Buying guide for最好的流式设备
流媒体设备是一个连接到电视的小型单元，可以让您流式传输内容。对于那些尚未准备好与较旧电视分道扬ways以支持的人来说，它们是便宜的，也是一个了不起smart TV．他们容易设置,当你只有东北ed to plug into a power source and your TV. Some require you to set up an account, but once you do, you’re ready to start streaming.
Although all streaming devices have similar capabilities, there are some notable differences between them. Before you buy one, it’s a good idea to know what type of picture enhancement functions it supports, the layout of the remote control, what type of voice assistant access you get, the device’s processing power and its user interface.
我们的首选，RokuUltra Streaming Device, delivers on all fronts. It packs a powerful processor for shorter load times, excellent Wi-Fi range for minimal buffering and lagging and several image-enhancing features, including HDR10+. We thoroughly tested another top option, the Nvidia Shield Android TV Pro. We analyzed its streaming and gaming capabilities as well as its picture and sound quality.
最好的流式设备
Roku Ultra在其他Roku流媒体设备上拥有许多升级和功能，使其成为总体上最好的Roku和我们最喜欢的流媒体设备。它提供了任何Roku的最佳Wi-Fi连接性，并提供了50％的范围和无权访问Roku Voice Assistant的范围。它支持4K流媒体和其他技术，以获得沉浸式体验，包括Dolby Vision和HDR10+，以提高图像质量和杜比大气，以提供出色的声音。
遥控器是我们喜欢这种流媒体设备的最佳升级之一，也是一个重要原因。与其他遥控器不同，您不必担心电池便捷，因为电池可充电，并且具有快速应用程序访问，电视控件和耳必威体育娱乐app机插孔的快捷按钮，可用于私人聆听。
近年来，由于其他设备（例如Roku和Fire Sticks）的出现，Google在流媒体设备游戏中占据了一些后座。但是，我们将Google TV 4K的Chromecast视为最高的流媒体设备，尤其是对于那些寻求良好讨价还价的人来说。
此Chromecast的接口类似于消防棒，在一个地方显示您的所有应用程序和喜欢的内容。它根据您的观看历史推荐电视节目和电影，您可以为具有主动父母控制的孩子创建个人资料。该遥控器具有专用的Google Assistant按钮，您可以用来搜索内容并免费控制电视。
我们测试了NVIDIA盾牌，发现它是铁杆游戏玩家和任何用于使用运行Android操作软件的智能手机或平板电脑的人的理想流媒体设备。它比我们列表中的其他流媒体设备贵得多，但这是因为它具有更多的功能和功能。Dolby Vision增强了色彩和亮度，从而为您提供更好的对比度，Dolby Atmos提供了卓越的音质。
The Nvidia Shield offers 4K HDR streaming from popular apps such as Netflix and Disney+ and GeForce Now cloud gaming, giving you access to over 1,000 games. We loved that the Tegra X1+ processor makes it 25% faster than the previous generation Nvidia Shield and is powerful enough to upscale HD content to 4K. Also, you can access Google Assistant or Alexa hands-free.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of the more affordable streaming devices we recommend. The powerful processor makes it 40% faster than the Fire TV Stick, meaning you’ll experience less lag and shorter loading times when booting up your favorite apps.
它支持Wi-Fi 6，用于流式传输和Dolby Vision，HDR和HDR10+的Wi-Fi 6，以增强观看。Fire TV Sticks为免费实时电视流提供了很多选择，您可以将其与智能家居设置集成在一起，以使用图片中的图片查看前门摄像头。Alexa语音遥控器可让您搜索内容，控制电视的音量和电源，并在家庭网络上管理其他智能设备。
如果您不愿意参加我们的首选，那么Roku Streaming Stick 4K是一个绝佳的替代方案，它的价格降低了30美元。它拥有与许多用户喜欢的用户友好界面相同的界面，并且更喜欢其主要竞争对手的消防电视棒，并带有可充电遥控器。
它很容易插入和设置，并且与其他顶级流媒体设备一样，它支持Dolby Vision和HDR10，以改善色彩深度，清晰度和整体图像质量。您可以访问超过275个免费的直播电视频道，而语音控制功能可与您喜欢的任何东西（无论是Siri，Google Assistant还是Alexa）都可以使用。如果您放错遥控器，您可以说：“嘿，Roku，我的遥控器在哪里？”快速找到它。
Fire TV Cube具有八核处理器，使其成为最强大的亚马逊流媒体设备，对于那些希望完全免费的Alexa访问权限的人来说，这是一个了不起的选择。例如，Fire TV Cube可让您控制电视的功率和音量，获取现场运动成绩和天气更新，并搜索无遥控器的内容。
它为流畅的流媒体和技术提供了Wi-Fi 6E的支持，例如Dolby Vision，HDR和Dolby Atmos音频，以获得沉浸式的观看和聆听体验。它具有一个内置的HDMI端口，可连接电缆盒，并与Alexa完全免费管理电视。此外，与所有其他消防电视流媒体设备不同，消防电视立方体具有16GB的内置存储空间，而不是8GB。
Like the Google Chromecast, the Apple TV isn’t as popular as it was a few years ago. However, the Apple TV 4K 2022 is a solid streaming device, especially for those dedicated to maintaining an ecosystem of Apple devices for fluidity and accessibility.
苹果电视4 k 2022支持4 k杜比和愿景HDR10+ for enhanced picture quality, making it as good as any other high-end streaming device when it comes to pure streaming. It has an A15 Bionic chip that delivers fast performance, and if you have an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer, you can use AirPlay to share photos, videos and other content. The remote is also particularly intriguing, as it has a touch-enabled click pad and offers access to Siri.
How we tested
We thoroughly researched what each top streaming device offers and tested two to determine if they hold up: the Roku Streaming Stick+ and the Nvidia Shield Android TV Pro.
使用方便
- 设置：我们测试了整个设置过程，从拆开流媒体设备到将其插入电视，设置用户帐户并登录流频道和应用程序。
- 遥控：We tested the Roku remote dedicated shortcut buttons and the headphone jack for private listening. We tested the playback controls and the voice assistant button for both the Roku and Nvidia Shield.
- Interface:We evaluated their interfaces to determine how user-friendly and easy it was to find content. We noted any stutters or crashes we experienced with the interface.
质量
- 图像质量：我们密切关注设备传递给电视的图像质量，包括4K内容，以及图像和颜色的清晰度和鲜艳。
- Streaming apps:我们测试了一些流行的应用程序，例如Netflix，Disney+和Prime Video，以确定它们加载的速度和响应速度。
- Upscaling:We tested the Nvidia Shield’s upscaling feature to determine if standard HD content was successfully upgraded to 4K.
高级功能
- 私人聆听：我们检查了Roku通过Roku应用程序与我们在屏幕上观看的任何内容进行智能手机流式传输音频的能力。
- Voice assistants:我们测试了两种设备与亚马逊Alexa和Google Assistant等智能助手的互动程度。
What to know before buying a streaming device
流棒与流盒
There are two popular form factors in streaming devices: small black boxes about the size of a hockey puck and thin sticks roughly the size of a pack of gum. There was a big divide between the two in the early days of streaming sticks, asstreaming boxeswere more powerful than streaming sticks by a mile. However, the gap has closed, and modern streaming sticks can do almost everything streaming boxes can.
If you want a portable streaming device or something that won’t take up any room around your TV, go for a streaming stick. If you don’t need portability, or if you want a streaming device with niche features like an Ethernet port or game streaming, go for a streaming box.
Interface
即使您认为自己精通技术，也必须使用用户友好的界面，因为它可以更轻松地跟踪您的应用程序。一些流媒体设备具有更令人费解的用户界面，尽管它们根据您的查看历史记录提供了建议，但可以使搜索内容，查找您喜欢的应用程序或调整设置成为一件琐事。
购买电影和电视节目
如果您定期从iTunes或Google Play等服务购买视频，则需要确保购买的流媒体设备支持它们。Google Play和iTunes都将电视选择限于特定设备。例如，您只能在Apple TV, and TV content from the Google Play store can only be played back on devices like those from Roku or Nvidia.
多设备功能
流媒体设备本身很棒，但是如果您将它们与其他设备（例如平板电脑或平板电脑）配对smartphone，您可以解锁其他功能。例如，如果您是iPhone所有者，则可以将iPhone用作Apple TV的遥控器或游戏控制器。同样，如果您已经拥有一个，则可以使用NVIDIA的盾牌电视盒之一使用蓝牙游戏控制器。
Streaming device features
Voice assistant compatibility
大多数流媒体设备都有船上的数字助理，例如Siri，Alexa或Google Assistant。您可以大部分时间通过遥控器上的专用按钮访问这些语音助手。但是，最好的流媒体设备使您无需遥控器即可访问它们。您可以使用语音助手进行各种事情，包括搜索内容，启动应用程序，管理音乐播放，检查天气和运动得分，甚至控制网络上的其他智能设备。
Private listening
Private listening is a feature that lets you connect耳机到您的流设备。大多数流媒体设备使您可以连接无线蓝牙耳机，但是有些设备具有遥控器孔的遥控器，并在遥控器中置于连接有线耳机。
图像增强
The best streaming devices have features that can significantly improve your viewing experience by enhancing picture quality. Technologies such as HDR, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision effectively enhance color depth and contrast to improve clarity. Some streaming devices even have an upscaling feature that upgrades standard HD content to4K．
赌博and game streaming
大多数流媒体设备都支持基本游戏，并且playing mobile games on the big screen如果您在家，则比在智能手机上玩更舒适。这使流媒体设备（例如火棒或NVIDIA盾牌）吸引了游戏玩家，因为他们提供游戏流和云游戏服务。
You may be more interested in game streaming if you’re a PC gamer. With game streaming, you can use your streaming device to play PC games from a PC gaming rig on your network. You’ll need a high-poweredgaming PCto take advantage of game streaming and a strong Wi-Fi signal, but once you’re all set up, you can play PC games from your streaming device as if your computer were in the same room.
常问问题
Q. How much should I expect to pay for a streaming device?
A.You can get a high-quality streaming stick for $30 to $50 with many outstanding features, such as 4K streaming, access to voice assistants and even image-enhancing functions like HDR. However, if you want a more robust streaming device with a powerful processor and premium features like gaming and hands-free voice assistant access, you can expect to pay $100 to $200.
问：我的有线电视提供商提供了流媒体设备。我应该使用它吗？
A.Cable providers are afraid of cord-cutters, so they now offer their own streaming devices to lure back former cable customers. While these devices can be tempting, they don’t deliver the quality of experience you can get from a proper streaming box. Cable-provided streaming boxes are often slow, leaving out key streaming providers and lacking features like HDR or voice assistant compatibility.
问：我可以在非应用流设备上使用iTunes购买的内容吗？
A.If you have a movie collection in iTunes of films you’ve purchased, you can connect your iTunes account with MoviesAnywhere. This service lets you play your purchased movie content on any streaming device. However, MoviesAnywhere only applies to movies — not TV shows — so if you’ve bought a lot of TV episodes from iTunes in the past, the only streaming box that will play them is an Apple TV.
Q. Can I use a 4K streaming device on a TV that isn’t a 4K TV?
A.所有4K流媒体设备都是向后兼容的，这意味着您可以将其连接到标准的1080p高清电视，并且一切外观都可以很好地连接。您将无法享受4K视频流的分辨率，但是如果您具有牢固的互联网连接，内容将以电视可以提供的最高功能流式传输。
