Quick Links
The cheapest way to upgrade your old TV is to plug in a streaming box. However, there are lots of streaming boxes on the market, so choosing one can take a lot of work.
We’ll cover critical factors you need to consider to help you pick the best streaming box for your needs.
1. Your TV’s Specifications
When purchasing a streaming box, knowing your TV’s specs is important. Your current TV has specific limitations that even plugging in the best of the best streaming devices won’t help solve. For example, if your TV screen has 1080p resolution, buying a 4K streaming device won’t upgrade the picture quality.
Unless you also have a 4K TV, you won’t enjoy the highest picture quality supported by the streaming box. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to future-proof yourself if you plan to buy a 4K TV in the future (there are plenty ofaffordable 4K TVson the market).
If you have a 4K TV, you should note the HDR formats your specific model supports. The main ones include HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG. Suppose your TV only supports a particular format. For the best picture quality, it would be best to look for a streaming box supporting the same format.
If you own a Samsung TV that only supports HDR10+ and HLG, you should get a streaming box withHDR10+ formatsupport.
2. Your Smartphone’s Operating System
The current operating system of your smartphone matters when you want to purchase a streaming box. If you own an iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device, you’ll get better integration when you choose the Apple TV.
Due to its seamless integration within Apple’s ecosystem, you’ll enjoy many exclusive features, like controlling the box with your other Apple devices, including the Apple Watch.
If you have an Android phone, you can buy any other streaming box and be fine since most don’t have exclusive features that can turn heads.
3. Streaming Quality
If you want the best picture quality, you need a streaming device that supports higher resolution. As of writing, the highest resolution you can find on streaming boxes is 4K.
If your TV supports 4K, you’ll get the best picture quality when watching content. Of course, the content must also be in 4K for this to happen.
4. App Library Size
Streaming devices use different operating systems. For instance, Google’s Chromecast with Google TV uses, well, Google TV, while Apple TV ships with tvOS. But it doesn’t matter what operating system the device ships with. The most important consideration is to go for a streaming device that offers many applications, not just a few mainstream ones.
Every device typically ships with an application store where you’re able to easily download and install apps. This application store should list hundreds, if not thousands, of apps.
Google TV is an excellent example of this, as it has many apps available (over 10,000, according to the company) besides the common mainstream entertainment apps. This means that whenever you want an app for doing something, you’ll likely find not just one but various options to choose from. You won’t have to struggle with sideloading apps.
5. Casting Support
When buying a streaming device, ensure it has built-in support for casting. Casting allows you to conveniently stream content directly from different devices, like your smartphone or computer, to your TV. It is handy when you need to watch something quickly on the bigger screen of your TV.
Besides, not all streaming devices have all the streaming apps. Even some of ourbest media streaming devicesmay not have all the streaming apps you seek. And not every service out there has a TV-compatible app on every platform.
But, as long as the streaming box has casting support, you can easily play content on the service from your device and then cast it to the TV. You can also use casting to continue enjoying content from your favorite streaming app long after it stops supporting the device’s hardware.
There are three main casting technologies: AirPlay, Chromecast, and MiraCast. If a streaming box’s specifications mention one of the three, it has casting support. However, these technologies are not interoperable as they use different protocols.
6. Software Support
Long-term software updates are as important to a streaming box as on a smartphone or computer. Software updates can include new features, improve performance, add new apps, or even provide critical security patches.
Therefore, you should ensure that the device has support for several years. But companies can promise and never deliver. To avoid such traps, we strongly advise against buying a box that doesn’t have a reputation for good software support. You should also avoid buying a streaming box from unknown companies with little or no presence online.
Most cheap generic streaming boxes available online receive little to no software updates. Fortunately, major players selling streaming devices, like Apple, Roku, Amazon, Google, and NVIDIA, have been around for a while and provide reliable software support.
7. Hardware Specifications
You should also scrutinize the device’s hardware specifications. Check the CPU, amount of storage and memory, the version of Wi-Fi supported, and availability of an ethernet and HDMI port.
At least one USB port is essential if you plan to plug in an external drive to use as internal storage or for playing media files. Generally, the higher the number, the better when it comes to hardware specs.
8. Available Extra Features
All streaming devices ship with a companion remote, which, at the minimum, should have a few dedicated keys for major apps (like Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+) and allow you to control both sound and playback. Voice control support is also something to look out for if you are interested.
Streaming boxes can also be helpful beyond watching content if you need something that does more than simplymake your old TV smart. Some provide extras like gaming support and an integration into your existing ecosystem of smart home devices.
Picking the best streaming box for your home requires careful consideration of all the factors above. Streaming boxes vary in price. However, like most other electronic devices, you must pay more if you need the best. The critical thing to remember is to look for something that fits better into your current ecosystem and fulfills your needs.
