Mainstream choice
The Google TV Streamer may not be as powerful as the Shield TV Pro, but it touts considerable upgrades over the Chromecast Ultra, making it a great choice if you need a new streaming box. The interface doesn't have any lag in regular use, it has useful smart home controls, and comes with an HDMI 2.1 port at the back. The best part is the pricing — at $100, it is a terrific value.
For
- Interface doesn't lag
- Built-in smart home controls and Matter integration
- HDMI 2.1 out
- Great pricing
Against
- Not as powerful as Shield TV Pro
- Doesn't have as many ports at the back
- No Wi-Fi 6
Still the best
I bought three units of the Shield TV Pro 2019, and use the streaming box exclusively in my house. It has the best hardware of any streaming device, and thanks to the generous port selection, you can easily attach external storage. It also has the best AI-assisted upscaling, and if you have SD or older content, it looks great on the Shield TV Pro. As it launched it 2019, it misses out on AV1 decode, but that's a problem only with YouTube, and even though it's significantly costlier, the Shield TV Pro is the one I'd pick.
For
- Still the best overall hardware
- Best AI-assisted image upscaling
- Can easily add storage drives
- Regularly gets updates
Against
- No HDR in YouTube videos
- Costlier
