Here’s the thing about streaming devices. They don’t change much. They do what they’re meant to do — stream video and maybe some other stuff — but the underlying technology doesn’t change much. And the way we stream video hasn’t changed either. So the differences are more on the edges. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen improvements. And while our list of the best streaming devices hasn’t changed overall, there are definitely some differences worth noting this year.
Want to see the rest? Check out our full list of the hottest tech products of 2022!
Winner: Apple TV 4K (2022)
From the outside, the new Apple TV 4K looks identical to the 2021 model. It’s every-bit smaller, thanks to the removal of an active fan (yes, previous iterations had a fan, you might not have heard of it), but inside that stunning exterior, you’ll find a handful of small but important improvements. .
Specifically, this year’s model comes with an A15 Bionic processor. In other words, the Apple TV was packed with power before, and still is, as far as you want to do things like watch videos. That’s just because it’s simple (and it’s a bit old and bad for Apple to use that processor. Maybe it needs to include the Thread and Matter standards, which should allow Apple TV to serve as a better smart home hub. Actors are being implemented.)
Or it could be something else altogether. Maybe one day we’ll see Apple TV get serious about streaming gaming. Or not.
Another slight improvement? The remote now charges via USB-C instead of Apple’s own Lightning cable. That’s good because Apple’s proprietary standards should be gone, especially since you might only have to charge it twice a year for something. (Now iPhone and AirPods, make it Apple!)
And it’s also a great workout partner with Apple Fitness+.
And still you won’t find ads anywhere on the home screen. (Don’t make us regret saying that, Apple!)
Runner-up: Amazon Fire TV Cube
Another example of strong incremental improvement is the Amazon Fire TV Cube. It’s still a cube. It’s still a streaming device paired with an Amazon Echo speaker. It still has all the apps and does all the Alexa stuff like before. New, however, is a fabric exterior – to better fit in the Echo line, which carries the same method. But the biggest changes come with the addition of an HDMI port and the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E.
The first allows you to connect other devices such as a cable box, satellite box or game console via HDMI. And once connected directly to the Fire TV Cube, it can easily control that secondary device. When it comes to cable and satellite boxes, you can control Fire TV Live Guides through its own user interface (if the hardware supports it) and everything without messing up the Fire TV input on your TV. .
That means it’s not really just for streamers, and it makes the whole experience easier.
Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E can be a little selfish on Amazon’s part. The company now owns router manufacturer Aero, which, by the way, now has excellent consumer-grade routers that support Wi-Fi 6E. So that makes sense. But good for anyone else who has the latest wireless standard baked into their router — never mind the manufacturer. Faster is better, and this is true, as Wi-Fi 6E offers faster speeds than an onboard 10/100 Ethernet port.
Editors’ recommendations
[ad_2]