Rankings Audio Visual

Best streaming sticks and boxes

Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way

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What to look for

Check that it supports the apps you use and 4K HDR if your TV does.

Models worth comparing

From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.

Budget

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd gen)

Adding 4K streaming apps to an older TV cheaply, with every main HDR format covered.

  • Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG
  • Dolby Atmos sound supported
  • Wi-Fi 6 and a faster processor than the first model

Watch out for: Storage is only 8GB, which fills quickly if you install lots of apps.

Resolution
4K at 60fps
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6
Storage
8GB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Expert Reviews review

Mid-range

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen)

People who want a quick, responsive stick with Wi-Fi 6E and more room for apps.

  • Fast app loading thanks to a quad-core 2GHz processor
  • Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB storage
  • Ambient mode shows art, photos and widgets when idle

Watch out for: The home screen is built around Amazon's own content and services.

Resolution
4K
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E
Storage
16GB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Expert Reviews review

Premium

Apple TV 4K (3rd gen)

iPhone and Mac households that want a polished, silent box with full HDR support.

  • A15 Bionic chip with fanless, silent design
  • Supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+
  • 128GB model adds Gigabit Ethernet and Thread for smart home kit

Watch out for: It costs far more than a streaming stick and makes most sense if you already use Apple devices.

Resolution
4K at 60fps
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (Ethernet on 128GB model)
Storage
64GB or 128GB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Apple UK specifications page · Expert Reviews review

Pro

Nvidia Shield TV Pro

Tinkerers who run Plex, play local media files or want AI upscaling and cloud gaming.

  • AI upscaling sharpens lower-resolution video to 4K
  • Can act as a Plex Media Server, with two USB 3.0 ports for storage
  • Gigabit Ethernet plus GeForce Now cloud gaming

Watch out for: There is no HDR10+ support, and the hardware dates from 2019.

Resolution
4K HDR at 60fps
HDR
Dolby Vision, HDR10
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Wi-Fi
802.11ac (plus Gigabit Ethernet)
Storage
16GB (USB expandable)

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Nvidia UK product page · Expert Reviews review

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We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.

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