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Article updated on June 15, 2021 at 10:00 AM PDT

Best streaming devices and TVs for Father's Day 2021

From a $25 streaming device to a brand-new television, these are the best gifts you can buy for your dad this year.

Our Experts

Written by 
David Katzmaier
Ty Pendlebury
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
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Our Picks

$30 at Roku
012-roku-express-4k-plus
Roku Express 4K Plus
Best 4K streamer for the money
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$130 at Roku
015-roku-streambar-2020
Roku Streambar
Best soundbar and streamer combo
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$1,900 at Walmart
TCL 6-Series 2020 Roku TV 65R635
TCL 6-Series
Best TV for the money
View details
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Struggling to come up with a Father's Day gift idea? If your dad is a techie, we have some ideas for that perfect gift in the form of a streaming device. After all, a new streaming stick would be the Father's Day gift that keeps your dad entertained all year long. From YouTube TV to Netflix to Disney Plus, streaming video is the center of today's home entertainment, and there's a wide world of content to explore -- especially if your dad is accessing it for the first time. Even better, even if Dad doesn't want to give up on his older TV to stream the latest TV shows, there are more ways than ever to access that wealth of content.

We've broken down some of the best streaming devices so that you can get Dad a gift that he'll be able to enjoy anytime he plops down on the couch to watch Netflix. So if you're still looking for the best TV and streaming device for Father's Day, read on for our favorites for every budget.

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Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite

Best budget streamer

If your dad doesn't need 4K streaming, the Fire Stick Lite delivers everything he needs, complete with the bonus of an Alexa-powered voice remote. Nearly every streaming app is on tap, with the exception of Peacock, making this CNET's top pick for a budget streamer, period.

$30 at Roku

Roku Express 4K Plus

Best 4K streamer for the money

Roku is our favorite streaming system, with the most streaming app options, the simplest interface and the best search. It also has a content-agnostic platform that doesn't push any one media streaming service provider, like Amazon Prime Video or Apple, over another. The new Express 4K Plus is one of the cheapest streaming TV options with 4K HDR, and has pretty much everything a dad could want.

Editors' choice
$130 at Roku

Roku Streambar

Best soundbar and streamer combo

Part 4K streaming box, part soundbar, the Roku Streambar is perfect for updating older TVs. It's also affordable and easy to use, and sounds surprisingly decent given its compact size.

Editors' choice
$1,900 at Walmart

TCL 6-Series

Best TV for the money

With excellent image quality and Roku's smart TV system, the TCL 6-Series is our favorite TV for people who don't have money to burn. It's the perfect balance for sensible dads. The price listed here is for the 65-inch size, but it's also available in 55- and 75-inch versions.

Editors' choice
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LG CX series OLED

Best high-end TV

Ready to splurge? Yes, you could spend more on a TV, including on the new 2021 version, but this OLED from 2020 is still our pick at hundreds less -- while still delivering amazing image quality sure to delight discerning dads.