A media player, in the context of televisions, is a box shaped device connected by HDMI that runs streaming apps, similar to a streaming stick but usually with more processing power, storage and connections such as ethernet or USB ports. Some models also play video, music and photo files stored on a USB drive or a home network, rather than only streaming from online apps.
Because a media player has its own case and power supply separate from the television, it tends to run cooler and handle demanding tasks, such as gaming apps or 4K playback with advanced HDR formats, more smoothly than a compact stick squeezed into an HDMI port. This makes it a common choice for viewers who want the fastest possible app performance or who need to play locally stored video files.
Anyone mainly interested in a few well known streaming apps may find a simple streaming stick sufficient, while a media player suits those wanting broader file support or the fastest available hardware. See our streaming devices guide for a closer comparison.
