The document discusses and compares several popular over-the-top (OTT) media streaming devices: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Chromecast with Google TV, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Apple TV 4K. It outlines the key features and strengths of each device, such as integrated apps, video/audio quality, price, and compatibility with other devices/services. The document recommends choosing a device that best matches your priorities like content options versus quality, as well as one that integrates well with your existing technology and devices.

1. OTT Devices: Which is the Right One For You? | TheViewPoint
The explosion in popularity of over-the-top (OTT) media services crystalized a
trend in media consumption behaviors that has already shifted towards on-
demand services and has dramatically veered toward OTT during the past 2
years and that is likely to remain the case given how long this change has
persisted in our lives so far.
It’s not hard to see why really, as there are so many options available to the
average consumer that would have been unthinkable a mere decade ago. We still
like to consume media content on our televisions after all, and the only thing
that’s changed is that OTT/CTV delivers this via the internet rather than via
satellite or cable, all that’s required is a good connection speed and an OTT
device for you to watch on.
With so many devices on the market comes the risk of feeling like a kid in a
candy store, overwhelmed by choice, unsure what to pick. Every OTT device

2. has its own merits and making sense of which is best can be tricky. That’s why
we made a list of the best OTT devices out there to help navigate the market.
When looking through these different options we considered not only the
technical aspects of each service, but also what kind of audience they are aimed
at. One service, for example, may offer outstanding video quality, but their lack
of children’s content may not make them the best option for viewers with young
families. This is just an example, finding the right OTT service for you depends
on a number of myriad factors, and we aim to help you find the absolute best
one out of the big four offerings available.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
It seems like Amazon has a service for almost anything at this point and the
giant founded on e-commerce is continuing its relentless march towards world
domination with its most recent OTT device offering; the Amazon Fire TV
Stick 4K. This OTT device is linked with the most recent version of Amazon’s
Fire TV platform, home to a number of different OTT apps including Prime
Music and Prime Video, as well as external service providers including, but not
limited to, Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu. These services are included as part of
your Amazon Prime membership, which can sometimes be gained for free
especially for students.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is very intuitive and user-friendly as it comes with a
remote control linked with Amazon Alexa, meaning you can use voice
commands to operate your OTT box. You can use the remote control to use the
Recast function, which allows you to consume conventional television content
with full DVR, so don’t worry, cutting the cord and going full OTT won’t mean
that you have to forget about your favorite TV shows. You’ll also be able to
watch said shows in full, high-quality 4K thanks to the Amazon Fire TV Stick
4K having 4K as standard (the clue is in the name).

3. If you’re looking for a flexible viewing experience that includes a number of
complementary services, then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the right choice
of OTT device for you. This especially applies if you already have an Amazon
Prime membership, or tend to do a lot of shopping on the company’s e-
commerce platform. In terms of price, Amazon’s offering is at the cheaper end
of the market at $37.99, so if the budget is a concern, you might want to
consider this option.
If you are an enthusiastic follower of sports like soccer and American football,
then Amazon’s services are likely to be particularly enticing as the company has
secured a number of lucrative deals to stream major games. Thursday night
football in the United States is now in Amazon’s portfolio, and a number of
English premier league games are also streamed on the platform. The company
is investigating more options in this field too, which will all likely appear via
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, with sports rumored to be featured including ice
hockey, rugby, and baseball, so definitely something sports fanatics should look
out for.
Chromecast With Google TV
Given that it already owns YouTube, it’s no surprise that Google would want to
break into the OTT market and Google Chromecast with Google TV is a decent
choice for most consumers. One of its standout features is its refined menu
system, which was specifically redesigned to make searching for content and
organization more optimized. This is a great plus for Chromecast, as instead of
listing streaming services by name, you can sort them based on your own watch
list, providing a highly personalized service.
Chromecast is also a solid OTT device because it supports high quality video
and audio including Dolby Vision HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. Indeed,
what Google’s created could be summed up as something of a pocket rocket, as

4. while this OTT box can provide a seriously high quality viewing experience, it
comes in a compact size that fits well into a variety of domiciles, from a family
home to a downtown apartment. It can also be linked with Google Assistant, so
it can be run via voice command, again boosting the user’s customization
options.
The Chromecast does have some drawbacks, however, starting with the fact that
while the watchlist is highly customizable the opposite is true for the OTT app’s
menu. Unlike its competitor devices, you can’t power the Chromecast with a
USB charger either, making placement a potential problem. These are clear
negatives, but with some half decent planning you can get around them, and the
average cost of $49.99 puts it within range of most budgets.
Google Chromecast is most likely to appeal to those looking for the best
possible quality viewing experience, so fans of special effects driven films and
TV shows should consider this as a good option. If you already use an Android
device, then you should also consider Chromecast, as you will find it easier to
integrate the service with your pre-existing devices. If you are living with
limited space capacity, you might also want to consider another platform as the
lack of a USB charger could pose a challenge for those living in small
apartments.
Roku Streaming Stick+
No doubt familiar to readers in the U.S., Roku is one of the giants of OTT
streaming and the company’s latest product, the Roku Streaming Stick+, offers
a next generation service that builds significantly on its previous iterations.
Roku’s main advantage is that compared to other OTT device competitors, it
offers the largest amount of apps and services. You get standard services like
Netflix and Hulu included, as well as some surprises like Amazon Prime Video
too.

5. When it comes to image and audio quality, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is
something of a mixed bag, for starters, it does support 4k streaming which is
great, and also includes full HDR10 support. However, Roku does not include
Dolby Vision, which contrasts this OTT streaming device poorly with other
options like Chromecast, so if this is a must for you, you’d best look elsewhere.
One other negative that really stands out for this OTT service is the fact that it
has limited voice search options, unlike Amazon and Google.
With the same price as Chromecast of $49.99, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is an
OTT device that should be able to meet most budgets. It’s a decent,
comprehensive tool for delivering OTT services, best suited for those looking
for choice over viewing experience. This should make it particularly attractive
to those with families.
That is because of the wide range of options you already have on the Roku
platform, not just TV but games too, and what is expected to be placed on there
in the near future. A number of companies developing OTT based video games,
many of which are designed for children and young families, are targeting Roku
for their products. Also, American OTT consumers should also strongly
consider this option thanks to Roku offering other in-demand services on its
platform like Amazon and Hulu.
Apple TV 4K
Something of an enfant terrible in the OTT market, Apple’s offering, Apple TV
4K, is somewhat unusual compared to its rivals, so let’s go through what it
offers piece by piece. For starters, and as you could imagine, this OTT device
does offer streaming in 4K which is pretty good, you can also connect to Apple
AirPlay2 and go onto download streaming apps available on the Apple store, so
this service will doubtless appeal to fans of the company’s products. What is

6. more, this includes exclusive access to the content on Apple TV+ and iTunes, so
again, a big plus for Apple fans.
What makes Apple TV 4K really stand out is its internal storage options, where
users can choose between 32 GB and 64 GB for their OTT device. This is
perfect for storing both your own content and anything else you may
download, with the minimum storage capacity of 32 GB being far ahead of
other OTT devices. If you have lots of files you want to add to your device, then
Apple TV 4K is probably the one for you. Otherwise, there’s not much else that
makes the device standout, though you can also use it as an Apple HomeKit
hub.
In fact it’s main drawback, and it’s a pretty big one at that, is that for an OTT
streaming device the price tag is pretty hefty. Starting at $179.99 for the 32GB
device, and $199.99 for the 64 GB version, Apple TV 4K represents a serious
investment especially compared with other OTT devices on the market, and will
likely prove a big enough reason for most consumers to pause for thought before
purchasing. If you’re a huge fan of Apple’s other products, or absolutely need a
device that includes a huge amount of memory, then this is likely the product for
you, otherwise, you might want to consider some of the other options.
Compared to the prices of the other big four offerings, Apple TV 4K really does
have a hefty price tag, and it is hard to see how the company could effectively
compete in a market where consumers are already paying for a multitude of
different streaming services. That being said, the dedicated storage function is
pretty interesting, so it may appeal to serious media consumers who download
gigabytes every month, as well as to Apple fanatics. Time will tell whether
consumers will respond positively to Apple’s pricing policy, and whether the
device can move beyond the relatively niche market it appears targeted to.
Takeaways

7. When it comes to choosing the right OTT device for you, you certainly have
options as we outlined above. These four are the best OTT streaming devices
around and they will suffice for most people, the trick is deciding which factors
are most important. Do you, for example, prioritize choice and range of content
over visual quality, or vice versa? The choice is yours, and you certainly have
some great options to peruse from.
You may also be better off choosing an OTT device that’s going to match well
with your existing devices. For example, if you already have Android devices
then you may want to go with Google Chromecast as it will integrate with
existing tools more smoothly, and the same goes for those with Apple products.
You could also go for something that’s much more versatile like Roku TV
because it includes a huge range of OTT streaming services, but then you’ll
sacrifice some of the niche perks other services offer, for example, voice control
via google Assistant or Alexa.
Crucially, you need to make sure that if you want to integrate an OTT device
with the technology you already have (especially as this applies to televisions)
then you need to make sure that their specifications match. There’s no point, for
example, buying an OTT device expecting it to stream 4K quality content, only
to find out that your television isn’t able to support this option.
Do your research, not just on which OTT device is right for you, but also on the
devices you have at your disposal. Also continue to keep an eye on the market
as new offerings may become available and innovative new products will likely
begin to appear on the platforms that already exist. Overall, it’s a pretty exciting
time for OTT as an industry, so you definitely want to watch this space.