Best streaming devices 2023: No Smart TV? No problem

If you have a less-than-smart TV, you're definitely going to want a plug-and-play streaming device to make your viewing experience all it could be. Basically, we're talking about something that can effortlessly corral all your desired TV shows, movies, apps, and games in one place.

The good news: to acquire such a setup, all you'll need is a spare HDMI port and either a USB port or power outlet. Oh, you'll also need to make an important purchasing decision, too. We're currently living in a golden era of streaming services and devices.

In Australia, the biggest devices in the streaming arena are Google Chromecast and Apple TV. Though there are other devices, such as gaming consoles, that offer most streaming apps. Let's find out which avenue is right for you.

Nifty, versatile design: In a market full of uninspired oblongs, Google has delivered a bit of flair with this fancy circular dongle. Like no other option on this list, it will easily conform to the (often limited) space around your TV. It's put in your pocket portable, too.

Great remote: The Chromecast with Google TV's remote may be small, but boy is it mighty. It plays well with most TVs, includes the always-helpful Google Assistant and comes with easy-access Netflix and YouTube buttons. It just might replace your actual TV remote.

Unbeatable price: Google could've priced this bad boy at $200 and we'd still think it was great value. That's how good it is. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to get this many features, a versatile remote and 4K for anywhere near as cheap as the Chromecast with Google TV.

Even cheaper Sister products: If you're really on a super-thin budget (and you're ok to forgo 4K, HDR, and an ethernet port), you can basically halve the money you spend by getting a lower-spec Chromecast.

Occasionally temperamental remote: Early on, the Google TV remote could be a little finicky, though it seems like Google has ironed out most of the bugs.

It seems like only yesterday that we were reviewing the Amazon Fire Stick 4K (though it was actually back in May). And now, six month on, the Fire Stick 4K has been superseded by a new Stick, taking what we liked about the previous model to the Max.

This updated model looks and feels identical to the former, with all of the changes below the surface. There’s a faster processor running the show, support for WiFi 6 networks for faster streaming, and an absence of some of the bugs we noted in our last review.

The focus on speed is welcome, but not entirely necessary given the performance we experienced earlier in the year. If you bought a Fire Stick 4K you have every right to feel bummed out about this update. It costs the same and is future proofed with the latest networking tech. And, most importantly, it still just costs AU$99.

Far from a necessary upgrade, the 2022 Apple TV 4K manages to make some minor improvements to an already solid streaming device for Apple users. If that’s not you then you need not read any further, the Chromecast with Google TV offers almost everything the Apple TV 4K does at a fraction of the cost (and size). If you are already one of Apple's many acolytes, the 2022 Apple TV 4K upgrade is an exceptional piece of hardware that helps you make the most out of your many devices and services.

While the Apple TV 4K does not currently support VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), the streaming hub will be gaining the ability to do just that when TVos 17 is released later this year.

If you're not sure where to start when it comes to anonymous streaming, be sure to check out the comparison table below for a selection of the best VPN providers in Australia.

A haven for TV folk and gamers: Streaming the latest TV is great; being able to palate swap from that to surprisingly responsive interactive entertainment is amazing. GeForce Now game streaming puts your Steam library at your fingertips like never before. You might actually work through your pile of shame at this rate.

4K upscaling: We're big fans of the AI upscaling feature here. It essentially takes any not-exactly-high-definition content (like cartoons from our misspent 1980s youth) and makes them absolutely pop on the screen as 4K. This was particularly handy when Netflix decided to reduce the quality of its streams to help ease Internet congestion in March 2020.

Android store: The much more open Play Store marketplace can offer savvy users the opportunity to download emulators. (For the laymen: little apps that pretend to be classic gaming consoles.)

Head-scratching: Unlike the other options on this list, the Nvidia Shield TV 2020 isn't the most novice-friendly device. Yes, streaming some TV is a relative cinch, but setting up the gaming stuff will require some patience and Googling.

The overwhelming majority of our streaming device selections come with both WiFi and 4K resolution. The latter is a must — entertainment is finally starting to see a real shift into Ultra High Definition (UHD) content, not to mention the eyeball-searing wonders of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video.

In layman's terms: providing you have a TV that supports both of the technologies as mentioned above, you can get insanely crisp visuals with truly impressive colour vibrancy.

It's also worth noting that while the majority of these options support voice control, you're not forced into using it.

Maybe you'll want to download an app for your smartphone or tablet to let you channel surf from there. Perhaps you'll want to stick with ye olde hand remote because you don't like the potential of any big tech companies "listening in" on what passes for domestic bliss at your place. We're not here to judge.

Before you go out of your way to buy a standalone streaming device, it's worth checking whether you already own a device that's compatible with Australian streaming services. The most obvious option is via your smartphone, tablet or computer. Every single streaming service has an app for Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. Every service also offers the option to stream in your web browser of choice (though browser compatibility varies between services). Still, you probably arrived at this guide because you want to stream on the big screen.

If you own a smart TV, you probably have access to a variety of streaming apps. Again, compatibility varies from service to service but brands like Sony, Samsung and LG offer widespread support for most streaming services. If your Smart TV uses the Android TV operating system, you should be in safe hands, but there's still a variety of cheaper televisions that have limited support.

Next, if you own any brand of gaming console, it's worth checking which streaming apps are available on your platform of choice. Once again, compatibility varies across brands and even console generations. Last generation's PlayStation 4 and Xbox One offer decent support, while the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X are making short work of supporting most major streaming services.