Basics:
What do these boxes offer that connected TVs and game consoles don’t?
Lower cost. Whether you’re connecting through a web-enabled flatscreen, a PS3, or a streamer, you’re going to get stuff like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu, with up to 1080p resolution and support for 5.1 surround. But if you’re not a gamer and you’d rather not replace your old HDTV, standalone streamers will give you all that for less than $100.
Do they have built-in storage?
Most don’t. And those that do tend to be more expensive and often reserve the storage for apps. But unlike most set-top boxes, many media streamers can play content directly from mobile devices. Some come with USB ports for side-loading music and video, while others use wireless protocols like AirPlay or DLNA that piggyback on your Wi-Fi to grab files from a laptop or mobile device. Most can handle common media formats like MP4 (H.264), MKV, AAC, and MP3, though you’ll run into problems with specialized formats like VOB or FLAC.
How well do they play with mobile devices?
It varies. A few will let you mirror content from tablets and smartphones, so you can not only watch movies and view photos stored on those devices, you can also play mobile games on your TV. All the streamers in this roundup have apps that let you turn your phone into a remote for browsing movies, launching apps, and controlling media playback.
Buying Advice:
If you’re more interested in internet media than local content, look for a streamer with an Ethernet port (for speed) and make sure it offers the relevant services — like Amazon Instant Video and Vudu. Also, remember that your HD picture will be only as good as your bandwidth. Ideally, you’ll want a broadband connection of at least 5 Mbps.
Photos by Greg Broom/Wired