Things to consider when choosing a streaming device – and which one suits you best

So, you’re in the market for a streamer, huh? Well, you’ve come at a good time. Even though most TVs worth their salt come pre-loaded with streaming apps and features, you want more. That’s great because streaming devices are everywhere in 2023. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, too. Dongles, sticks and set-top boxes dominate the scene and for good reason.

In most cases, these devices share the same content, with the only difference being performance, features and most importantly – price. These are all things you need to consider before spending your hard-earned cash. Buyer’s remorse is real, people.

That’s why we’re here. To help you find out what your needs are, and maybe help you choose one along the way.

Do you really need a streaming box?

Before you rush out and buy a new streamer, stop and ask yourself: do you already have a streamer? We’re not talking about boxes or dongles here. We’re talking about TVs and in some cases, consoles. For the most part, newer TVs from reputable brands already have some sort of streaming functionality built in. The same goes for most current and last-gen consoles like the PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S and X. Switch owners… look elsewhere.

Should your streaming needs be confined to a few apps like Netflix, YouTube or Prime, you probably already have what you need, whether it be on your TV or console. If you can live with the UI and the limited app store, you’re golden. Don’t spend your money unnecessarily.

For those who own older TVs or don’t have a console or just want a better interface and more content; your best bet is to pick up one of those streamers we’ve been going on about. The only question is: which one?

Some things to consider

When looking to purchase a streamer, first consider your budget. Next, are you already locked into Apple’s ecosystem? What sort of apps are you looking for? Anything specific? How important is having a fast and easy-to-use UI? Can my TV handle 4K? If you can answer those questions, picking a box, stick or dongle should be easy.

Some devices tend to focus more on delivering a cheaper product, capable of doing (almost) everything that the others can, just with a little less pizazz. By pizazz, we mean more storage, faster processors and some extra features. For example, those that spend a bit more will appreciate the addition of voice features and a couple of games to go with it. The penny-pinchers should get used to typing.

That being said, we do have a couple of standouts that should make narrowing down your choices easier. Considering the price, performance, and voice controls, you can’t go wrong with our picks.

Best on a budget – Supersonic Ultra 4K (R600)

If saving money is on your mind, check out the Supersonic Ultra 4K. It’s got the basics – an HDMI port, power cable, remote, 2GB of RAM and a sub-R1,000 price point. Perfect. You get 4K visuals – as long as you have a supporting TV – with an easy-to-use Android interface to boot.

That 2GB of RAM means you won’t be getting fluid menu navigation like the other entries on this list, and the accompanying remote leaves a lot to be desired (like voice controls). Where streaming controls are concerned, less is often more. Still, for R600, can you really complain?

Best 4K and performance – Apple TV (R2,800)

Those looking for something a little more premium, and don’t mind spending (a lot) more to join Apple’s ecosystem, you can’t go wrong with Apple’s latest streamer. You have the choice of 32, 64 and 128GB of storage, with later generations featuring superior chipsets that’ll speed everything up significantly. The inclusion of HDR and Dolby Vision support is the premium cherry on this streaming cake. The Siri-enabled remote takes some getting used to, but once mastered, it’ll quickly become one of your favourites.

Experienced users may seek out a model with more storage and a faster processor, though newbies will hardly notice any disparity between them. With 4K being standard on all models, those without a 4K TV aren’t getting the most bang for their buck. Unless you’ve got some uncontrollable urge to use Apple’s UI, or just like spending money.

Best voice controls – Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) (R1,600)

Amazon’s Fire TV stick is exactly that… a stick. This isn’t some box that needs an HDMI cable and an external power source. Here, the stick is the HDMI cable and the TV provides the juice. Despite the extra ease of setting this up, we’ve added it to the list because of Alexa, Amazon’s voice helper that stands above the rest.

Content-wise, you won’t find much else different. Everything that’s there is also here. Prime users might prefer Amazon’s insistence to promote its content on the home page, though it’s something we could take or leave. Speed and ease of use are great, though anyone looking for more storage will need to look elsewhere. This is a pure streamer through and through with decent voice controls sprinkled on top.

Best overall streaming stick – Xiaomi TV Stick (R1,000)

Anyone that’s used one of the best streaming boxes in the game should enjoy Xiaomi’s cheaper and easier-to-set-up streaming stick. A 4K resolution, Android TV 11 OS, and built-in Google Assistant functionality make this our favourite stick streamer out there.

Access to the Google Play Store is a must for buyers wanting to load as many apps as possible, though the 8GB of storage will eventually let you down. The remote is intuitive, with great voice controls to go with it. The dedicated Netflix and Prime buttons on the face are certainly appreciated.

Best overall set-top box – ColoVu C1 Plus 4K (R1,600)

ColoVu’s C1 Plus is, without a doubt, our favourite streamer out there. There’s just something about it. Whether it’s the C1’s looks, speed or LAN port… we can’t tell. But you won’t find a better box in South Africa for this price, with all the same bells and whistles included.

As with all the higher-end streamers, voice controls are included, with the C1 making use of Google Assistant. The remote is unique, adding some much-needed extra weight for a more premium feel in hand. Something the others choose to exclude. Dedicated Prime, Netflix, YouTube and Google buttons make it all worth it.

No device is perfect. The use of the older version of Android TV (Android TV 10) is puzzling and disappointing. We expected more at this price. Luckily, the C1’s other strengths make up for this.