(CNN) — When Amazon released its Fire TV system this month, it propelled the company into the increasingly competitive marketplace of devices that stream Web content into the living room.
The set-top box now competes with Apple, Google and Samsung, as well as early innovator Roku and even the gaming world’s top consoles for the eyeballs of people who stream services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube onto their televisions.
These devices are relatively new innovations: Roku first announced a simple Netflix-streaming box in 2008. But in recent years, more and more people have begun using devices that harness the Internet’s bountiful offerings and send them, usually via Wi-Fi, to a TV set.
According to Experian, almost half of all U.S. adults and 67% of young adults now watch streamed or downloaded video at least once a week.
And 7.6 million households in the United States have “cut the cord,” using Web streaming and downloading exclusively instead of cable, satellite or broadcast, for their television viewing, the company said in a report this week.
But it’s still a new concept for a lot of folks. And with so many players in the game, not to mention a new wave of “smart TVs” that hook up to the Web on their own, it can be hard to pick a favorite.
If you own a smart TV, you may not need a separate device for streaming. But the software on many smart TVs is still clunky, and most Web-streaming gadgets offer a larger menu of apps and channels.
Here, we break down the top players in the Web television market and compare details about their products.
Amazon Fire TV
Price: $100
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Amazon (obviously), Spotify, YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Watch ESPN, Showtime
Works with: Android or iOS devices
Storage: 8 GB
Notes: No HBO Go, but a new deal offers limited HBO programming (Sorry, no “Game of Thrones”). Features voice search for shows, movies, actors or genres. Doubles as a casual gaming device with titles like “Minecraft.”
Apple TV
Price: $100
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go
Works with: Apple mobile devices
Storage: None on device
Notes: No Amazon. Streams music and video from iTunes, as well as content from iPhones and iPads. Ideal for someone who owns several Apple devices.
Google Chromecast
Price: $35
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Go, Pandora, MLB.tv
Works with: Android, iOS
Storage: None on device
Notes: No Amazon. Easy setup; this little dongle basically works like a thumb drive.
PlayStation 4
Price: $400
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Hulu, Netflix, Amazon
Works with: Android, iOS, PlayStation Vita
Storage: 500 GB
Notes: Also features a Blu-Ray player. More expensive but obviously a more diverse device.
Roku 3
Price: $100
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Spotify, Hulu, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon, Showtime
Works with: Android, iOS
Storage: None on device, but you can expand it with a memory card
Notes: Wide app selection. With more than 1,000 channels, offers perhaps the widest variety of content. Not compatible with 4K televisions.
Roku Streaming Stick
Price: $50
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Same as Roku 3
Works with: Android, iOS
Storage: None on device
Notes: An answer to Chromecast, this little stick offers more content than the Google product. Some reviewers have said it’s slow loading some popular apps (but they work fine once loaded).
Samsung Smart Media Player
Price: $150
Resolution: 1080p
Key apps: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon
Works with: Android, iOS
Storage: None on device, but you can expand it with a memory card
Notes: Replaces the user’s cable box. Includes browser for Web surfing. Pricier than other dedicated media players.
Xbox One
Price: $500
Resolution: 1080p
Key Apps: YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Skype, ESPN, NFL
Works with: Android, iOS, Xbox Smartglass
Storage: 500 GB
Notes: Includes Blu-ray player. Allows users to watch live television. Also more expensive but more diverse.
