WICHITA, Kansas (KWCH) – Google recently announced that it will no longer manufacture its popular Chromecast streaming device and replace it with a more expensive model. The company has sold over 100 million Chromecasts, and now those users will have to switch to another device or upgrade sooner or later.

Google’s new TV streamer

With so many streaming devices on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here’s a rundown of the top contenders to help you make the best choice for your needs:

Roku: Roku is the most popular streaming device, offering a user-friendly layout and more channels and apps than its competitors. Roku’s most expensive option includes a smart remote with voice control, a headphone jack, and streams in 4K and HDR. However, the interface can be slow to navigate and each channel or streaming service is a separate tile you have to select to see what’s playing. Roku devices are available as set-top boxes or sticks that plug into your TV’s HDMI port.

Amazon Fire Stick: If you primarily watch Amazon Prime, the Fire Stick is a great choice with 4K, HDR support, and built-in Alexa. However, some users find the interface cluttered with ads. Amazon often puts Fire Sticks on sale, so you can often get one for around $30 or less.

Google TV Streamers: Google’s new streaming device will replace Chromecast. It will be a significant upgrade, with 4K, more storage, Google’s AI engine Gemini, and the ability to act as a hub to control your other smart devices. However, it will also be more expensive, costing $100. Google’s interface is known for being user-friendly and displaying content you might like based on your viewing history.

I use all three streaming devices on different TVs and my choice in terms of convenience and availability is Google Chromecast. I just hope the TV streamer keeps the interface it uses now.

AppleTV: I didn’t include it in the news story because of its price tag of about $130. It’s the best choice for people who are fully into the Apple universe. It connects easily to iPhones and iPads and plays photos and videos from your device directly on the TV screen.

Which streaming device is right for you?

Consider these factors when making your decision:

● Price: How much are you willing to spend? All of these devices start at around $30.

● Characteristics: What features are most important to you? If you want the best picture, invest a little more money in a device that supports 4K content. If you’re constantly losing the remote, check out Roku and Amazon devices that beep when you misplace the remote.

● Interface: Do you prefer a simple interface or a more complex one? If you don’t mind opening individual tiles to select what you want to watch, you can’t go wrong with the Roku. The Amazon Fire Stick’s interface puts Amazon content front and center. Chromecast offers the simplest platform if you have multiple streaming subscriptions.

● Contents: Which streaming services do you use most often? All of these devices can play most popular services.

Once you consider these factors, you’ll be well equipped to choose the best streaming device for you and your family.

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