5 Best Apple TV 4K Alternatives

The Apple TV 4K offers you access to 4K movie rentals, AirPlay, mirroring your iPhone and loads of other features, but it isn’t the best 4K streaming device for everyone. It’s also more expensive than many competing products. Here are the best Apple TV 4K Alternatives and what they offer compared to the newest Apple TV.

Apple delivered a major breakthrough when they negotiated lower digital 4K movie purchase prices and they offer the best access to 4K rentals across the board, but there is no optical audio out and there is no support for Dolby Atmos yet. The Apple TV 4K is also one of the most expensive 4K streaming devices out there.

Yes, the Apple TV is going to slot into your Apple filled life better than most of the devices on this list, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t viable alternatives out there if you want different features or are looking for a more affordable way to watch 4K video on your TV. If you have HomeKit connected devices, you may want to go with the Apple TV 4K, even if there is another device you like better since it is also a smart home hub.

Many of the devices include apps that you can install on your iPhone or iPad to use as a remote control, and some include options to stream from your iPhone to the TV, similar to how you use AirPlay or mirroring.

Here are the best Apple TV Alternatives that can all streak in 4K, including favorites like Netflix and that offer access to apps like HBO Go, Amazon Video, movie rentals and more.

1. Amazon Fire TV 4K
2. Nvidia Shield TV
3. Roku Ultra
4. Xbox One S
5. Smart TV

The cheapest Apple TV 4K alternative is the Amazon Fire TV 4K, which you could put on three TVs for the price of one Apple TV 4K. The Google ChromeCast Ultra is the same price, but it relies on you using a phone as the hub instead of a remote control, which may turn off some users. Each device has strengths and ways to stand out, and should be part of your research as you look into buying a 4K streaming box in 2017 and early 2018.

Amazon Fire TV 4K

> 1 / 5

The Amazon Fire TV 4K is one of the best Apple TV 4K Alternatives. This is an affordable device at $69.99 and we've seen it on sale for around $55 during the holidays.  This slim unit sits behind your TV, streams all of your favorites in 4K including Netflix and Amazon Video. There are a lot of 4K video rentals on Amazon, and Amazon is matching Apple's prices most of the time for rentals and purchases.  You get a voice controlled remote like you do with the Apple TV, but in this case you are using Alexa instead of Siri. The Amazon Fire TV supports 4K at 60 FPS, HDR and Dolby Atmos.  It's easy to use, and you can use Alexa on it to control your smart home and interact with other apps. The Fire TV 4K does not include an Ethernet port, so you will need to buy an adapter if you need to use a wired connection.   $69.99 at Amazon - $54.99 on Sale

> 1 / 5