Bei fast allen aktuellen Fernsehern these are now Smart TVs. For example, you can access films and series from[–>]via an Internet connection[–>Streaming servicesNetflix and[–>Amazon Prime Video newer streaming providers like[–>Paramount Plus or if you want to stream television channels via Zattoo or Waipu.tv if you no longer have the additional cost privilege, your search for the right app may be unsuccessful. And older televisions are often not able to operate at all[–>Mediatheken & Co. access. If you still don't want to do without it, you don't have to buy a new television. Instead, a cheap streaming stick that can be connected to practically any television is sufficient. COMPUTER BILD has tested and compared the most important current TV sticks from Amazon, Google & Co.
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Chromecast HD mit Google TV: Simple Bedienung
Der Google Chromecast HD mit Google TV (test grade 2.2) offers a large selection of streaming services and, like the Chromecast 4K, impresses with its handy remote control. It has all the important buttons including a volume control on the side. The integrated Google Assistant does its job conscientiously and leads you to the content you are looking for with just a few words. The Google TV user interface is a positive surprise. It highlights series and films that have already been started and sorts them by genre across providers – a refreshing change from the overview of Amazon Fire TV variants. The playback of HD streams works well and offers great colors. HDR including Dolby Vision is also available, even if this is irrelevant for older HD televisions. And that's what the affordable Chromecast HD is primarily intended for. In terms of price, it is just under 70 euros above the HD competition from Amazon. This is ideal for newer televisions[–>Chromecast mit Google TV on (test grade 1.9). With the exception of the higher resolution, it is exactly the same as its HD counterpart. It is available for around 80 euros. If it can be a streaming player, the manufacturer has it[–>Google TV Streamer (4K) (test grade 1.3, price in December 2024: just under 120 euros) a cutting-edge model on offer
Verwechselungsgefahr: Der Chromecast HD ist optisch nicht vom teureren 4K- oder UHD-Modell zu unterscheiden.
Photo: COMPUTER BILD
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2. Gen.): Blitzschnell
Die Streams des Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2. Gen.) convince with crisp sharpness and good colors. Films and series appear on the television flawlessly and smoothly in both HD and UHD resolution. Playing HDR films with a higher color and contrast range is also not a challenge for him. In addition to the usual HDR10 standard, the stick supports the refined HDR10+ and Dolby Vision variants. With appropriate equipment such as a home cinema system or a soundbar and the right film material, room-filling 5.1 surround sound including Dolby Atmos is included. The app offering leaves little to be desired. The controls are easy to use and work very quickly thanks to the direct buttons. The new ambient mode and the widgets for weather, recipes and notes are nice additional functions. Only the connection selection is a bit small, as with the other streaming sticks. It goes over the counter Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen.)Amazon Fire TV (3rd Gen.)
Die Fernbedienung des Amazon Fire TV Sticks 4K Max (2. Gen.) hat neben Knöpfen zur TV-Steurung vier Direkttasten für Streaming-Anbieter und Apps im Gepäck.
Photo: COMPUTER BILD
Amazon Fire TV Stick: Klasse Fernbedienung
Neben dem flotten Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2. Gen.) gibt es den “normalen” Amazon Fire TV Stick (Note: 2.1), which first appeared with the first generation of the Alexa voice remote control. Amazon has now upped the ante and is delivering the stick with the improved remote control – which has raised the test rating slightly. Nothing has changed in the low price of just under 40 euros (as of December 2024), great. The Fire TV Stick can “only” do Full HD, but it does it excellently and is similarly easy to use – also thanks to the voice assistant Alexa, which reliably delivers search results. And of course: Apart from Amazon Prime Video, all other important streaming providers such as Netflix & Co. are also available.
Szene aus “Deutschland 89”: Mit deaktiviertem HDR lassen Sie unschöne Ränder an der Wand verschwinden.
Photo: COMPUTER BILD
HD+ IP TV Stick: Kombi aus TV und Streaming
Mit dem HD+ IP TV Stick In addition to classic streaming, there is also cheap internet television: The purchase price of 55 euros (as of December 2024) includes the large HDTV package for three months, after which it costs 6 euros per month or 75 euros for a year. This is cheap compared to the competition. The most important convenience extras are included with the pause function and restart, and the good program preview with helpful search and filter functions makes it easier to keep track of the flood of programs. In addition, the stick with its Android operating system offers the apps of all popular streaming offers, so that the latest films and series can also be seen on old televisions – as with the competition, all that is required is an HDMI connection. The operation is pleasantly uncomplicated, apart from imperfect fluid movements, there is no problem with the picture and sound.
Beim Blättern durchs Fernsehprogramm zeigt der Stick übersichtlich wichtige Infos wie restliche Laufzeit und Neustart-Möglichkeit an.
Photo: COMPUTER BILD
Wer braucht einen TV-Stick?
Die erste Zielgruppe der TV-Sticks sind wohl Besitzerinnen und Besitzer eines älteren Fernsehers ohne Internetfunktionen und Apps. Dazu gehören einige Full-HD-TVs bis Baujahr 2015, danach sind fast alle Modelle smart. Falls der Fernseher die App eines bestimmten Streaming-Anbieters nicht hat, kann ein TV-Stick zweckmäßig sein. So fehlt älteren Geräten zum Teil sogar Amazon Prime Video oder Netflix, Apple TV+ gibt es nicht bei Panasonic. Beamer sind in den seltensten Fällen smart und daher auf einen Zuspieler mit Streaming-Apps angewiesen. Wer die Dolby-Atmos-Tonspur genießen möchte, benötigt passende Lautsprecher, etwa eine Soundbar with Dolby Atmos or a corresponding 5.1 box set. Installing the streaming stick works without any problems: the little helpers connect to the TV in no time via a free HDMI input, and setting it up in the home WiFi network only takes a few minutes. Despite the manageable purchase costs, the streaming sticks are not stingy with functions. On the contrary: numerous apps are available and operation is also easy.
TV-Sticks sind die günstigste und beste Möglichkeit, um einen nicht-smarten Fernseher zum Smart-TV aufzurüsten. Im Vergleich setzten sich die Streaming-Geräte von Amazon gegen die Chromecast-Modelle knapp durch. So ist unter anderem Amazon Alexa beim Aufrufen von Mediatheken gewandter. Im Gegenzug ist das App-Portfolio von Googles Streaming-Lösungen dank Google Cast größer. Amazon bindet die Kundschaft stärker an sein Angebot, was aber komfortabler sein kann. Das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis stimmt bei allen Geräten, doch bietet der klassische Fire-TV-Stick knapp das meiste für das Geld.
