Getting Smart TVs are no longer necessary, in this day and age. That’s because if you’d like to turn your regular television set into a fully-functioning computer, it’s always just as easy as connecting a compact stick to your TV’s HDMI port.
With inventions like Google’s Chromebit, it’s just as easy as 1-2-3.
But if you’re not the type who’d like to turn his household TV into a full-blown computer— yet you think it’s still grand, being able to watch your favorite Netflix movies and YouTube videos on a bigger screen— don’t worry, technology companies came up with something that’s just right for you.
They’re called streaming sticks.
Now there are three types of streaming sticks that you can choose from, and the only predicament you’re currently left in is which one to choose. So here’s a guide for you.
Pricing
When it comes to the tag prices that come with these streaming sticks, there is absolutely no doubt that Google’s Chromecast— valued at around $44— is the cheapest. It’s about the same price as the company’s Chromebit, which, as mentioned earlier, is that small stick that magically turns your TV into a computer.
Amazon’s Fire TV stick is priced at about $51, but you’ll have to pay for a monthly subscription for Amazon’s Instant Video streaming services on top of that.
The Roku streaming stick is the costliest among the three, which is priced at $73. As to why it’s pricier than all the others, you’ll realize why, later on.
User-Friendly
Which is the easiest to use among these streaming sticks? That would be the Roku streaming stick. Apart from the fact that the device comes with its very own remote control, the interface that this streaming stick uses is a whole lot friendlier than all the others.
The Chromecast, on the other hand, can not stand on its own. You’ll need the help of a smartphone or a tablet to actually get the content that you’d like on your TV.
Like Roku, the Amazon Fire TV streaming stick comes with its own remote control, but the downside is that it was built for users to view stuff mainly from Amazon’s streaming services.
The Best
So which streaming stick can be deemed the best out of all the three?
If you paid close attention you would have decided by now. But in case you still haven’t:
All three streaming sticks can be used with BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and of course, YouTube.
The Roku streaming stick offers 1,400 channels to choose from, but on the more technical side of things— Amazon’s Fire TV streaming stick has a faster processor and a larger memory.
So. Which one will you get?
I’ve heard great things about Roku, but if their main selling point is their over-abundance of channels, I don’t think it’s the right one for me. I think the Amazon Fire is a better deal overall- you’ll still get pretty entertaining stuff for a lesser price.
I don’t really spend much time streaming as I find it quite costly. However, it is good to know exactly which devices are available to us if we find that we need them. These are quite amazing and they make technology a lot simpler as they become smaller.
Google Chromecast does have the disadvantage of not having a built in USB Port. Having to have equipment to plug into the T.V. can become a time consuming issue. I’ve also found out that with Apple TV there seems to be alot less interference with accessing movies and applications thanks to its compatibility with Apple Phones, you can download content from your phone. I like apps that I can reuse. It saves me from worrying about having to constantly download content and using up my data.
My plan is to go with a Roku device. I will probably actually buy 2, and one might be a stick, while the other, which will be on the main television, will probably be a Roku 3. The stick would be sufficient for either TV up here, and from what I understand, I could toggle it between the 2 TVs, so there would be no need for a third device.