Black Friday: Streaming TV Devices: An Upgrade Guide

Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to buy a new streaming device for your TV, with discounts available on Roku players, Amazon Fire TVs, Chromecast, and more.

Nevertheless, all these offers are not worth it, especially if your streaming device is in good working order. Let's take a closer look:

Roku

Jared Newman

Roku has some ongoing device deals at Black Friday, some better than others.

Most people should avoid Roku SE, a $ 20 streaming device that will only be available at Walmart stores. This device is almost identical to the $ 30 Roku Express, with the same processing power and 1080p HD video support, but its finish is white instead of black and different shortcut buttons.

For $ 29, the Roku Streaming Stick is a much better buy. The $ 9 surcharge gives you a superior remote control with built-in TV volume and power buttons, voice control, and point-to-point RF communication that does not require a line of sight. The Streaming Stick also offers better Wi-Fi performance and is more portable. Plus, you will not have to protect yourself from crowds at Walmart to buy it. This is an excellent purchase or stand-alone upgrade from older models with no built-in TV controls.

If you have a 4K or 4K HDR TV, the Roku Ultra is an even better deal at $ 50, which represents a reduction of $ 40 on the regular price. It is currently the only Roku player to include a USB port for local media playback, a microSD card slot, an optical audio output and a headphone jack on its remote. It also has a button that plays a sound on the remote so you can find it between the sofa cushions, and it includes a set of JBL earpieces. This is the perfect time to upgrade, as Roku typically charges the same price for its Premiere 4K HDR player, which does not include any of the Ultra gadgets and uses a slower 802.11n Wi-Fi connection. (Owners of Dolby Vision or HDR10 + TVs may, however, refrain because Roku players do not yet support these HDR formats.)

Amazon Fire TV

Jared Newman / IDG

Amazon offers some of its Fire TV broadcasters at Black Friday and you should stay away from most of them.

The $ 25 Fire Fire Stick, for example, is much slower than the Fire Stick 4K TV and its remote control lacks volume and power buttons.

The 4K TV Stick is selling for $ 35 on Black Friday. worth the extra $ 10 even if you do not have a 4K TV. Think of switching from an old Fire TV or Fire TV key to the new remote and speed boost alone.

Owners of 4K HDR TVs should also skip the Fire TV cube ($ 60 on Black Friday) and instead pair a Fire 4K TV key with Echo Dot from Amazon. They will cost you the same $ 60 on Black Friday and offer the same Alexa hands-free voice commands, but you'll get a faster streaming device with better support for HDR 4K. (Unlike the Cube, the 4K Stick displays its entire interface in HDR, plus it streams to Dolby Vision and HDR10 + on supported TVs.)

Chromecast

Jared Newman / IDG

In keeping with the tradition of Black Friday, Google has lowered the price of its Chromecast streamer from $ 35 to $ 25 at most major retailers. It is only now that it applies to the new third generation model instead of the 2015 version.

I does not recommend upgrading from the second-generation modelThe only improvements are a 15% increase in speed and support for 1080p video at 60 frames per second (compared to 1080p at 30 frames per second or 720p at 60 frames per second). But if you're still hooked on a original Chromecast, it would be a good time to share.

Google also reduces the Chromecast Ultra compatible 4K HDR, $ 69 to $ 50, but you must be a Chromecast enthusiast to get this deal. The Ultra does not support Amazon Prime Video, so you will miss a major source of 4K HDR content. A Roku 4K HDR, an Amazon Fire TV, an Apple TV or an Nvidia Shield TV would all be more versatile purchases.

Nvidia Shield TV

Jared Newman / TechHive

The Nvidia Shield TV is at its lowest price ever recorded on Black Friday at $ 140. This is an Android TV HD 4K device that can be used as a Plex Server, Wireless Digital Recorder or Smart Home Hub when you add some accessories. It also has built-in Google Assistant voice and Chromecast voice commands. In terms of performance, it's the only streamer that rivals Apple TV (though it lacks Dolby Vision HDR support).

C & # 39; a good deal if you are a fan of Android TVbecause no other streaming device on the market does justice to the platform. However, it should be noted that the current Shield TV channel was launched in early 2017 and is based on a chipset dating back two years ago. Do not be surprised if a hardware upgrade is imminent.

Apple TV

Jared Newman / TechHive

Apple has not yet announced an agreement on Black Friday on Apple TV ($ 149) or Apple TV 4K ($ 179), although the company is considering a sale in store Black Friday at Cyber ​​Monday. If Apple TV offers materialize, I would suggest opting for the 4K version even on non 4K TVs because it has a much faster processor that should last longer.

Meanwhile, some stores such as B & H are offering a $ 10 discount on the Apple TV 4K at the time of writing this article.

Roku vs. Fire TV vs. Chromecast, etc.

Try to choose between all these options on Black Friday? The TechHive streaming guide will help you define each option, but here is my quick summary based on the prices currently displayed:

• Roku's streamers are a little bland, but they are inexpensive and easy to use. A new "Free Featured" section is great for finding movies and shows you do not have to pay for. If you do not know which streaming device to buy, consider this option by default.
• Amazon's Fire TV devices are perfect if you're a primary subscriber, because you'll have recommendations on what to watch directly from the home screen. It's even better if you have an Amazon Echo, which allows you to launch videos and control playback with the help of Alexa voice commands. That said, the interface of Fire TV can be a bit cluttered with recommendations and contains unpleasant commercials.
• Chromecast is unlike any other streaming device, in that it does not include a remote control. Instead, you use a phone or tablet to "stream" videos from compatible apps, such as Netflix and Hulu. It can be faster than browsing TV menus with a regular remote control and you can use a Google Home speaker to control Chromecast by voice, but turning on your phone just to pause or adjust the volume can become boring.
• Apple TV 4K is the most advanced streaming device on the market, with clever applications, fast hardware, powerful Siri voice commands, and a convenient "TV" application that tracks the broadcasts you're watching. It is also refreshing and free of ads and other sponsored content on its home screen. The disadvantage is that it is three times more expensive than other 4K HDR streamers.

Streaming device vs smart TV

Smart TV software is not as bad as it was. Some TVs now incorporate Roku or Fire TV software, offering the same features and selection of applications as standalone players. LG and Samsung have also done decent work by integrating the main apps on their respective TV platforms. Most Vizio TVs feature Chromecast technology. It is not necessary to buy it separately.

Nevertheless, if your TV is more than a few years old, a separate broadcast device will feel much faster and offer a better selection of apps to boot. (If you're looking for a new TV, do not miss TechHive's in-depth summary on the best smart TVs.)

If you have any other questions about streaming devices around Black Friday, join on Twitter or by e-mail and, if I have not fallen asleep after Thanksgiving dinner, I will do my best to answer you.

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