These days, streaming media is all the rage. There was a time when cable reigned supreme, but streaming’s ease has proved to be a stronger influence.
Some may even consider streaming to be addictive, or at the very least addictive-inducing. Netflix, probably the world’s most popular TV streaming service, seems to be clashing with sleep due to its fascinating content.
What is a streaming stick, and how does it work?
A streaming stick is a small media player that’s about the size of a USB flash drive. It may be immediately hooked into an HDMI connector, enabling media to be streamed from the device.
Streaming sticks are quite portable and don’t take up a lot of room due to their compact size. This is useful for those who want to watch their favorite programs while on the road.
However, they aren’t as powerful as a streaming TV box. As a consequence, they won’t be as quick as while you’re browsing the user interface. They also have a limited amount of storage capacity.
A streaming stick with more than 8GB of internal storage is uncommon. Streaming sticks also lack Ethernet connectors, which might be problematic in regions with poor Wi-Fi.
Streaming sticks are quite mobile and don’t take up a lot of room due to their compact size. For those who want to watch on the move, this is ideal.
What do I need: sticks or boxes?
Apple’s Apple TV, Nvidia’s Shield Android TV, Roku’s Ultra, Amazon’s Fire TV Cube, and Xiaomi’s Mi Box S are among the most famous streaming boxes. The Amazon Fire Stick, Roku Express, and Google Chromecast are by far the biggest top streaming devices.
Excluding the Google Chromecast, all media streaming players have a separate remote control that can be used to turn on/off the device, assist with navigation, and control video on the screen. Some are voice-activated, either via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or through the vendor’s own system. Depending on the version, the devices can play Full HD 1080p or 2160p (4K) video.
Streaming Box vs. Streaming Stick
Compared to streaming sticks, streaming media players offer additional ports and connection possibilities. The majority of them include Ethernet, HDMI, USB 3.0, and Wi-Fi 5. The HDMI port connects to your TV for video display, Ethernet may be utilized for a quicker internet connection, and the USB port can be used to side-load unsupported apps or play media from a portable hard drive. Other streaming boxes may have additional connections for an SD card and AUX audio out.
Physical interfaces on streaming sticks, on the other hand, are restricted. Most just include an HDMI connector for video display, which links the stick to your TV. Wi-Fi is generally used to connect to the internet, and USB ports are nearly non-existent.
Pros
We’ll start with the positive aspects of this streaming stick review. There are a lot of things about this stick that we enjoy. Here are some of our favorite items.
- Size
Most of the newest streaming sticks are the ideal size, being smaller than their predecessor. This means you should be able to plug them into any HDMI port without difficulty. The stick has an HDMI connection on one end and a USB port on the other that powers it.
- Remote Control
You’ll get a remote control when you buy the stick, which you may aim wherever. It has a range of roughly around 30 feet from your device to which you may utilize it. The remote has a stylish design and a large navigation pad. You should have no trouble using the remote since it is simple to use.
- Smartphone Applications
You can manage the stick with your tablet or smartphone by downloading the respective phone apps. You can basically use the app as a remote control. Another fascinating aspect these apps is that you may listen to music privately on your smartphone.
- A Wide Range of Services
Once you get your hands on a streaming stick, there are a large number of things you can watch. When you visit Stores, you’ll find a wide range of applications and services. They may include well-known brands like YouTube, Hulu, Google Play, Twitch, Sling TV, and even Netflix. You will have no trouble choosing anything to watch, and the collection will amaze you.
You can not only see a lot of things, but you can also listen to a lot of music. You may use the stick to listen to iHeartRadio, check out what’s on Spotify, or check out Pandora or Google Play, all of which are available on many brands like Roku. Although iTunes isn’t included on the list for Roku, this isn’t a major problem since you’ll find fantastic music on the other services.
- Affordability
With so many wonderful features, you’d expect this stick to be pricey. This is not the case, as it can be found for as little as $40 in many locations. Some vendors may charge more, but you should anticipate to spend roughly $49.99 for it, which is a reasonable price and you’ll immediately realize why it’s well worth it.
Cons
There is no such thing as an ideal product. Despite the fact that this streaming stick is almost ideal, there are a few drawbacks. In reality, there are two major disadvantages. The following are some of the disadvantages:
- Some of them don’t Support 4K-
You may be out of luck if you want to view material in 4K. The gadget does not support 4K resolution. Is this a major issue? We don’t believe it is, and we don’t believe many people are concerned about it, although some individuals may see it as a disadvantage.
- Earphone jacks
The remote control is nice and handy, but it might not have a headphone jack. If you wish to listen to music privately, you may utilize the stick’s application and your phone.
Those are the only disadvantages. We don’t mind that the remote sticks may not have an earphone jack and that the gadget doesn’t support 4K. We’re not sure you’d mind either.
