Comparison of digital media players
A digital media player is a home entertainment consumer electronics device that can connect to a home network to stream digital media (such as music, pictures, or video).
Standalone streaming players
This list does not include discontinued or legacy media players.
| Maker | Model (Debut year) | Current version (year) | Connectivity | Audio output | Maximum video resolution | Video formats supported | Network | USB | Internal media storage | Card reader slot | Remote control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Fire TV (2014), Fire TV Stick (2014) | Fire TV Stick (third generation, 2020), Fire TV Cube (second generation, 2019), Fire TV Stick 4K (2018) | HDMI (w/ CEC) | HDMI | 4K@60fps (Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 4K); 1080p (Fire TV Stick) | H.265/HEVC, VP9 , H.264, H.263, MPEG4-SP, VC1 | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 10/100 Ethernet (via external dongle) | 1× micro-USB for ethernet dongle and OTG storage (Fire TV Cube), 1× micro-USB for power and ethernet dongle (Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K) | 16GB (Fire TV Cube), 8GB (Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K) | None | Bluetooth/IR remote with Alexa, Android app, iOS app |
| Apple | Apple TV (2007) | 7th generation (2022) | HDMI (w/ CEC) | HDMI, Bluetooth, | 4K@60fps (HDR) | H.265, H.264, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Gigabit Ethernet, Thread | None | Up to 128GB NAND Flash | None | Siri Remote, iPhone app |
| Chromecast (2013) | Chromecast with Google TV (CGTV; 2020 (4K) & 2022 (HD)) | HDMI (w/ CEC) | HDMI | 1080p (1st, 2nd, 3rd & CGTV HD); 4K@60fps (Ultra & CGTV 4K) | H.264, VP8 (Chromecast)
H.263, H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9 (Chromecast Ultra, CGTV) |
802.11b/g/n/ac (Chromecast), 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Nexus Player, CGTV) | 1× micro-USB for power (Chromecast),
1 x USB-C for power, ethernet and peripherals (CGTV) |
2 GB for buffering (Chromecast), 8 GB for buffering (Nexus Player, CGTV) | None | None (Chromecast controllable by mobile device, Google Assistant or Chrome browser);
Bluetooth/IR remote with Google Assistant (CGTV) | |
| Nvidia | SHIELD Console (2013) |
Nvidia Shield TV (third generation, 2019), Nvidia Shield TV Pro (third generation, 2019) |
HDMI (w/ CEC) | 3.5mm, HDMI | 4K@60fps | MPEG2/4, XviD, DivX, MKV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), HEVC (H.265), WMV9, VC-1, VP8, VP9 | 802.11ac 10/100/1000 Ethernet |
2x USB 3.0 1x micro-USB |
16GB, 500GB (SHIELD Pro) |
Micro SD | IR remote (all models) |
| Roku | Roku Streaming Player (2008) | 8th & 9th generation
Express, Express+, Streaming Stick+, Premiere, Ultra LT, Ultra (2018) |
HDMI | HDMI (all models), Optical Toslink (Ultra) | 4K@60fps; 1080p on Express and Express+ | H.264/AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV), H.265/HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9 (.MKV) | 802.11a/b/g/n (Express, Express+, Premiere) 802.11ac (Streaming Stick+, Ultra LT, Ultra) 10/100 Ethernet (Ultra) |
1× USB 2.0 (Ultra models) 1× micro-USB for power (Streaming Stick+ Roku model) |
256MB - 512MB | Micro SD (Premiere+ & Ultra) | IR remote (all models) Wi-Fi Direct (Streaming Stick+, Ultra) Headphone jack (Streaming Stick+, Ultra) |
Gaming systems
| Manufacturer | System (year) | Connectivity | Maximum video resolution | Video formats supported | Network | USB | Internal media storage | Card reader slot | Web browser | Remote control | Network file server | Network file client |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Xbox Series X/S (2020) | HDMI | 4K@120fps (Xbox Series X);
1440p@120fps (Xbox Series S) |
Many | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 3x USB 3.1 | 512GB or 1TB SSD | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | Unspecified | DLNA |
| Microsoft | Xbox One (2013) | HDMI, HDMI-in, optical audio | 1080p@60fps;
4K@60fps (Xbox One S, Xbox One X) |
Many | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 3x USB 3.0 | 500GB up to 2TB hard drive, not user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | Unspecified | DLNA |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 (2005) | HDMI, component audio/video, composite audio/video, optical audio | 1080p | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 3x USB 2.0 | 4GB up to 500GB hard drive, user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | Unspecified | DLNA |
| Sony | PlayStation 5 (2020) | HDMI | 4K@120fps | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 2x USB 3.1, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB-C with USB 3.1 | 825GB SSD, user-upgradeable | None | No | IR remote sold separately | N/A | DLNA |
| Sony | PlayStation 4 (2013) | HDMI, optical audio | 1080p@60fps;
4K@60fps (PS4 Pro) |
Many | 802.11 b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 2x USB 3.0 | 500GB or 1TB hard drive, user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | None | DLNA |
| Sony | PlayStation 3 (2006) | HDMI, composite audio/video, component audio/video, optical audio | 1080p | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 2x USB 2.0 (4x USB 2.0) | 12GB[1] up to 500GB hard drive, user-upgradeable | Some early models include card readers,[2] other models do not. | Yes | Bluetooth remote built into controller, IR remote sold separately | None | DLNA |
| Nintendo | Wii U (2012) | HDMI, component audio/video, composite audio/video | 1080p | H.264 via browser[3] | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet | 4x USB 2.0 | 8 or 32 GB NAND flash, not user-upgradeable | SD card | Yes | IR remote built into GamePad | None | None |
Content agreements
Internet video services
| Model | Amazon Video | Crackle | Flixster | Google Play (Google TV) | Hulu | iTunes (Apple TV) | Movies Anywhere | Netflix | Sling TV[4] | Vevo | Vimeo | Vudu | WWE Network | YouTube | UltraFlix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | Yes (3rd generation and later) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 4th generation and later | Yes | with software version 7.2 and later | Yes (HD) |
| Asus Cube | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Google Chromecast/Nexus Player | Yes[5] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hisense Pulse | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Little Smart Box | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Microsoft Xbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[6] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NanoTech Nuvola | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Nintendo | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | ? | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Roku | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[7] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SHIELD Android TV | Yes | Yes | Yes[8] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[9] | Yes | Yes |
| Sony PlayStation | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Vizio Co-Star | Yes | Yes | No | No | LT only | No | ? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Western Digital WD TV | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | ? | Live and Play versions | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
US television services
| Model | Charter Spectrum | Verizon FiOS | Comcast Xfinity | Watch ABC | PBS | Fox Now | A&E | Bloomberg | Disney Channel | FX Now | History Channel | Lifetime | MTV | SyFy | Watch ESPN | Encore Play | EPIX | HBO GO | HBO Max | Showtime Anytime | Starz Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | No | Yes | Yes[10] | Yes[11] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[12] | Yes[13] | Yes (was unavailable until Nov. 17, 2020) [14] | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Chromecast | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Xbox | Yes | No | No | Xbox 360 only | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Xbox 360 only | Xbox One only, Xbox 360 upcoming[15] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Xbox One only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Roku | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (was unavailable until Dec. 2020) | Yes | Yes |
| Sony PlayStation | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
NOTE: These tables are not comprehensive or all inclusive; some pay-TV services may not have contracts with certain networks or refuse to serve networks on certain platforms.
References
- Leadbetter, Richard (February 3, 2013). "PlayStation 3 12GB Super Slim review". Eurogamer.
- Caron, Frank (June 4, 2008). "Gone baby gone: the death and afterlife of a 60GB PS3". Ars Technica.
- "Wii U Internet Browser Specs". Nintendo.
- "Watch Online with TV Streaming Devices". Sling TV.
- Moon, Mariella (9 July 2019). "Amazon Prime Video finally works with Chromecast and Android TV". Engadget. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
- "Xbox Support". support.xbox.com.
- Moynihan, Tim. "Bad News for Amazon: Google Play Movies and TV Are Now on Roku". Wired.
- "Movies by Flixster, with Rotten Tomatoes - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com.
- "WWE Network Help - Watching on Android TV". help.wwe.com.
- "Watch Xfinity Stream App on Amazon Fire TV". Xfinity. 2 November 2021.
- "WATCH ABC app arrives on the Amazon Fire TV". AFTVnews. 5 October 2015.
- "EPIX app arrives on the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick". AFTVnews. 16 May 2017.
- "HBO available on Amazon Fire TV". Amazon.
- Spangler, Todd (November 16, 2020). "HBO Max Is Finally Coming to Amazon Fire TV".
- Warren, Christina (January 16, 2014). "FXNow Streaming iOS App Launches Ahead of 'Simpsons' Release". Mashable.
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