Best Streaming Devices for Life on the Road

Whether you’re a digital nomad, going on a road trip around the world, or going for a long car ride to visit family, we have a list of reasonably-priced tablets that have everything you need for life on the road.

Each of these portable streaming devices has an excellent battery life and speedy performance, and allows you to download all streaming apps, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

Let’s get into the details to find the best one for you.

• Best Streaming Devices 2022
• Best Mobile Hotspot Devices of 2022
• How to Get TV on the Road

As one of the most commonly known tablets, it might not surprise you that the iPad made the number one spot on this list.

This iPad has a 10-hour battery life to stream two full NFL games and a few episodes of Ted Lasso before your tablet needs to be charged.

You’ll enjoy the nice, crisp picture quality while watching an action movie or attending a Zoom meeting.

You also won’t have a problem with speed, so launching your apps and starting a Bridgerton episode will be quick.

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This Android tablet is our second pick because it has a decently-sized screen, is perfect for video watching, and has a good battery life.

Consumers rave about the long battery life, and that’s perfect for anyone who just wants an affordable tablet to stream Stranger Things during a road trip. But we must warn you that some streaming consumers said the battery lasts six hours if the brightness is turned up halfway (if higher, the tablet will die in four).

This streaming tablet lets you download Netflix, YouTube TV, and Sling TV, but some users have complained about the apps taking a little time to open.

Although not every product is perfect, this tablet is rated 4.6 stars on Amazon and will most likely be sufficient for your life on the road.

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Best for those on a budget or who want a tablet to use temporarily, the Fire HD 8 has every feature you’d want in a tablet.

Its battery life is about 8 hours (the average that consumers mentioned), it runs speedily, and it supports an additional 1 TB of storage space to download more entertainment.

We love how you can watch almost all of season 1 of Nine Perfect Strangers before this tablet expires, but you’ll have to go on a five-hour streaming cleanse to charge your Fire 8 afterward (gasp).

This tablet only has an 8-inch screen, but this does make it easier to carry and store, not to mention perfect for your kid’s hands.

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The Apple iPad Air has a lot of positive reviews for its quick response time, 12 MP camera, and the ability to do much more than just streaming.

After you’re tired of streaming TV, you can use the iPad for Photoshop, drawing, creating music, and work.

And the light, portable design makes it easy to do all of this anywhere you go. It might justify the price tag when trying to convince your significant other that you need this new iPad.

The combo of 64 GB of storage capacity and a long-lasting battery makes for a great tablet to download movies and TV shows ahead of time if you won’t have access to Wi-Fi or a hotspot on the road.

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The Fire HD 8 is one of the best tablets for kids because it comes with a protective, grippy case and access to Amazon Kids+ for free for one year (then $3 per month).

Your kid can enjoy 20,000 apps, games, and books specifically designed for children. They can also watch educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, and Disney.

Although Amazon Kids+ is included, parental controls are not (and that’s a big no-no).

You will have to pay $3 per month to control what your child sees, and you might want to budget for that as we have seen parents complain about inappropriate news stories popping up on their kid’s screens.

To end on a positive note, this kid’s tablet has at least a 6-hour battery life (according to parents), and you can download other apps, such as Netflix and Zoom, via the Amazon Parent Dashboard.

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• 2021 Apple iPad: This iPad has a 10-hour battery life, crisp picture quality, and streaming is a breeze. You won’t need to worry about buffering when you’re watching an intense scene of Euphoria. ($345)
• Samsung Galaxy A8: This Android device has a decently-sized screen and a long battery life, perfect for streaming live TV channels or marathon-watching Obi-Wan Kenobi. ($242)
• Amazon Fire HD 8: Terrific for money savers, the Fire HD 8 fittingly has about an 8-hour battery life, and it runs quickly, but just be aware of the five-hour charging time it requires. We believe the price is fair for what this portable device offers. ($100)
• Apple iPad Air: Although the iPad Air is the priciest option on our list, you get what you pay for. This device has a rapid response time, an array of capabilities along with streaming, and a nice camera to capture moments on the road. ($599)
• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids: There’s no question why this tablet is popular for kids aged 3–7 with its nonslip case and free access to 20,000 apps, games, and books that will entertain your children on the road ($150). You can also download streaming services and school apps through the Amazon Parent Dashboard ($3 per month).

These are the aspects we considered when researching the best streaming devices for life on the road:

1. Price
2. Consumer reviews
3. Storage space
4. Performance

We wanted to find streaming devices that weren’t top dollar but perform as if they are (or close to it). With the help of user reviews, we found devices that stream smoothly and have enough storage space for downloading and saving files.

• Best Streaming Devices 2022
• Best Mobile Hotspot Devices of 2022
• How to Get TV on the Road
• Best Streaming Services 2022
• Best Free Streaming Services