There’s no better feeling than growing your independence, especially when it involves saving some money at the same time. That explains why so many people have decided to cut the cord, eliminating conventional cable and TV contracts from their lives. That, coupled with the fact that media players are much more accessible, and it’s easy to see why adoption is growing so fast.
But one unique element of most media players — one that you might not realize — is that they are surprisingly portable. This is even more true of smaller devices like Google’s Chromecast, the Amazon Fire TV stick or even the Roku set-top box.
In addition, to providing instant access to a wide variety of streaming content — provided there’s an active internet connection — you can easily disconnect them from your TV and move them about, which also means they can easily be tossed into a travel bag or luggage.
Why would you want to lug a media player with you on-the-go, you ask? Easy! It’s so that wherever you’re going you can continue to watch and experience your favorite online content, be it through Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, or a similar service.
Media Players Are Great for Travel
Of course, one caveat is that you will need access to a TV where you’re going. Sadly, you can’t use most of the media players on this list out in the wilds or forest, unless, of course, you have a portable TV or monitor handy.
That said, you can certainly toss a set-top box, power cable and HDMI cord into a bag and bring it along with you on your road trip. That way, when you stop at a hotel or arrive at your destination, you can hook it right up and watch some media.
Okay, that sounds great! What are the most portable media players, however?
For starters, there’s the Google Chromecast — any version — along with the Amazon Fire TV stick. Both connect to an HDMI port and work great on their own, provided there’s an active connection nearby. Chromecast is great because you can use your Android phone and a mobile app to control the device, so you don’t necessarily have to bring the proprietary remote along with you. The same can be said of the Fire TV stick, which uses an Alexa app.
Something like Roku Premiere or Apple TV, both considered to be bulkier set-top boxes, would not be difficult to pack up either. Just make sure you remember the power cable and an extra HDMI cord to hook to a TV.
It’s not unheard of for some would-be travelers to bring along their game console such as a Sony PS4 or Xbox One. They also happen to include support for most streaming services, unfortunately, the consoles are much bigger in size and require additional accessories such as a gaming controller to use. You’d be much better off tossing a Chromecast or Roku stick into your bag.
The next time you’re preparing to take a trip and want to ensure you can watch your favorite movies or TV shows wherever you’re going, maybe consider bringing along your media player? The smaller the better, obviously!
