How We Test
Every device gets at least 2 weeks of daily, real-world use on a 4K HDR TV — not a spec-sheet skim. We evaluate each one against the same 9 criteria so reviews are directly comparable, then translate that into a single 1–5 bench score.
What we test
- Setup & first boot — How quickly and painlessly it gets running, account requirements, and bloat.
- Speed & responsiveness — Boot time, app launch times, and how it holds up when multitasking.
- Picture & sound — 4K HDR playback, Dolby Vision/HDR10+ support, and audio passthrough (Dolby Atmos, DTS).
- Streaming reliability — Buffering and stability over both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet where available.
- Interface & ads — How clean or cluttered the home screen is and how aggressively it pushes promoted content.
- Remote & voice — Ergonomics, TV controls, and voice/assistant accuracy.
- App & ecosystem support — Availability of major apps, sideloading, and platform lock-in.
- Long-term software support — Update history and how well older models age.
- Value — What you get for the price versus the alternatives.
How we score
Scores run from 1.0 to 5.0 and reflect a device relative to its price and category — a great $50 stick and a great $200 box can both earn a high score for being the best at what they do.
- 4.5–5.0
- Class-leading; buy with confidence.
- 4.0–4.4
- Very good, with minor trade-offs.
- 3.5–3.9
- Solid but compromised; right only for specific buyers.
- Below 3.5
- Notable flaws; proceed with caution.
We revisit reviews as software changes and prices move, and mark them with an updated date when we do — so a score always reflects the device as it is today, not at launch.
Independent by design
We buy or borrow every device we test. No freebies from manufacturers, no paid placements, and no sponsored rankings — a brand cannot pay to score higher. Our only revenue is affiliate commissions, which never change a verdict. Full detail on funding and who we are is on our about page.