It is nearly 2:00 AM, and I am currently spiraling down the rabbit hole of “Best Streaming Devices of 2026” lists, which is exactly where nobody should be at this hour. You know that feeling when you read something that is so objectively disconnected from reality that you have to rub your eyes and make sure you’re actually awake? That was me tonight, looking at what the big tech sites are pushing as the “top” choices for your TV. I usually make a point to check these lists at least once a year, mostly just to see how far off the mark they are. It is a weirdly consistent tradition, and honestly, Tom’s Guide has some of the worst takes I’ve seen in a long time. It makes me wonder if anyone actually uses these things before they write about them, or if they are just looking at a spreadsheet of affiliate commissions.
Maybe I’m just being cynical because I’m tired, but the logic just isn’t there.
When I see the Roku Streaming Stick 4K sitting at the number one spot on a “best of” list, my first thought is: who is this for?. Look, I get it; if we are talking about a device for your 60-year-old mother who just wants to press a button and see a movie, then sure, Roku is great. It’s simple, it’s clean, and it’s hard to break. But for anyone else? For someone who wants even a tiny bit of flexibility or power? Ranking it at the top for anything other than “best for people who know nothing about tech” is just fundamentally wrong. It does the basic job of showing movies, but every other device on the market does that too, often with way more features for the same price or even less.
It’s like recommending a tricycle as the “best vehicle of the year.”
The Google “Streamer” and the Walled Gardens
Then we have the new Google TV Streamer, which Tom’s Guide had at number two, and I just can’t wrap my head around that one. I used to think Google was moving in the right direction, but this thing feels like an overpriced version of the 4K Chromecast we already had. It’s basically the same guts in a prettier plastic shell. I mean, it’s a good device, I’m not saying it isn’t, but would I ever pick it over something like a Fire TV Cube?. Probably not, even with all the weird restrictions Amazon keeps adding lately. It feels like we are paying extra just for a “look” rather than actual performance.
The Apple TV 4K is another one that always shows up high on these lists, and I have a real love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, it’s a powerhouse. On the other hand, you are paying a massive premium for a device that basically traps you if you aren’t already living in Apple’s world. I use an iPhone, but my whole house runs on Alexa, so an Apple TV just doesn’t make sense for my setup. If you are deep in the Apple ecosystem, it’s the best thing ever, but ranking it as a general “top” pick for everyone is a bit of a stretch when it’s so limited outside that garden.
PC Mag and the Walmart Surprise
I have to admit, PC Mag actually surprised me this time around. I went in expecting more of the same, but they actually listed the Onn 4K box as their top tested pick. That caught me off guard. Usually, these big publications ignore the “budget” stuff from Walmart, but the Onn 4K is legitimately solid. It has the Google Assistant, a remote finder, and it even supports Wi-Fi 6. Sure, it stutters every now and then, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. They also gave some love to the Fire TV Cube and the Fire Stick HD, which I appreciate because those are actually decent for what they cost.
It’s refreshing to see a list that doesn’t just feel like a copy-paste job.
But then, you look at what they left out, and the cynicism creeps back in. Neither of these lists mentioned the Nvidia Shield TV, and that is just insane to me. The Shield Pro costs about the same as an Apple TV 4K, but it is objectively more capable in almost every way. To me, it shows that these rankings are often just trying to farm as much affiliate income as they can by pushing the big-name brands that everyone recognizes. If you aren’t including the Shield, you aren’t really looking for the “best” device; you’re just looking for the easiest one to sell.
Why the 2019 King Still Reigns
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the Nvidia Shield lately, mostly because I keep waiting for them to release a new one. I used to tell people to hold off on buying it because surely a 2024 or 2025 model was right around the corner. But honestly? Nvidia seems pretty happy with what they have. The 2019 Shield Pro is still winning benchmark tests against brand-new hardware. It is a beast. If you have a $200 budget and you want something that will actually last you the next five or six years, that is the one. Even if other devices eventually catch up, the Shield is still going to be powerful enough for whatever comes next.
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
If you don’t want to drop two hundred bucks on a streaming box—and I totally get why you wouldn’t—then the Onn 4K models are the way to go. Whether it’s the regular box, the Stick Plus, or the Pro model, you are looking at something under $50 that punches way above its weight class. I usually tell people to stay away from the basic HD stick because it’s just not enough power, but the 4K boxes are the most affordable and powerful things for that price point right now. It’s the kind of device that makes you wonder why anyone buys the expensive stuff unless they really need the extra horsepower.
The Fire TV Cube and the Amazon Problem
I still have a soft spot for my Fire TV Cube, though. It’s a powerful little machine, and I keep hoping Amazon will come out with a new version one of these years. But man, Amazon is making it hard to stay loyal. They keep stripping away features and cluttering the UI with so much junk that it’s starting to feel like an ad platform that happens to play movies. It’s still one of the best for hands-free control, but the trade-offs are getting heavier every month.
Sometimes I miss the simplicity of the old days.
Speaking of the old days, I’ve noticed that those generic Android TV boxes are starting to make a comeback. Back in 2017, those random boxes—like the XPro 13—were my absolute jam. You can pick them up for like 15 or 30 dollars, and you can basically do whatever you want with them. There are so many variations in specs and features that it’s like the Wild West of streaming. If you order directly from overseas, they are dirt cheap.
But, and this is a big “but,” you have to be careful. I remember that video Linus Tech Tips did about malware being baked into these generic boxes, and that is a legitimate concern for anyone who cares about privacy. Plus, they usually don’t have the official certifications, which means you can’t get official Netflix or Prime Video in high quality. It’s a gamble. For fifteen bucks, it might be a fun toy to mess around with, but I wouldn’t put my primary logins on one without some serious protection.
My Own Conclusion (If There Is One)
I guess at the end of the day, there isn’t one “perfect” device, which is why these “Top 10” lists are so frustrating. They try to give you a single answer when the real answer depends on whether you’re a tech nerd, a budget shopper, or just someone who wants the remote to work every time. I’ve gone back and forth on what I recommend more times than I can count. One week I’m all about the Shield’s power, the next I’m telling everyone to just go to Walmart and buy the $20 Onn box because, honestly, it’s good enough for most people.
It’s easy to get lost in the specs and the affiliate links, but your TV setup should just work.
If you are actually looking to buy something, I’ve put my own list of favorites together in the description of my videos, ranked in an order that actually makes sense for humans. Using those links helps me keep doing this, which I appreciate, but more than anything, I just want people to stop buying overpriced junk because some website told them it was the “best”. Just do a little research, know what you actually need, and don’t be afraid to ignore the big-name rankings if they don’t feel right.
I’m going to go to sleep now before I start looking up 2027 rumors.