When shopping for a streaming device, buyers have two primary types to choose from: a set-top box or a stick/dongle. The main differences between them really come down to size and external design. Set-top boxes typically feature a rectangular build and can be placed on an entertainment console and then connected to your TV via an HDMI cable. Streaming sticks or dongles, meanwhile, are more compact devices that are designed to hang directly out of your TV's HDMI port. In general, streaming sticks can be a bit more convenient since they're smaller and don't take up space on your TV stand. But entry-level sticks tend to be slower than more expensive streaming boxes and omit extra features like Ethernet. And though many TVs house their HDMI ports in an area that makes it easy to hide a stick from view, some displays leave sticks easily visible while hanging out from their sides. Set-top boxes are a better choice if you want a high-end streaming device, like an Apple TV 4K or Roku Ultra, with all the bells and whistles you can get. But streaming sticks are usually better options on a budget, and some flagship models, like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, are now capable of navigation speeds that match or even exceed some set-top boxes.