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The 10 Best Streaming Devices as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best streaming devices you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Apple TV 4K

9.1Best overall
Check price on Amazon ≈ £149
Best value

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

8.6Best value 4K
Check price on Amazon ≈ £69
Also great

Google TV Streamer

8.8Best for Google
Check price on Amazon ≈ £99

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

How we ranked these streaming devices

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each streaming device does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#Streaming DevicesScoreBest forMax resApprox priceAmazon links
1Apple TV 4K9.1Best overall4K Dolby Vision£149View Price
2Google TV Streamer8.8Best for Google4K Dolby Vision£99View Price
3Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max8.6Best value 4K4K Dolby Vision£69View Price
4Nvidia Shield TV Pro8.6Best for power users4K Dolby Vision£199View Price
5Roku Streaming Stick 4K8.5Best simple4K Dolby Vision£49View Price
6Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K8.3Best budget 4K4K Dolby Vision£49View Price
7Roku Express 4K+8.2Best cheap Roku4K HDR10£39View Price
8Amazon Fire TV Stick HD8.0Best for old TVs1080p£39View Price
9Chromecast (Google TV) HD7.9Best budget Google1080p£29View Price
10Roku Express7.6Best ultra-budget1080p£25View Price
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The full ranking

1
Best overall

Apple TV 4K

9.1Our number one pick.

The Apple TV 4K is the premium streamer to beat, with a slick, ad-free interface, superb app support, fast performance and excellent Dolby Vision and Atmos. It costs far more than a stick, but it is the smoothest, most private streaming box around.

Performance: 9.2Interface: 9.4Features: 9.0Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Fast, ad-free interface
  • Excellent app and format support
  • Private and polished
Cons
  • Expensive for a streamer
  • Leans to the Apple ecosystem
Check price on Amazon≈ £149
2
Best for Google

Google TV Streamer

8.8A superb runner-up.

The Google TV Streamer replaces the Chromecast with a proper box, adding faster performance, more storage and a helpful content-aggregating home screen with smart-home controls. It shows some ads, but it is a capable, affordable 4K streamer.

Performance: 8.8Interface: 8.8Features: 9.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Fast with more storage
  • Great content aggregation
  • Smart-home hub
Cons
  • Some ads
  • Remote is basic
Check price on Amazon≈ £99
3
Best value 4K

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

8.6Rounds out our top three.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the value champion, a quick 4K stick with Wi-Fi 6 and wide app support that plugs neatly behind any TV. The interface pushes Amazon content and ads, but for the price it is excellent.

Performance: 8.6Interface: 8.0Features: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Fast 4K stick
  • Wi-Fi 6
  • Great value
Cons
  • Ad-heavy interface
  • Pushes Amazon content
Check price on Amazon≈ £69
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4
Best for power users

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

8.6A standout in the upper half.

The Shield TV Pro remains the enthusiast's streamer, with strong performance, excellent AI upscaling, Plex server support and proper gaming options. It is old and pricey now, but nothing else does as much for tinkerers.

Performance: 9.0Interface: 8.4Features: 9.2Value: 8.0
Pros
  • Excellent AI upscaling
  • Plex server and gaming
  • Powerful
Cons
  • Expensive and ageing
  • Overkill for casual users
Check price on Amazon≈ £199
5
Best simple

Roku Streaming Stick 4K

8.5A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K pairs 4K HDR with Roku's clean, neutral and beloved interface that does not favour one service, making it the easy recommendation for simplicity. It is a touch less powerful than premium boxes, but it just works.

Performance: 8.4Interface: 8.8Features: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Clean, neutral interface
  • 4K HDR
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Less powerful than boxes
  • Basic remote
Check price on Amazon≈ £49
6
Best budget 4K

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

8.3Great value in the middle of the pack.

The standard Fire TV Stick 4K offers most of the Max's experience for less, a solid budget route to 4K HDR streaming. It is slightly slower and just as ad-heavy, but it is great value.

Performance: 8.2Interface: 8.0Features: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Affordable 4K HDR
  • Wide app support
  • Alexa remote
Cons
  • Slightly slower
  • Ad-heavy interface
Check price on Amazon≈ £49
7
Best cheap Roku

Roku Express 4K+

8.2A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Express 4K+ brings Roku's tidy interface and 4K streaming to a rock-bottom price, ideal for a second TV. It lacks Dolby Vision and the fastest performance, but for simple, cheap 4K it is great.

Performance: 8.0Interface: 8.8Features: 8.0Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Very affordable 4K
  • Clean Roku interface
  • Easy setup
Cons
  • No Dolby Vision
  • Basic performance
Check price on Amazon≈ £39
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8
Best for old TVs

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD

8.0Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

For a non-4K TV, the Fire TV Stick HD adds fast, modern smart features and apps for very little, breathing new life into an older set. It is 1080p only and ad-heavy, but it is a cheap, easy upgrade.

Performance: 8.0Interface: 8.0Features: 8.2Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Cheap smart upgrade
  • Good app support
  • Alexa remote
Cons
  • 1080p only
  • Ad-heavy
Check price on Amazon≈ £39
9
Best budget Google

Chromecast (Google TV) HD

7.9A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The HD Chromecast with Google TV is a cheap way to add Google TV and casting to an older television, with a proper remote and tidy interface. It is 1080p and can feel sluggish, but for the price it is handy.

Performance: 7.8Interface: 8.4Features: 8.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Cheap Google TV
  • Includes a remote
  • Casting support
Cons
  • 1080p only
  • Can be sluggish
Check price on Amazon≈ £29
10
Best ultra-budget

Roku Express

7.6Rounds out our top ten.

The basic Roku Express is the cheapest way to make any TV smart, with Roku's simple interface and all the major apps at a tiny price. It is 1080p, slower and wired-power only, but for a spare room it is fine.

Performance: 7.4Interface: 8.4Features: 7.6Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Cheapest smart upgrade
  • Simple Roku interface
  • All major apps
Cons
  • 1080p and slow
  • No premium features
Check price on Amazon≈ £25
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Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the streaming devices in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Apple TV 4K, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Google TV Streamer and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best streaming devices without overthinking it, the Apple TV 4K is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £149

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