Many individuals may be content to watch standard TV shows via a set-top box, and most TV channels now offer far better content than they did even a few years ago. There are plenty of content options available, including news, music, sports, and movies, but the main issue with this method of getting material is still its set timetable. It’s imperative that you tune in at the appropriate moment, or settle for whatever is playing at that moment.
However, many people now choose to consume video content via streaming, which is more practical. Using an app on your smartphone to access video content is the simplest way to get it. These apps can be used over Wi-Fi or mobile data. However, the screen is the main problem with that; it’s extremely small and provides a poor viewing experience.
Devices that stream media can help with that. You can access a vast library of high-quality video content, including TV series and films while enjoying the watching experience on your big-screen TV with these little devices, which only require electricity and a Wi-Fi connection to fetch online content from free and premium streaming services.
What makes buying a streaming device recommended?
Enjoying the vast array of content now available on streaming services on a large screen is the biggest incentive to get a streaming device. While traditional cable and DTH TV offer a tonne of excellent TV series and films, streaming firms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video which also function as production companies are releasing some of the best new TV series.
In addition, a lot of popular shows, like House of the Dragon, are available to watch on Indian streaming platforms before they are broadcast on national TV networks. In addition to these, an immense number of other well-known television series and films are accessible for on-demand viewing via streaming services, allowing you to select what you want to watch when it’s convenient for you.
All you need for streaming devices to take full advantage of their functionality is a decent TV and a strong home Internet connection. Choosing a gadget that supports 4K streaming makes sense if your TV is a 4K HDR set. Choosing your streaming device should also take into account the streaming services you plan to use; make sure the streaming device you choose has the appropriate apps for the services you use most frequently.
The best streaming device: Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen)
The Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), Amazon’s most potent streaming gadget to date, stands out for one main reason: hands-free Alexa voice assistance. The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) combines the features of a Fire TV streaming device and an Echo smart speaker to enable 4K HDR streaming and voice control over the connected device.
The redesigned Fire TV user interface is available on the Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), which also supports the Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos codecs for high dynamic range and sound encoding, respectively. All of the popular apps, such as Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video, are supported by the streaming device. Although the interface primarily highlights material from Amazon’s Prime Video, there are many more services that offer fast and convenient content access, including top-notch apps for the interface.
For Apple users: Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen)
The Apple TV 4K (2nd Gen) is undoubtedly on your wishlist if you’re an avid Apple fan and have a significant financial commitment to Apple’s software services. This streaming device, which costs Rs. 18,900 in India, is powered by the company’s tvOS platform and comes with an upgraded remote that makes navigation simpler and allows voice controls using Apple’s Siri personal assistant. The Apple TV 4K’s streaming and gaming features are made possible by the comparatively powerful Apple A12 Bionic chip, despite its age.
Because of the Apple Arcade membership service, this streaming gadget is not only very good at its basic functions but also a fairly engaging casual gaming platform. You can use Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and several other well-known providers for its basic video streaming features.
If you currently use Apple products, the Apple TV 4K is especially remarkable when it comes to both hardware and software. With AirPlay support, you can easily project the screen of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer onto the Apple TV 4K. Additionally, Ultra-HD with Dolby Vision HDR support enhances the viewing experience when streaming media.
Chromecast with Google TV
In contrast to earlier Chromecast devices, the Chromecast with Google TV is Google’s first standalone streaming device, functioning on its own software and operating system. Running Android TV with the Google TV UI on top, the device can broadcast video at up to Ultra-HD resolution and high dynamic range up to Dolby Vision format. This enables it to support the majority of common resolutions, and an additional benefit is Android TV’s ability to run over 7,000 apps.
The Chromecast with Google TV is a capable and user-friendly device, despite being somewhat pricey at Rs. 6,399, thanks to its superb remote and handy size factor. The great Google TV UI, which offers great content recommendations across popular applications and services, is the main selling point here. Google Assistant compatibility is also helpful. Especially if you’re already familiar with Android TV and Google Assistant, it’s absolutely something to think about.