you’re on a budget, it offers an excellent usage and streaming experience.
Also consider: Chromecast with Google TV
Chromecast with Google TV is Google’s first standalone streaming device and runs its own operating system and software, unlike previous Chromecast devices. The device runs on Android TV with the Google TV user interface and supports streaming of Ultra-HD resolution and high dynamic range content up to Dolby Vision format. This makes it capable of handling most mainstream resolutions, and Android TV’s support for over 7,000 apps is another bonus.
A bit expensive though at Rs. 6,399, Chromecast with Google TV’s convenient form factor and excellent remote make it a capable and convenient device that is easy to use. Google Assistant support also helps, but the major selling point here is the excellent Google TV UI that provides great content recommendations on major apps and services. It’s definitely worth considering, especially if you’re already used to Google Assistant and Android TV.
How we picked the best streaming devices
We have used these products extensively ourselves, and have made our recommendations based on our experiences with the products and what we believe is the best value for money and performance. We’ve used and reviewed many competing products in this segment, and we’ve added these to our recommendations along with our long-term experiences with smart TVs and media streaming devices.
Alternatives to these streaming devices
Various other streaming devices are now available in India, with many affordable options essentially enabling screen mirroring from a smartphone or computer. If you have the ability to shop outside India, options like the Roku range and Nvidia Shield TV may also be worth considering.
An affordable alternative to Chromecast with Google TV is the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick, which costs Rs. 3,999 In India. It usefully runs the Google TV user interface, but falls a little short due to the lack of support for Dolby Vision HDR. You can also consider alternatives from Xiaomi, such as the Rs. 3,999 Mi Box 4K.
It can also be beneficial to use a gaming console to stream movies and TV shows, if you already have one. Modern consoles like the Sony PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X support 4K HDR streaming and have dedicated apps for popular services.
You can also buy a smart TV with a good operating system like Android TV or webOS and you don’t need a separate streaming device at all. Finally, using an HDMI cable to connect your laptop or computer to your TV is the most affordable and easiest way to connect smart to the big screen. You can simply stream content through dedicated apps or web browsers and watch comfortably on the big screen.
