Best Plex Client: 3 Devices for Buffer-Free Streaming
What is the best Plex client? The best Plex client is the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. It is universally considered the ultimate streaming device for data hoarders because it supports “Direct Play” for almost every audio and video format in existence, including high-resolution video and lossless TrueHD audio, eliminating the need for server transcoding.
If you have learned how to download from Usenet, you likely have a massive library of high-quality digital assets sitting on your home NAS.
You sit down in your living room, open the Plex app on your new LG or Samsung Smart TV, press play, and… it buffers. The video stutters, the colors look washed out, and your server’s cooling fans start spinning at maximum speed.
You might think your Plex server is broken, but the server is not the problem. The problem is your TV. Built-in Smart TV apps are notoriously terrible Plex clients. To fix the buffering, you need a dedicated streaming box. In this guide, we break down the best Plex clients on the market.
Table of Contents
Why Built-in Smart TV Apps Buffer (Direct Play vs. Transcoding)
To understand why you need to buy a separate streaming box, you have to understand how Plex delivers video to your screen.
When you play a media file, Plex asks your TV: “Can you play this specific video format and this specific audio format (e.g., Dolby TrueHD)?”
- Direct Play (The Goal): If your TV says yes, Plex simply sends the raw file over your Wi-Fi. The server does zero work. The video plays instantly and flawlessly.
- Transcoding (The Problem): If your TV says no, your Plex server panics. It has to instantly convert (transcode) the massive, uncompressed media file into a format your TV can play. This requires massive CPU power. If your server is not powerful enough, the video will buffer endlessly.
Most built-in Smart TV apps do not support lossless audio or complex video formats. Because of this, they force your server to transcode almost everything. The solution is to buy a premium “Plex Client” (a streaming box) that supports “Direct Play” for every format.
(Note: If your server is struggling to transcode, you might need to buy a Plex Pass to unlock hardware transcoding!)
The 3 Best Plex Clients
1. Nvidia Shield TV Pro (The Undisputed King)
If you ask any data hoarder or home theater enthusiast what the best Plex client is, the answer is always the Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Despite being released in 2019, it is still the most powerful streaming box on the market. It is the only mainstream device that can “Direct Play” absolutely everything you throw at it, including uncompressed public domain archives, high bit-rate files, and lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD surround sound. It also features an incredible AI-upscaling feature that makes standard-definition content look incredibly sharp.
- Operating System: Android TV
- Best Feature: Lossless TrueHD audio passthrough and flawless Direct Play.
- You can view the Nvidia Shield TV Pro on Amazon here.
2. Apple TV (Best for Apple Ecosystems)
If you refuse to use Android devices and live entirely inside the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV is the second-best Plex client available.
It features a processor that is significantly faster than the Nvidia Shield, meaning the Plex interface is incredibly snappy and smooth. However, Apple heavily restricts its audio formats. The Apple TV cannot pass through lossless Dolby TrueHD audio. If you have a massive, expensive surround sound system, the Nvidia Shield is better. If you just use a standard soundbar, the Apple TV is fantastic.
- Operating System: tvOS
- Best Feature: Lightning-fast interface and Apple integration.
- You can view the Apple TV on Amazon here.
3. Amazon Fire TV Stick Max (Best Budget Option)
If you cannot afford to drop $200 on an Nvidia Shield, the Amazon Fire TV Stick Max is the absolute best budget option.
While older Fire Sticks were notoriously slow and terrible for Plex, the newest “Max” version is surprisingly powerful. It supports Wi-Fi 6E (meaning wireless streaming is much more stable) and it supports Direct Play for most modern audio and video formats.
- Operating System: Fire OS (Android)
- Best Feature: Highly affordable and supports Wi-Fi 6E.
- You can view the Fire TV Stick Max on Amazon here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a Plex Server on the Nvidia Shield?
Yes! The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is so powerful that it can actually run the Plex Media Server software itself. You can plug an external hard drive (or a DAS enclosure) directly into the USB ports on the back of the Shield, and it will serve your media without needing a separate NAS or computer.
Why is my Plex buffering on my Smart TV?
Built-in Smart TV apps often have very weak processors and terrible Wi-Fi antennas. More importantly, almost all modern Smart TVs only have a “100 Mbps” ethernet port. If you try to stream a high-bitrate media file, the TV’s network port will physically bottleneck the data, causing buffering.
Does Roku work well with Plex?
Roku devices (like the Roku Ultra) are highly popular and very affordable. However, in the data hoarding community, they are generally not recommended as the best Plex client. Roku’s operating system is highly restrictive regarding which audio and video formats it supports, which frequently forces your Plex server to transcode the file.