Roku vs Fire TV Stick – It's the biggest battle of video streaming devices today. Sure, Chromecast and Apple TV are finding their way into the fray, but the two biggest platforms for cord-cutters are Roku's budget boxes and Amazon's saver sticks. However, the problem most people have is that because the devices themselves look so similar, it can be hard to decide which one to buy. The good news is that you can't go wrong either. The new generation of Amazon Fire TV Sticks like the Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) and Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite are affordable options for people who want to stream Amazon Prime Video or Netflix in 1080p, while the latest generation of Roku streamers offer higher resolution. awesome 4K. We're going to break down all the differences below, but if you only take one thing from this article, it should be that Amazon Fire TV devices are great for Amazon Prime subscribers and Amazon Echo owners, while Roku is just fine. better for people who plan to stream 4K HDR content and subscribe to a dozen services. How do you know which streaming video player is right for you? We're here to help break down the differences between hardware and highlight the pros and cons of each platform. Consider this your guide to Streaming Hardware 101.
What are the main differences?
When you think of Amazon Fire TV, you really should think of Amazon's video streaming service and Alexa voice assistant because those are its defining features. Of course, Roku can also access Amazon Video, but the streaming service takes center stage in Amazon's streaming hardware. This is great if you're an Amazon Prime subscriber... and maybe not so great if you don't want to buy Amazon's subscription service. That said, no matter how you slice it, having Alexa in a streaming video player is great. It works almost exactly like a smart speaker, except you can ask Alexa to call up videos for you, too. Add to that the ability to manage your calendar and keep track of your shopping lists, and it's easy to see why having Alexa is a boon for Fire TV. If you're choosing between Amazon Fire TV devices, you just need to consider whether you want 1080p streaming or whether you want 4K streaming. If it's the former, you should go for the aforementioned Amazon Fire TV Stick or Fire TV Stick Lite, while people interested in the latter should check out the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon Fire TV Cube.What is the easiest to use?
Now, of course, ease of use is pretty subjective, some things that are easy for us won't necessarily be easy for you, but one caveat aside, we think Roku is the easier of the two platforms. It launches you right into the start menu, where you can see all the apps you've downloaded, and the App Store is immediately visible. The interface is simpler, and while a bit dated at the moment, it's probably one your parents can pick up and use. That's not to say that the Amazon Fire TV interface is particularly difficult to use - it's not - but it puts more emphasis on Amazon Prime content and finding something else can take a bit of time. effort / know how to do. Still, if you know where to look, you can find apps for Netflix, PlayStation Vue, Sling TV, and everything else, and having content at the beginning means it's a bit quicker to fire it up and go straight to it. to something to look at. Also, you can easily download other apps such as Amazon Fire TV VPNs. It's worth noting here that, unlike the Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra, all members of the Amazon Fire TV and Roku family of devices come with a remote. This traditional control scheme makes them a bit easier for the average non-technical person to pick up and use, and the built-in microphone adds a convenience factor for finding something to watch. We'll cover more of them in the next section, but it's worth noting that both are easier to use than other streaming solutions.Which has more content?
Unless you count every video on every streaming service on each of these two platforms, it's impossible to know which has the most content to watch. That said, knowing what streaming services are on each platform and how much content they have can give us a rough estimate. Both platforms have access to the major services Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Sling TV, HBO Go/Now, and YouTube, but only Roku also has access to The Roku Channel, this ad-supported free streaming service. that we mentioned above. It's also worth noting that Roku has more channels than any other platform; however, what Roku considers a ``channel'' is usually just a bespoke app filled with videos you can find on YouTube. . Still, if you just want a full playlist of old western movies, Roku has them and Amazon doesn't. Of course, it's a little easier to find content on Roku than it is on Amazon Fire TV: Roku Search scans many streaming services and lists them by price with the cheapest and most subscribed options. in advance. It's a great system that could save you money in the long run. (It's worth noting that Amazon also has a full search feature, but it places more emphasis on Amazon Video results.)What is the cheapest?
If you compare the cheapest Roku player to the cheapest Amazon Fire TV player, it's a tie: You can get both the Roku Express and the Amazon Fire TV Stick for just $29 ($25). Both are great HD streaming devices that will impress people who still have an HDTV. Today's best deals on Roku Express and Amazon Fire TV Stick HD streaming Roku Express... Amazon - Fire TV Stick Lite... Of course, if you want a 4K streaming stick, you'll have to upgrade to the Roku Premiere ($35) or the slightly more expensive Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K ($39 / €49). You can expect 4K/HDR support from both devices and the entire content library on both devices. Today's best deals on Roku Premiere and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Roku 3920R Premiere 4K ... Amazon Fire Tv Stick 4K Black
If you're looking for top gamers for the ultimate gaming experience, the flagship Roku Ultra will set you back $99, while the Amazon Fire TV Cube with Alexa will only cost $79, though for now both are exclusive to. USA. Either way, it's a good deal for two of the best streaming devices on the planet. Today's best deals on Roku Ultra and Amazon Fire TV Cube Roku Ultra 2020 | Broadcast... Fire TV Cube | Free hands...
What is the best?
It all depends on who you are buying for. If you're shopping for someone who isn't so technical (read: your parents or grandparents), you might want to get the more basic Roku streaming stick. It's easy to use and inexpensive enough that it won't break the bank. But if you're someone who's deep into the Amazon ecosystem with Alexa devices everywhere and a recurring Amazon Prime membership, the Amazon Fire TV family of devices is probably your best bet. Today's best deals on Roku Express, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku Premiere, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Roku Ultra, and Amazon Fire TV Cube Roku Express HD Streaming ... Amazon - Fire TV Stick Lite ... Roku 3920R Premiere 4K ... Amazon Fire Tv Stick 4K Black Roku Ultra 2020 | Broadcast... Fire TV Cube | Free hands...