It’s Sports Streaming Season!
April 23, 2024
With the NBA and NHL Playoffs starting and MLB, MLS and UFL seasons in flight, there’s a lot of sports out there to be streaming. Not to mention the Olympics coming this summer. Whether you’ve cut the cord yet or not, there’s sports content for every fan out there streamed live on a variety of different platforms. Maybe you’re just looking to supplement your TV package with an online video service like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+ or Disney+.
Compared to the typical smart TV, standalone streamers tend to have bigger app selections, speedier performance, and more features. And with so much competition between device makers, the hardware is becoming faster, more capable and more affordable. With all the choices out there, which is the best for you?
There are a lot of good streaming boxes and sticks. And with the variety of services, hardware and software, the best choice is going to vary based on personal preference, budget and app selection, among other things. Here are the factors to consider in an easy list form when making your decision.
Performance: In general, set-top boxes are faster than streaming sticks, and the amount you spend correlates pretty strongly with the loading speeds and smoothness you’ll get.
Playback quality and resolution: If you have a 4K or 4K HDR television, you’ll probably want a streaming box that takes full advantage of those capabilities, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. But these days, you won’t find any modern devices that don’t at least support 1080p resolution (HD).
App selection: Traditionally, this has been the most important factor in choosing a streaming device, but over time app selection has started to look pretty similar no matter which device you choose, at least among major streaming services.
Ecosystem tie-ins: Apple apps and services (such as Apple Arcade and Fitness+) are generally only available through Apple TV, although the Apple TV app (good for access to Apple TV+ content as well as purchased or rented videos from iTunes) has been making its way across a variety of platforms. Meanwhile, Fire TV devices are the most convenient way to watch Amazon Prime video, and Google’s video and music services are generally best accessed via Chromecast or Android TV. Roku is more of a neutral party, offering apps for Amazon, Google Play Movies & TV, and several other competing video services, but it lacks the sophisticated virtual assistants and smart home controls you’ll get with other platforms.
Content discovery features: Media-streaming devices are starting to evolve beyond a static list of apps. Features like Roku Feed and the Apple TV’s ‘TV’ app help you keep track of new arrivals, while Amazon includes recommendations directly on the Fire TV home screen. Both approaches offer advantages so it’s up to you to decide which one sounds most appealing.
Private listening options: Many devices support Bluetooth headphones for when you don’t want to disturb others in the room. Roku players also support wired headphones through the Roku mobile app, and through the remote control on its pricier set-top boxes.
Captive portal support: If you plan to take your streaming device on the road, you might run into WiFi networks that require a web browser for logging in. This is known as a ‘captive portal,’ and not all streaming devices support it.
Remote control features: Some remote controls are loaded with buttons for fast forward, rewind, and other special functions, while others take a more minimalist approach. Some remotes can control your television’s volume, and some include microphones for voice commands. No remote is perfect, however, so take a look at the ones that are included with each box to decide what’s most important to you.
Audio codec support: An increasing number of streaming services are supporting object-based soundtracks, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which add height cues to surround sound. If your home audio system can also take advantage of it, as many of today’s soundbars can, you’ll want to hear it.
Connectivity: Do you plan on connecting a USB storage device, ethernet cable, or sound system via an analog or digital optical audio cable? Make sure your streaming box has the appropriate connections. You’ll also want a device with 802.11ax WiFi (WiFi 6) or better if you’re worried about bandwidth on an overcrowded home network.
Below are some of the leading options to help you determine which platform is right for you.
Voice control remains a hallmark of Amazon’s streamers, and the Fire TV Cube is the best of the bunch. The entire menu system can be controlled hands-free, and you can use Alexavoice commands to launch movies, TV shows, and even live channels in supported apps. If you’re proficient enough with Alexa, you can bypass Amazon’s home screen entirely.
I list this first as this is the one Debbie and I use on all of our TVs. Granted I’m probably a little biased as we’re fans of Alexa and have used it for years. As we build our new home and will have all of the TVs wall mounted I’m either going to have to figure out a mounting solution (refer to the size/shape of the Cube) or possibly migrate to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max That I’ll be able to easily mount behind the TVs.
Pros
- Unparalleled voice control features
- Powerful remote; the ‘Recents’ button is a huge asset
- Super-fast app load times
Cons
- The home screen can be a little overwhelming with choices
- Upscaling isn’t a major improvement
- Costs more than most other high-end streaming boxes
Apple’s new streaming box price has dropped without losing what made previous versions great. It brings the best of TV together with your favorite Apple devices and services, including the new FaceTime experience on. The included Siri Remote with USB-C makes for easy control using the touch-enabled clickpad or just your voice. And if it goes missing, you can now find it with your iPhone.
Pros
- Uncluttered, ad-free interface
- Performance is speedier than ever
- AirPlay, AirPods, and iCloud integration are nice to have
Cons
- Dual home screens can be confusing
- Remote gesture controls might confound some users
- More expensive than most other high-end streaming boxes
If you’re looking for an easy to use streaming player, just get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Not only is it an inexpensive streaming player but also fast, fluid, and supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The Streaming Stick 4K also includes an improved WiFi receiver. However it lacks the power and smart home features of the Apple TV 4K but offers a far calmer experience than Amazon’s Fire TV menus.
Pros
- Fast, fluid performance with dependable WiFi connectivity
- Easy-to-operate interface with powerful voice control features
- Full of nice touches that other inexpensive streamers lack, such as AirPlay and a Replay button
Cons
- Discovering and tracking shows is not the greatest
- No Dolby Atmos support or IR control for external sound systems
- Only supports wireless connections
Walmart Onn 4K Google TV Streaming Box
You’ll give up a few features in order to save (quite) a few bucks by buying Walmart’s 4K streaming box, but not a whole lot of important ones. While there’s no support for Dolby Atmos, you won’t need the higher-end home audio system you need to take advantage of it anyway. But also you won’t sacrifice video quality and an excellent user interface that helps you find the video entertainment you’re most interested in watching.
Pros
- Feature-rich remote
- Google TV software makes streaming easy
- Super cheap even without sale prices
Cons
- Performance can drag on occasion
- No Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos support
- Google TV guide still has some blind spots
Media streamer honorable mentions
The TiVo Stream 4K is a break from how most other streaming devices work. Rather than serving up a big list of apps to launch, TiVo funnels programming from several popular apps into one big TV guide, so you don’t have to bounce aimlessly between sources. For now, however, the TiVo Stream 4K only supports a handful of services, making it more an afterthought than a great consumer product.
The AirTV Player + Adapter streaming box makes cutting the cable less intimidating by bringing Sling TV and over-the-air channels together, but it has a cumbersome channel guide and a lack of DVR support.
I’m curious what your thoughts are about streaming devices. Maybe you already have one. If so, I’d love to hear about your experience with it and which one you purchased. If not, which type would you choose based on the information above?
Let Debbie and I know what you think in the comments, DMs and emails as we really enjoy hearing from you. Thanks again to all those following Debbie and I through our home building journey. It’s great to hear your success stories and suggestions as we move through the process. And if you like the content I’m posting each week, don’t forget to ‘Like’ and ‘Follow.’
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