Finding the Best Netflix Player

There are over seven hundred devices that stream Netflix content and more are constantly being added. However, not all Netflix players are created equal. Tech of the Hub is always on the hunt for the best Netflix player. I’ve written extensively about the subject and I’ve created this page as a centralized repository of that knowledge. While all Netflix players let you play titles from your Instant Queue, other features are limited to select players. Features such as 1080P high definition video and surround sound create a better viewing experience. Even within HD video and surround sound there are two different levels of quality. While many players can play Netflix video in 720P HD; only a select few can access the 1080P streams. Even with surround sound, some players offer Dolby Digital while others offer the superior Dolby Digital Plus. Yes, in both cases there is a noticeable difference with the right TV and sound system. I’ve created a list below of which players have these premium functions.

The players also have a wide variety of user interfaces. With a catalog of tens of thousands of TV episodes and movies, having an easy way to navigate all of them is important. We’ve captured as many user interfaces as possible in our Netflix UI Gallery. While some UIs are superior to others, sometimes preferring one over another is simply a matter of taste. Personally, I like the Apple TV Netflix interface the best. Not only is it easy to use but it offers suggestions based on a particular title you are looking at.

Netflix Player Recommendations

What’s the best Netflix player today? I recommend the Roku 2 XS. Note, while it offers 1080P, Dolby Digital Plus and closed captioning, one needs an A/V receiver with HDMI and Dolby Digital Plus decoding to fully utilize it. If you have an older receiver with digital optical inputs, a great alternative is the WD TV Live boxes. The only drawback is that it doesn’t offer as many content choices as the Roku, In particular, it doesn’t offer Amazon Instant Video but it does offer VUDU. (Note: While I’ve tried it, I haven’t thoroughly tested out the WD TV Live).

If you’re interested in just a basic Netflix player, the Roku LT is the most affordable option. At $49, it still offers 720P HD video, surround sound, closed caption support and is easy to use. Instead, if you’re looking for a Blu-ray player with Netflix, my favorite is the Panasonic DMP-BDT210 . While it’s limited to 720P HD video for Netflix, it does support surround sound and closed captions. It also has VUDU (in 1080P) and Amazon Instant Video.