Comparison of digital media players
 | It has been suggested that Comparison of net-connected media players be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2013. |
| It has been suggested that List of net-connected media players be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2013. |
A digital media player is a home entertainment consumer electronics device that can connect to a home network to stream digital media (such as music, pictures, or video).
Standalone streaming players
This list does not include discontinued or legacy media players.
| Maker | Model (Debut year) | Current version (year) | Connectivity | Maximum video resolution | Video formats supported | Network | USB | Internal media storage | Card reader slot | Web browser | Remote control | Network File client | Screen mirroring | Audio output |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Fire TV (2015) | Fire TV, Fire TV Stick (2015) | HDMI (all models), optical audio (Fire TV box only) | 4K(Fire TV), 1080p(Fire TV Stick) | H.265/HEVC (Fire TV only), H.264, H.263, MPEG4-SP, VC1 | 802.11a/b/g/n (all models), 10/100 Ethernet (Fire TV box only) | 1× USB 2.0 (Fire TV box), 1× mini-USB 2.0 (Fire TV Stick) | 8 GB for buffering | Micro SD | None | Bluetooth remote, Android app, iPhone app | Unspecified | Kindle Fire HDX[1] | Optical Toslink |
| Apple | Apple TV (2007) | 4th generation (2015) | HDMI (w/ CEC), optical audio | 1080p | H.264, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 10/100 Ethernet | 1× USB 3.0 Type-C for maintenance | 32GB or 64GB NAND Flash | None | None | Siri Remote, iPhone app | ITunes, AirPlay, | iOS devices and Mac computers | HDMI and Bluetooth |
| Chromecast Nexus Player |
Chromecast (2013), Nexus Player (2014) | HDMI | 1080p | H.264 (High Profile Level 4.1), VP8 (Chromecast) | 802.11b/g/n/ac (Chromecast), 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Nexus Player) | 1× Micro-USB for power (Chromecast) | 2 GB for buffering (Chromecast), 8 GB for buffering (Nexus Player) | None | Yes | None (Chromecast controllable by iOS/Android device or Chrome browser), 5-button remote (Nexus Player) | None | Android and iOS devices, Macintosh, Linux and Windows-based computers | None | |
| Little Smart Box[2] | TR-42 (2013) |
TR-42 V1, V2 (2013), TR-42 V3 (2014) | HDMI (all models) Composite video/audio |
720p | MKV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), WMV | 802.11a/b/g/n 10/100 Ethernet |
2x USB 2.0 1x Micro-USB for OTG Connection |
8GB | Micro SD | Yes (Play Store) | IR (all models), Wi-Fi remote with Android Tablets/Phones | DLNA, SMB | Select Android devices | |
| Nvidia | SHIELD Console (2013) |
SHIELD Android TV(2015) SHIELD Pro(2016) |
HDMI | 4K | MPEG2/4, XviD, DivX, MKV (H.264), MP4 (H.264), MOV (H.264), HEVC (h.265), WMV9, VC-1, VP8, VP9 | 802.11ac 10/100/1000 Ethernet |
2x USB 3.0 1x Micro-USB |
16GB, 500GB (SHIELD Pro) |
Micro SD | Yes (Play Store) | IR (all models) | Unspecified | Via Google Cast | 3.5mm, HDMI |
| Roku | Roku Streaming Player (2008) | Express, Express+, Streaming Stick, Premier, Premier+, Ultra (2016) | HDMI (all models) Composite video/audio (Express+) |
4K | H.264/AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV), H.265/HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9 (.MKV) | 802.11a/b/g/n (Express, Express+, Streaming Stick) 802.11ac (Premier, Premier+, Ultra) 10/100 Ethernet (Premier+, Ultra) |
1× USB 2.0 (Ultra) 1× Micro-USB for power (Streaming Stick Roku model) |
256MB - 512MB | Micro SD (Ultra) | None | IR 12 buttons (all models) Wi-Fi Direct (Streaming, Premier+, Ultra) Headphone jack (Premier+, Ultra) |
Via. channels | Select devices running Android, Windows and Windows Phone[3] | Optical Toslink (Ultra) |
| Western Digital | WD TV (2008) | WDTV Live (2011), WDTV Play (2013), WDTV Media Player (2014) | HDMI, optical audio, RCA composite | 1080p | AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/MPEG, VOB, MKV (h.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, h.264), M2TS, WMV9, FLV (h.264) | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | USB 2.0 (two ports on WDTV Live, one port on WDTV Play, two ports on WDTV Media Player) | None | None | None | IR, 17 buttons | DLNA, SMB | None |
Gaming systems
| Manufacturer | System (year) | Connectivity | Maximum video resolution | Video formats supported | Network | USB | Internal media storage | Card reader slot | Web browser | Remote control | Network file server | Network file client |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Xbox One (2013) | HDMI, HDMI-in, optical audio | 4K | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 3x USB 3.0 | 500GB or 1TB hard drive, not user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | Unspecified | DLNA |
| Microsoft | Xbox 360 (2005) | HDMI, component audio/video, composite audio/video, optical audio | 1080p[4] | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 3x USB 2.0 | 4GB up to 500GB hard drive, user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | Unspecified | DLNA |
| Sony | PlayStation 4 (2013) | HDMI, optical audio | 4K | Many | 802.11 b/g/n, 10/100/1000 Ethernet | 2x USB 3.0 | 500GB or 1TB hard drive, user-upgradeable | None | Yes | IR remote sold separately | None | DLNA |
| Sony | PlayStation 3 (2006) | HDMI, composite audio/video, component audio/video, optical audio | 1080p | Many | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet | 2x USB 2.0 (4x USB 2.0) | 12GB[5] up to 500GB hard drive, user-upgradeable | Some early models include card readers,[6] other models do not. | Yes | Bluetooth remote built into controller, IR remote sold separately | None | DLNA |
| Nintendo | Wii U (2012) | HDMI, component audio/video, composite audio/video | 1080p | H.264 via browser[7] | 802.11a/b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet | 4x USB 2.0 | 8 or 32 GB NAND flash, not user-upgradeable | SD card | Yes | IR remote built into GamePad | None | None |
Content agreements
Internet video services
| Model | Amazon Video | CinemaNow | Crackle | Flixster | Google Play | Hulu Plus | iTunes | Netflix | Vevo | Vimeo | VUDU | WWE Network | YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | with software version 7.2 and later |
| Asus Cube | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Google Chromecast/Nexus Player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hisense Pulse | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Little Smart Box | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Xbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NanoTech Nuvola | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Nintendo | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Roku Streaming Players | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[8] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SHIELD Android TV | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sony PlayStation | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vizio Co-Star | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | LT only | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Western Digital WD TV | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Live and Play versions | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
US television services
| Model | Time Warner Cable | Verizon FiOS | Xfinity | Watch ABC | PBS | Fox Now | A&E | Bloomberg | Disney Channel | FX Now | History Channel | Lifetime | MTV | SyFy | Watch ESPN | Encore Play | EPIX | HBO GO | Showtime Anytime | Starz Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV | No | No | No | Yes[9] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[10] | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Chromecast | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Xbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | Xbox 360 only | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Xbox 360 only | Xbox One only, Xbox 360 upcoming[11] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Roku Streaming Players | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sony PlayStation | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
NOTE: These tables are not comprehensive or all inclusive; some pay-TV services may not have contracts with certain networks or refuse to serve networks on certain platforms.
See also
References
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-CL1130-Fire-TV/dp/B00CX5P8FC
- ^ http://littlesmartbox.com
- ^ Roku Support (October 21, 2015). "Roku screen mirroring overview - Roku Support". Roku.
- ^ https://forums.xbox.com/xbox_support/f/7/t/439531.aspx
- ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-playstation-3-12gb-super-slim-review
- ^ http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/06/60gb-ps3-return-process
- ^ "Wii U Internet Browser Specs". Nintendo.
- ^ "Bad News for Amazon: Google Play Movies and TV Are Now on Roku". Wired (website).
- ^ "WATCH ABC app arrives on the Amazon Fire TV". The AFTVnews.
- ^ "HBO available on Amazon Fire TV". Amazon.
- ^ http://mashable.com/2014/01/16/simpsons-streaming-fxnow/