Whether you are only in the near past becoming a member of these of us who’ve lower the twine, otherwise you’ve realized concerning the Roku Streaming Stick or Amazon’s Fire TV stick and are questioning which one is higher for your must improve your TV expertise, we’ll stroll you thru the most important variations for every one, so you may make an knowledgeable choice.
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Both Amazon and Roku try to convey you the very best streaming expertise potential. The two media giants provide inexpensive streaming by way of plug-in sticks, branded televisions, and streaming bins. This makes selecting the right one extra than simply seeing the worth tags.
For this text, we examine the Fire TV Stick 4K and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, with further info on every firm’s different streaming gadgets, so you’ll be able to determine which is the very best one for you.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Features | Fire TV Stick 4K | Roku Streaming Stick 4K |
Retail worth | $50 | $50 |
Picture high quality | Fire TV Stick 4K | Roku TV stick 4K |
Frame charge | 60 fps | 60 fps |
Audio high quality | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Storage | 8GB | 4GB |
Memory | 1.5GB | 1GB |
Wi-FI | Dual-band | Dual-band |
Ports | HDMI output, Micro-USB for energy | HDMI 2.0b, USB for energy |
Remote batteries | Two AAA batteries | Two AAA batteries |
You should purchase a Fire TV Stick 4K if…
1. You need essentially the most options for much less cash
When you examine the tech specs of a Fire TV Stick 4K towards the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, you will discover that each gadgets are very related, even all the way down to the worth. One factor is sure, nevertheless: Amazon presents larger reductions extra typically on its Fire Stick than Roku does. This means you’ll be able to sometimes discover the Fire TV Stick 4K for a cheaper price than the Roku.
For instance, final vacation season introduced many gross sales on each Roku and Fire TV gadgets, and you would get a Fire TV Stick 4K for $27, whereas the Roku Stick 4K was $33. Both have been discounted, however the former is a greater deal.
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Amazon additionally options different Fire TV Stick fashions that vary between $30 and $140 at common worth, whereas the Roku lineup ranges from $30 to $130. In a head-to-head match between the 2 higher-end sticks, the Roku 4K+ and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the 2 are related in options, though the Amazon participant is $15 cheaper. Plus, the Fire Stick is Wi-Fi 6-compatible, whereas Roku is not but, for further worth
2. You use Alexa in your sensible dwelling
Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, appears to be a should in each Amazon machine. The Fire TV Stick 4K is no exception. The Alexa-enabled distant included with this streaming machine has a button to press and maintain to ask Alexa questions. Though the Roku additionally comes with a voice distant that you should utilize for navigation throughout the Roku platform, the Alexa distant can transcend looking for your favourite TV present.
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If you might have Alexa-enabled gadgets as a part of your sensible dwelling setup, you’ll be able to inform Alexa by way of your Fire TV Stick distant to activate a wise gentle or change the room temperature on your sensible thermostat. You may even ask the voice assistant to point out you appropriate safety cameras on your TV.
Roku has a line of sensible dwelling merchandise that may combine its digicam feeds with Roku TVs or streaming gadgets, however the function is nonetheless fairly new and restricted to its personal Roku Home gadgets.
3. You watch Prime Video and Youtube Kids (and do not thoughts advertisements)
Unsurprisingly, the Fire TV platform is extra centered on Prime Video, because it is, in spite of everything, an Amazon machine. Being an Amazon product, it is also not stunning that you will discover many advertisements whereas navigating the system. Personally, I do not thoughts the advertisements a lot; I ignore most of them. But when you’re an avid watcher of Prime Video content material, you will discover the advertisements to be geared to customers such as you.
Keep in thoughts that some apps can be found on Fire TV that aren’t obtainable for Roku and vice versa, as is the case for Youtube Kids, although Youtube not too long ago introduced a strategy to entry it on Roku. I’m not a fan of YouTube Kids, so if my children ever watch it, I solely permit it on the TV, the place I can see or at the very least hear what they’re watching. If you might have little ones who like watching YouTube Kids, know that it is not obtainable as a standalone app on Roku gadgets at the moment. YouTube and YouTube TV can be found on Roku.
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To entry Youtube Kids on Roku, you have to obtain the YouTube app on your Roku machine and go into the Accounts tab to modify to a toddler’s profile. This offers you entry to Youtube Kids’ content material and parental controls throughout the YouTube app.
You should purchase a Roku Streaming Stick 4K if…
1. You choose a extra user-friendly platform
The Fire TV menu is visually enticing, nevertheless it’s merely not as simple and user-friendly because the Roku platform. It’s a smooth design, nevertheless it typically takes further steps to do one thing in contrast with doing it on a Roku.
Another noteworthy function of the Roku platform is the common search, which the Fire TV platform executes poorly. Universal search allows you to search for a title and have your Roku present you all of the totally different apps you’ll be able to watch it in, together with how a lot it prices to lease or purchase, if relevant.
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Universal search is underrated, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily helpful. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen sufferer to its poor efficiency of it on the Fire TV platform, when I’ve paid to lease a film solely to search out that it is included in my Netflix subscription the following day.
Fire TV’s search outcomes require further work to sift by way of. You’re given one major channel and should choose “more ways to watch” to see all the opposite choices. Multiple choices are sometimes obtainable, however clicking on them could result in a paywall or a useless finish.
2. You need an easier-to-use distant management
Admittedly, Fire TV remotes have come a protracted strategy to turn into extra user-friendly and, within the course of, extra just like the Roku distant. But I nonetheless discover the Roku distant simpler to make use of than its competitor.
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It’s the buttons for me; give me good previous arrows, and I do know the place to go. I do not need to sound like a dinosaur right here, however I’d select the Roku distant if I had to decide on between my Fire TV, Roku, and even Apple TV 4K remotes.
The Roku distant is rounded and thicker than the Fire TV distant, which is skinny and straightforward to lose between the sofa cushions. The Roku distant additionally has old-school arrows and an “OK” button, whereas the Fire TV distant has a circle with a spherical “OK” button within the center and, you guessed it, no letters or arrows on this navigation wheel, which makes it rather less intuitive for somebody getting accustomed to it.
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Aside from this, each remotes are fairly related: Both have mute and quantity buttons to manage appropriate televisions, your common navigation buttons, and 4 channel shortcut buttons that aren’t reprogrammable on both distant. Also, each gadgets have a cell app that allows your cellphone to double as a distant must you lose your bodily distant management.
3. You want the long-range Wi-Fi function
If you have acquired an even bigger dwelling or need to put your streaming machine on any TV round your home, then chances are you’ll be occupied with Roku’s long-range Wi-Fi function.
The Roku Stick 4K has a bigger antenna than earlier gadgets, permitting 4 instances the wi-fi vary. This is thanks, partly, to the included USB energy cable with a Wi-Fi receiver, which holds the Wi-Fi {hardware} on the road farther away from the machine for much less wi-fi interference.
A streaming stick will not be the proper answer for all functions, nevertheless it’s a small, moveable, and cheap answer to show a typical TV into a wise one.
There’s additionally the choice of a costlier different, reminiscent of shopping for a wise TV that is already Wi-Fi-integrated and outfitted with the most well-liked streaming apps. However, the funding is way over the price of a $50 TV stick.
FAQ
All the Fire Sticks help the next apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Youtube Kids, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and plenty of extra.
Similarly, all of Roku’s choices help the next apps: Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Apple TV, Sling TV, Disney+, Peacock, Starz, Showtime, Paramount+, YouTube TV, IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and extra.
Neither stick costs you to stream your favourite apps. You might lower your expenses by solely watching the free TV and film channels reminiscent of Vudu, Roku TV, Peacock, or Tubi TV. And in case you have an Amazon Prime account, Amazon Video is included. While newer films and exhibits could include a payment, Amazon Video has loads of free programming obtainable by way of your Roku or Amazon Fire participant.
Streaming gamers broadcast what’s obtainable from the apps. While many streaming apps provide free content material, among the hottest reminiscent of HBO Max, Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Netflix include a month-to-month subscription payment. If you’d wish to entry Netflix from your Roku Streaming Stick, for instance, you would wish to pay for a month-to-month Netflix subscription and log in to your account by way of Roku’s interface.
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