Live Life Team
With the rise of on demand and cable TV online, record numbers of people across the world are cutting the cord to their traditional cable TV subscriptions. As part of this, users will have to upgrade to an online capable streaming box that can allow you to watch cable TV online. The market for these boxes and devices is, however, incredibly saturated. And it can be difficult to choose the best option that suits both your streaming needs and your budget. See below for a rundown of the best value options out there.
Roku Ultra
The Roku Ultra is very much the standard bearer when it comes to an online enabled cable TV streaming box. It supports high definition 4k video at 60 frames per second which looks incredible on 4k enabled TVs. The Roku Ultra connects to a range of cable TV online services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO Now (and many more!). Simply connect the streaming box to your TV via HDMI port, log into your Wi-Fi connection and get streaming!
ChromeCast
The Google Chromecast is a fav favourite when it comes to streaming boxes and offers one of the most affordable options in a low profile, sleek design. Built from the ground up with simplicity in mind, the ChromeCast is incredibly easy to use and delivers on accessibility. Connecting to your TV via a HDMI port, the ChromeCast can get up and running within minutes. It synchronises well with your favourite streaming services and offers all the compatibility you would expect for the low price of $69.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the newest entrants onto the market although inexperience hasn’t hampered the delivery of an overall fantastic streaming experience. Coming in at $50 dollars, the Fire Stick is one of the cheapest options out there and delivers 4k streaming right to your TV via HDMI. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription this is an easy option as it seamlessly integrates with the Amazon ecosystem. The low price point and compatibility makes this a hard one to pass up!
Roku Streaming Stick
Whilst very much a scaled down version of his bigger brother, the Roku Ultra, the Roku Streaming Stick doesn’t let his diminutive size and low price point get in the way of delivering a fantastic product. Coming in at $50, the Roku Streaming Stick is a competitive rival for the Amazon Fire TV Stick with much the same functionality. It also compares favourably to the ChromeCast, adding in a better user interface and standalone remote control.
Making the Choice
As you can see, the market for streaming devices is crowded even at the lower end of the price point scale. With that said, the options available are all equally fantastic and offer much the same capability and functionality. When deciding which one suits you best, you should consider not just the price point but also what streaming services you hope to use as compatibility might various across devices.
