Best streaming devices

Start with the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. It's the safest all-rounder: Roku's interface puts every app on equal footing, it handles 4K with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and it has the largest pool of happy owners of anything here.

Who the others suit:

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max — best if you already live in Prime Video and Alexa; the fastest Fire stick.
• Google TV Streamer 4K — for Google homes and anyone who wants a box with a wired-ish, tucked-away setup and smart-home control.
• NVIDIA Shield TV Pro — the pick for tinkerers, gamers and Plex servers; it's the most powerful and the most expensive.
• Roku Streaming Stick+ / Roku HD — cheaper Roku routes if you don't need 4K.
• Fire TV Stick HD — the budget choice for a secondary 1080p TV.

Skip the no-name sticks and the IPTV boxes: weaker apps and support.