Roku 4

Recommended streaming media players, by Consumer Reports

“Binge-watching TV shows has become an all-American pastime,” says Consumer Reports. “Streaming services and devices are ideal for marathon watchers, as well as for cord-cutters, cord-shavers (those cutting back on their pay TV service) and even the new crop of cord-nevers. Using devices like Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV, along with subscription or pay-per-view services such as Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix, you can watch newly released and classic films, seasons of past and current TV shows, and shows and networks you used to have to subscribe to cable to get.”

Here is the Consumer Reports’ selection of recommended streaming media players. The maximum overall score is 100, and “Best Buy” models offer more value.


Roku 4

Overall score: 81

Roku 3 (2nd generation)

Roku 3

(2nd generation)

Overall score: 76

Roku 2 (2nd generation)

Roku 2

(2nd generation)

Overall score: 72
“Best Buy”

Amazon Fire TV (2nd generation)

Amazon Fire TV

(2nd generation)

Overall score: 71

Roku 1

Overall score: 69
“Best Buy”

Google Chromecast (2nd generation)

Google Chromecast

(2nd generation)

Overall score: 69
“Best Buy”

Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version)

Roku Streaming Stick

(HDMI version)

Overall score: 68
“Best Buy”

Nvidia Shield

Overall score: 68

Apple TV (32 GB) (4th generation)

Apple TV

(32 GB, 4th generation)

Overall score: 67

Apple TV (64 GB) (4th generation)

Apple TV

(64 GB, 4th generation)

Overall score: 67

Amazon Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote

Overall score: 66
“Best Buy”

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Overall score: 65
“Best Buy”

Google Nexus Player

Overall score: 63
“Best Buy”

Apple TV (3rd generation)

Apple TV

(3rd generation)

Overall score: 61
“Best Buy”


Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly since 1936. It features reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory and survey research centre. The magazine accepts no advertising, pays for all the products it tests, and, as a not-for-profit organisation, has no shareholders. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides. (Wikipedia.)

Source: Consumer Reports
Last checked on: 23 March 2016
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