The 4 Best Streaming Sticks to Upgrade to in 2026

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you’re looking for the best streaming devices to enhance your TV experience in 2026, you have several great options. These devices, although simple, add smart features to any TV, even older ones. Simply plug them in with HDMI and connect them to Wi-Fi, and in minutes you have access to multiple streaming services and other functions.

This can be a great alternative for those who own a TV without smart capabilities to get more viewing options without being stuck with cable. These devices are also much cheaper than buying a new screen, and it’s easy to see why once you check the rankings of the top streaming devices, since they can cost around $50. These devices also usually support 4K HDR and are small, so they’re easy to hide behind the TV so they don’t look messy.

Plus, sticks aren’t just useful for people with stupid TVs. Even the most modern smart devices often experience some slowdown after a few years of use, especially entry-level models. So, using a streaming stick solves this problem with a faster interface, which works well for anyone who doesn’t want to replace the screen now. With this in mind, we have selected the best options.

The second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is probably one of the best products in Amazon’s current lineup. It has a faster processor, twice the storage of most competitors, and supports Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos in 4K. So if you want a product that will maintain its performance for years instead of having to speed up your smart TV settings down the line, this is the best choice for $59.

For those who live in homes or areas where the network is heavily congested, Wi-Fi 6E helps a lot in avoiding drops in streaming quality. But Wi-Fi 5 still lets you watch movies and TV shows in the best possible quality, with a few issues. Regardless, 16GB of storage also makes a difference, as you can install almost any streaming app and still have free space.

Another point is that if you like gaming but don’t want to buy a console, this Amazon stick also supports Cloud Gaming. So, you can play games available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or GeForce Now if you have a subscription. The only downside concerns the interface, which still favors Amazon’s own ecosystem a little, but this bothers people less when they already use Prime Video on a daily basis.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K costs $49.99 and remains one of the best options for any TV in 2026 because it still performs well. One of the main strengths of the devices manufactured by Roku is the interface, as it is one of the most direct and simple you will find. Because Roku is better than Fire TV Stick, it doesn’t show a lot of ads on your screen like options from Amazon or Google.

In terms of picture quality, it delivers what you’d expect from a modern 4K TV. It features Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which cover the two dynamic HDR formats most used in streaming today. It also has a long-range Wi-Fi receiver, which can be useful if your TV is far from the router, and its compact design doesn’t block other HDMI ports either, which makes it great.

On the other hand, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K still uses Wi-Fi 5, putting it behind competitors with Wi-Fi 6 or 6E in terms of connectivity. However, for most users this is not a problem, as depending on your router you may not even notice this difference. This Roku stick is therefore a simple choice for anyone who doesn’t want to make a mistake.

If you’re looking for one of the best Roku TV Stick alternatives that’s worth using, with Google TV, decent modern format support, and a more comprehensive 4K streaming experience, the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K 2nd Gen is a great option. It has things like Dolby Vision and Atmos, HDR10+, DTS and AV1, which are important if you want to get the most out of your TV on streaming services. Connectivity is another point in favor of the Mi Stick.

It supports Wi-Fi 6, so if your router does too, you can get more stability when watching your movies, especially if you have a lot of devices in your house. Its compact size makes it easy to install behind the TV, without taking up space on the furniture, so you can hide it and use it without attracting attention. This second generation also brought significant improvements in performance. This version, for example, has 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage and a more powerful processor than the previous model. It’s easier to navigate Google TV, open streaming apps, edit menus, and watch 4K content with less lag.

If the Fire TV Stick Max seems a little too expensive to you, you can opt for the Stick 4K Plus, which remains a good choice. It’s around $49, but you can get better discounts if you wait for sale periods, while still keeping essentials at a lower price. So you have a device that supports 4K, Dolby Vision, Atmos and Wi-Fi 6, which if you use it more loosely you won’t notice a huge difference.

The biggest change between the TV Stick Max and the Plus is that in this version you ditch Wi-Fi 6E and also get less storage. But if the focus is only on online streaming and not downloading content to watch later, it hardly makes a difference. Apart from that, this model, in addition to costing less, will give you a similar experience to the Max, making it a great alternative.

Additionally, the Fire TV Stick Plus also comes with cloud gaming, providing access to Game Pass Ultimate servers. So, if you have a subscription to these services and a controller, you will be able to enjoy the games without even having a console. So if you’re not a hardcore user, this model is one of the go-to tech choices to make retirees’ lives easier, offering a solid experience at a lower price.

The idea of ​​a TV key is that these products age well, maintaining good stability even over the years. For this reason, we chose those that support 4K to offer the best picture quality and better Wi-Fi protocols. We made the only exception for Roku, which still hasn’t updated its products with Wi-Fi 6 or similar standards, but the lower price is a trade-off worth considering.

We also prioritized products with good user ratings, whether in reviews or even on retailers’ product pages. Price was another point, as a more expensive stick only makes sense if it has good performance or other features that are worth the extra money invested. Finally, we also paid attention to features that tend to gain relevance in the coming years, such as Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and cloud gaming support, as they also help justify upgrading from an older stick.