Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Alexa remote review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Advanced and brilliant
It’s a consummate streamer with all the popular streaming apps and the latest wi-fi protocols to give you the best chance of never seeing a buffering wheel. The only catch is that you could spend less on one of the cheaper Fire Sticks and get just as good an experience.
- Supports loads of streaming apps
- Simple to set up and use
- Wi-fi 6 helps with reliable streaming
- Voice control is situational but useful
- Voice control doesn’t work with all apps
- No built-in DLNA
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa remote (2021) review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Top of the class
It’s a fantastic device that does everything you want it to and more. It’s simple to use, slick, quick and absolutely worth buying.
- Simple to set up and use
- Supports loads of streaming apps
- Voice control is situational but useful
- Voice control doesn’t work with all apps
- No built-in DLNA
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD with Alexa remote (2021) review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: The pinnacle of HD streaming
It’s a complete streamer that has everything you could hope for aside from 4K content. We’d recommend a 4K streamer if you have a 4K TV, so you have the option of getting 4K content if you want it, but if you’re happy with HD you’ll be happy with the Fire TV Stick.
- Simple to use
- Great remote
- Voice control works well
- Plenty of apps
- Not 4K
- Voice control doesn’t work in all apps
Amazon Fire TV Stick (3rd gen) with Alexa Voice Remote review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Almost flawless
It’s a remarkable device and the new gold standard for Full HD streamers. The added volume controls are handy, but you could save £10 by choosing the equally brilliant Fire TV Stick Lite.
- Great picture and sound
- Easy to use
- Plenty of apps
- Voice control is useful
- Can control the TV volume and power
- Some features could be better explained
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Voice Remote review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: An amazing streamer that will take some beating
It’s a fantastic streamer that’s looks good, sounds great and is a breeze to use. If you want a Full HD streamer, this is the one to go for.
- Great picture and sound
- Easy to use
- Plenty of apps
- Voice control is useful
- Can control volume and power of the TV
- Some features could be better explained
Amazon Fire TV Stick with 4K and Alexa review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: A red-hot little 4K streamer
It’s comfortably one of the best 4K streamers around. Picture and sound are exemplary, and using your voice to search for what you want to watch is an invaluable time save.
- Wonderfully detailed 4K and HD picture
- Brilliant sound
- Voice search works well
- Easy to set up
- No DLNA support
Amazon Fire TV Cube review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: A fantastic hybrid streamer
It’s an excellent streamer and comfortably one of the best available. It’s pricey though, so choose a cheaper model if you don’t want the smart speaker capabilities, too.
- Great picture and sound
- Alexa voice control is good for finding content
- Easy to use
- Nothing really
Amazon Fire TV Stick (2nd gen) with Alexa Voice Remote review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Another success for Amazon
The new Fire TV Stick does improve on its predecessor, but only slightly. The only real difference is the addition of volume and mute buttons to the remote, meaning you don’t necessarily need to keep your TV remote on hand. It costs £5 more than the first-generation streamer, so if you like the idea of added mute and volume buttons then choose this new model.
- Exceptional sound and picture quality
- Simple to set up and use
- Voice search is great
- No DLNA support
Roku Streaming Stick+ (3810EU) review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: An outstanding 4K streamer
Not only is this Roku’s best ever internet TV box, it’s the (joint) best 4K streamer on the market. It’s packed with apps, a pleasure to use, and is discreet and reasonably priced enough to be a welcome addition in almost any living room. A true Best Buy.
- Fantastic 4K HDR picture
- Loads of apps
- Very accessible
- You’d be hard pushed to find any
Google Chromecast with Google TV review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: The evolution of the Chromecast is a success
It’s a tremendous 4K streamer that looks great and is simple to use. Some will love the new remote, while others will prefer using their phone to control things, but having a Chromecast with both is a welcome option.
- Looks and sounds great
- Simple to use
- Good remote
- Casting works well
- Google TV recommendations are useful
- No way of ordering apps you’ve downloaded in the ‘for you’ menu
- Missing All 4 and Apple TV
Roku Express 4K review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: An expression of quality
The difference between this and more expensive Roku streamers is minimal. If you want a simple-to-use device that has good picture and sound, and plenty of apps then the Best Buy Roku Express 4K fits the bill nicely.
- Great little remote
- Brilliant picture and sound
- Simple interface
- Useful smartphone app adds voice control
- Menus are slow to load
Sky NOW TV Smart Stick review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Small but brilliant
The Sky Now TV Smart Stick is about as good as you can get when it comes to great HD pictures and crystal-clear sound. It’s also very easy to use. Performing better than many devices that cost far more, it’s clear to see why we rate this streamer so highly.
- Tiny
- Great pictures and sound
- Plenty of content available
- Unbelievably cheap
- Not 4K
- Software updates may be glitchy
- Missing some popular apps
Apple TV 4K (2021) – 2nd generation review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Good option for Apple users only
If you don’t have Apple computers and phones already then there’s really nothing here that you can’t get far cheaper from a Google Chromecast or an Amazon Fire TV Stick. There are tonnes of games you can play, which is a more unusual thing the Apple TV has going for it, but is that worth an extra £100 over the alternatives? For most people, probably not.
- Works well with other Apple devices
- Good picture and sound
- Well-designed menus
- Voice control works well
- No way of casting from non-Apple devices
- The touchpad is a fiddly way to navigate the device
- HDMI cable not included
Roku Premiere review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Cheaper than most 4K streamers and almost as good
The Premiere is great, but in the competitive world of TV streamers it’s not quite a Best Buy. For £10 more you could get an Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa. Voice control makes it much easier to find shows to watch, but if this doesn’t bother you then this is a fine choice.
- Great picture and sound
- Simple to use
- Good remote
- Plenty of apps
- Needs to be visible for the remote to work
- A bit slow
- No voice control
Apple TV HD (2021) review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Other streamers do more for less
Only Apple users need apply. If you want to cast from your iPhone or iPad then this, and the 4K version, are your only option. But there’s nothing else here that other streamers don’t do as well or better for a far cheaper price.
- You can cast to it from Apple devices
- Good picture and sound
- Well-designed menus
- Voice control works well
- But you can’t cast too it from non-Apple devices
- The touchpad is a fiddly way to navigate the device
- HDMI cable not included
Google Chromecast Ultra review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Gets most things right
The Google Chromecast Ultra doesn’t disappoint. The 4K picture is superb. It’s missing apps which keep it from a Best Buy score.
- 4K support
- Discreet design
- Tons of apps
- Doesn’t do a great deal differently from the original
- Cheaper Chromecast
Google Chromecast 3rd Gen review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: One of the best HD streamers
Though not quite a Best Buy, it’s still another excellent streamer from Google. It’s intuitive to use, controllable from your phone and with your voice, and the picture quality is wonderful. The only main downside is the lack of the Amazon Video app and 4K support, but you can buy a Chromecast Ultra if you want to see the highest resolution content that Netflix has to offer.
- Crisp detailed picture
- Accurate colours
- Easy to control with the Google Home app
- Sounds excellent
- No Amazon Video app
- Lack of a dedicated remote can cause confusion when using some apps
Sony PlayStation 4 review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: Versatile
It’s more expensive than the vast majority of standard internet TV devices and it’s not the best. If you’ve already got one for gaming or its Blu-ray player then you don’t need to rush out and get another streamer, but don’t buy it just to access streaming and catch-up apps.
- Lots of features
- Great HD picture
- Easy to use
- Some fan noise
- Expensive
Roku Express review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: A decent option
It’s a fine streamer, but the Best Buy Sky Now TV Smart Stick is the way to go if you want an HD streamer. It’s half the price of the Roku, too.
- Easy to set up and use
- Good picture and sound quality
- No DLNA
- A bit slow
NVIDIA Shield TV review
Test scoreShow Context
verdict: The ideal streamer if you want to stream games and TV
It’s a good streamer, but it is pricier than most. If you don’t think you’ll take advantage of the game streaming capabilities, then there’s no reason to buy this over an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Now TV Box.
- Great picture and sound
- Game streaming will be useful for some
- Backlit remote
- Voice search is useful
- Ethernet port for wired internet
- Much more expensive than most streamers
- No All 4 or Now TV at time of review
- Difficult to set up advanced features
