The products in the below table are 10 of the best streaming HD media players of 2018 that gives you access to movies, music, images, games and apps from the Internet and a Smart device (mobile phone or tablet). They’re essential if you don’t have a Smart TV. If you’re looking for a similar but smaller device, check out our Top 8 Best Portable USB Media Players.
Scroll across at the bottom of the table / mobile and tablet users just swipe...Apple TV | Roku 3 | WD TV Live | Google Chrome | DroidPlayer | Roku LT 2400 | Roku 2 XS | MiniX Neo X7 | Netgear Push2TV | WD TV Play | ||
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Our Rating | Our Rating | ||||||||||
Processor | Apple Single-Core A5 Chip | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.5GHz Dual-Core A9-MIII Neon Cortex | N/A | N/A | 1.6 GHz Quad-Core Cortex A9 | N/A | N/A | Processor |
Operating System | iOS | Roku | Western Digital | Android 2.3+, iOS 6+, Mac OS 10.7+, Windows 7+, Chrome OS | Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 | Roku | Roku | Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 | Netgear | Western Digital | Operating System |
Wireless | Wireless | ||||||||||
Video Output | 720P / 1080P | 720P / 1080P | 480P / 720P / 1080P | 720P / 1080P | HDMI v1.4 - Full HD 1080P | 480i / 480P / 720P | 720P / 1080P | HDMI 1.4 - Full HD 1080P | 480P / 720P / 1080P | 480P / 720P / 1080P | Video Output |
Audio Output | Dolby Digital 5.1 | Digital over HDMI (7.1 and 5.1 surround pass through) | Dolby Digital 5.1 | N/A | Composite | Digital over HDMI (7.1 and 5.1 surround pass through) | Digital over HDMI (7.1 and 5.1 surround pass through) | HDMI 1.4a 2 Channels | Digital over HDMI (5.1 surround sound pass-through and stereo) | Dolby Digital 5.1 | Audio Output |
Netflix | Netflix | ||||||||||
Love Film | Love Film | ||||||||||
Ports | • HDMI • 10/100BASE-T Ethernet • Optical Audio • Micro USB • DC In | • HDMI • USB • Ethernet • Micro SD Card Slot • 3.5mm Jack (on remote) • DC In | • USB 2.0 • HDMI • Composite AV | N/A | • 4 x USB 2.0 • HDMI • Digital Coax S/PDIF • Ethernet RJ45 • SD Card (up to 32GB) | • HDMI • AV Out • DC In | • HDMI • USB • Ethernet • Micro SD Card Slot • DC In | • 3 x USB 2.0 • 1 x Micro USB • HDMI • 3.5mm Jack • Mic • Ethernet EJ45 • SD 3.0 (up to 32GB) • MMC V4.41 | • HDMI • Micro USB • DC In | • HDMI • USB 2.0 • Composite AV • Ethernet • Optical Audio | Ports |
Video Formats | H.264, MPEG-4, M-JPEG, MOV | MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264) | AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB, MKV (h.264, x.264), AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), M2TS, WMV9, FLV (h.264) | Depends on device used to stream media. | AVI, RM, RMVB, MKV, WMV, MOV, MP4, WEBM, DAT, VOB, MPEG, MPG, FLV, ASF, TS, TP, 3GP | MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264) | MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264) | AVI, RM, RMVB, MKV, WMV, MOV, MP4, WEBM, DAT, VOB, MPEG, MPG, FLV, ASF, TS, TP, 3GP | MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264) | AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG4, VC-1), MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T/M2TS (MPEG4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, AVC), WMV9, FLV (AVC) | Video Formats |
Audio Formats | HE-AAC (V1), AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV | AAC, MP3 | MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AAC, FLAC, MKA, AIF/AIFF, OGG, Dolby Digital, DTS | Depends on device used to stream media. | MP3, WMA, WMV, APE, OGG, FLAC, AAC | AAC, MP3 | AAC, MP3 | MP3, WMA, WMV, APE, OGG, FLAC, AAC | AAC, MP3 | MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AAC, FLAC, MKA, AIF/AIFF, OGG, Dolby TrueHD | Audio Formats |
Image Formats | JPEG, GIF, TIFF | JPG, PNG | JPEG, GIF, TIF/TIFF, BMP, PNG | Depends on device used to stream media. | JPG, GIF | JPG, PNG | JPG, PNG | JPG, GIF | JPG, GIF | JPEG, GIF, TIF/TIFF, BMP, PNG | Image Formats |
Subtitles | N/A | N/A | SRT, ASS, SSA, SUB, SMI | Depends on device used to stream media. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | SRT, ASS, SSA, SUB, SMI, MKV (embedded sub) | Subtitles |
Mob Phone Stream | Mob Phone Stream | ||||||||||
Remote Control | Remote Control | ||||||||||
Dimensions | 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches | 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches | 4.9 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches | 12.2 x 12.2 x 5.8cm | N/A | 3.7 x 3.7 x 1.2 inches | N/A | N/A | 1.96 x 3.27 x 0.43 inches | 4.17 x 4.13 x 1.07 inches | Dimensions |
Contents | • Apple TV • Apple Remote • Power Lead • Documentation | • Roku 3 • Motion Control Remote • 2 x AA Batteries • In-Ear Earphones • Documentation | • WD TV Live • Remote Control & Batteries • Composite AV Cable • AC Adapter • Documentation | • Chromecast • HDMI Extender • USB Power Cable • Power Adapter • Documentation | • DroidPlayer • Remote Control • Power Adapter • HDMI Cable • Documentation | • Roku LT 2400 • Remote Control & Batteries • AV Cable • AC Power Adapter • Documentation | • Roku 2 XS • Angry Birds Game • Motion Control Remote • 2 x AA Batteries • AV Cable • Documentation | • MiniX Neo X7 • MiniX Remote • 5V Power Adapter • OTG Cable • HDMI Cable • Setup Guide | • Netgear Push2TV • USB Cable • Power Adapter • Documentation | • WD Play • Re-mote Control & Batteries • Composite AV Cable • AC Adapter • Documentation | Contents |
Price | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | **CHECK PRICE** | Price |
Apple TV | Roku 3 | WD TV Live | Google Chrome | DroidPlayer | Roku LT 2400r | Roku 2 XS | MiniX Neo X7 | Netgear Push2TV | WD TV Play |
Top Features | Best Streaming HDTV Media Players
- Our Rating – This is based on our own research in product testing and user feedback. Clicking on each product takes you to the product page where you can read customer reviews on the product you’re interested in.
- Best Value / Top Rated / Top Specs / Best Choice – Products that we consider to excel in a certain area such as value for money, reputation or technology have been given one of our aforementioned labels of recognition.
- Operating System – All streaming HD media players will have their own platform for navigating and selecting various media to play.
- Netflix & Love Film – These are 2 of the biggest platforms for accessing movies and TV shows. While Netflix is available for practically all devices, Love Film (an Amazon company) is only available for a selected few. Most devices also allows you to stream media from Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Spotify, Vudu and more.
- Mob. Phone Stream – Most devices will allow you to stream videos, music and images from a tablet and smart phone onto your TV via the HD media player.
- Price – If you want to know the price of any of the models, just click on the Buy Now button or Check Price and you’ll be redirected to the product page. The reason we don’t put prices is because they constantly change and there are so many sellers offering different prices.