I’ve always wondered which streaming device I should buy after all. I want to watch Netflix and Prime Video on a big screen, but with so many options like Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, it’s hard to decide.

From trying out various devices, I’d say a streaming device is basically a handy gadget that connects to your TV and lets you use video streaming services. But there are quite a few differences depending on the product. The key is to choose based on the balance between speed and price.

The Fire TV Stick 4K MAX boots quickly, with app launch times averaging 13.5 seconds, and scrolling also takes around 10 seconds. It’s attractive because it’s often discounted during sales. If price is your main concern, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is also a good option. It runs on the new Vega OS, so its future performance is uncertain, but its scrolling speed is sufficient.

The Apple TV 4K is in a league of its own. It boots in 4.8 seconds, scrolling takes 5.9 seconds, making it incredibly smooth. The picture quality is also more professional-grade and beautiful. However, it costs around 19,000 yen, more than twice the price of the Fire TV series.

For Google products, the Google TV Streamer 4K is a safe choice. With 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage, its performance is decent. But the Google TV series’ budget Chromecast (4K), which is a cheaper version, takes about 18 seconds to boot, so if you’re choosing a streaming device, going for the higher-end model is less likely to disappoint.

If you have a budget, go for Apple TV if you prioritize performance; if you want the best value, Fire TV; and if you care about Google integration, then Google products are the way to go. Streaming devices are supposed to be simple products, but choosing one turns out to be quite a deep decision.