5 Best Smart Streaming Set Top Boxes in 2024

Are you looking for a way that you can easily stream your favorite movies and TV shows on the big screen at home? Well, in the year 2019, there’s an easy answer to that — a smart streaming set top box.

Hook up a smart streaming box to your TV via an HDMI cable, and you’ll have instant access to hundreds of different media apps with all sorts of content that you can stream from, rent with, and more.

So, without further ado, here are five of our favorites.

Fire TV

It’s not necessarily a Set Top box, but functions pretty much the same way. The only difference is that you’ll plug this Fire TV stick into the back of your TV via an HDMI input — it’s not something that you’re going to physically see all the time like a set top box.

After you log into your Amazon account with the Fire TV, you have immediate access to tons of different entertainment apps — Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, FOX, Pandora, and so much more.

And with a Prime Video subscription, you’ll get access to a large library of exclusive TV shows and movies only available on Amazon Prime Video. They make it easy to rent, purchase, download, and access as much content as you can consume.

Buy it now: Amazon

Roku Ultra

Up next, we’re looking at the Roku Ultra. This one is more of a set top box, but does operate slightly different. You download channels or “apps” for accessing different types of content. On The Roku Channel specifically, you can rent or purchase movies and various TV shows.

Other channels you can download include Hallmark, Netflix, Hulu, CBS, PBS, ABC, Fox News, etc. While the Roku Ultra does give you access to standard movie and TV content, we think this one is the best for those who are also interested in live TV, as the Roku Ultra does have options that open up live TV.

Buy it now: Amazon

Fire TV Cube

The Fire TV Cube is more of what you might be looking at as far as a set top box goes. As the name implies, it is in the shape of a cube, and has to be plugged into your TV through an HDMI and power cord. As far as content goes, you’ll have access to the exact same found on the Fire TV stick.

There’s a vast library of movies and TV shows on Prime Video and then hundreds of applications that are downloadable to the device.

The unique aspect about the Fire TV Cube is to give you a hands-free streaming experience. Powered by the Alexa voice assistant, the Fire TV Cube lets you use your voice to access and watch content instead. The Fire TV Cube, with Alexa, is also capable of controlling lights, telling you the weather, and more.

Buy it now: Amazon

NVIDIA Shield TV

We really like what the NVIDIA Shield TV has to offer, giving you all sorts of apps to start streaming your favorite movies and TV shows. This device is larger than most set top boxes, but is packed full of high-end hardware for smooth streaming and high-end Android gaming.

If you ever wanted to do some Android gaming on your TV, the NVIDIA Shield TV has a lot of excellent support for that. With powerful hardware, the NVIDIA Shield TV can play even the most demanding games on the Play Store. And of course, you’ll have access to a wide range of media apps, too.

Buy it now: Amazon

Apple TV

Last, but certainly not least on our countdown, we have the Apple TV. If you run any Apple TV products in your home, this set top box is totally worth using. Honestly, even if you don’t!

The Apple TV will open up a massive pool of content for you, bringing you apps that you can download and stream from, like Netflix, Hulu, and others.

The smart streaming set top box also has access to the iTunes Store, which allows you quick access to movie and TV streaming, music, and more. They even open up the ability to digitally rent movies and TV shows.

Buy it now: Amazon

Verdict

As you can see, there are a lot of excellent smart streaming set top boxes available today. Most of these will accomplish the means that you’re after, but you might want to consider the Apple TV and NVIDIA Shield TV specifically, mostly because these platforms are going to have the most content available today.

Do you have a favorite set top box? Let us know in the comments section below.