Apple TV Vs Amazon Fire Stick: how Is Better for Streaming?.
The battle of streaming services continues, and no one can decide which is better – Apple TV 4K or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Both can turn a regular TV into a smart TV, and both give some control over the smart home. However, the best device for streaming depends on a few features.
Read : How to Watch Apple TV on Roku
Both the Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire Stick can stream some of your favorite content, but the right choice for you depends on the ecosystem you’re most involved in and your personal preferences.
Price And Affordability
The Apple TV 4K starts at $179 for the 32GB model or $199 for the 64GB model. If you want the 32GB Apple TV HD option, you’re looking for $150. A more affordable option is to look for a previous-generation Apple TV at a used retailer.
The Amazon Fire Stick costs $50 for the 4K version or $40 for the HD version.
Right off the bat, the Amazon Fire Stick is a much more affordable option, but it also lacks features and functionality not found in the Apple TV 4K. If you’re looking for a better equivalent, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is a more powerful streaming device with a lot more options, but it costs $120 – still more affordable than the Apple TV 4K.
Winner: Amazon Fire Stick
Features
The true point of comparison between these two devices lies in the features. While the Apple TV is the more expensive option, there’s a reason for it other than the Apple logo.
Apple TV
Apple TV supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. In terms of audio, it supports Dolby 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos, and Spatial Audio. Apple TV 4K is the box that sits next to your display; although it is small in shape, you will need a place to put it. It does not connect to an HDMI port like other streaming devices.
Apple TV 4K comes with a touch-sensitive Siri Remote that gives you precise on-screen cursor control. You can also use your voice to request exclusive content only available on Apple TV, such as Apple Fitness+ or Apple Arcade.
If you’re investing heavily in the Apple ecosystem, Apple TV is a great choice. You can use your iPhone as a remote for Apple TV. There is an app for Android phones, but it’s developed by a third party and didn’t get good reviews. The only official support comes from Apple. One of the main advantages of the Apple TV is the Ethernet port for more consistent quality.
Amazon Fire Stick
Amazon Fire Stick 4K supports HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. It also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby 7.1 Surround, HDMI audio pass-through, and 2-channel stereo. The Fire Stick 4K plugs into an HDMI port on your TV, but comes with an HDMI cable extension that you can use to improve the signal. It can also be powered by the TV or plugged into an outlet for added performance.
The Alexa-enabled voice remote allows you to search for content with your voice only, and also contains four shortcut buttons: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. While the Fire Stick 4K is designed with Prime Video in mind, it’s great for streaming other types of content.
If you have other Alexa devices at home, the Fire Stick is a great addition. You can control it through the Alexa app on your phone, or through any Echo device. The Fire Stick’s slim profile makes it ideal for people who don’t have much space next to their TV, such as if it’s mounted high on the wall.
Winner Features: Apple TV
Streaming Services
Both the Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV offer the most streaming services you could ask for. Both platforms can stream Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming apps.
The Fire Stick didn’t support HBO Max for a long time, but now it does. The biggest difference between the two is that the Apple TV supports both AirPlay and streaming from iTunes, which the Fire Stick doesn’t.
According to app research firm 42matters, the Apple TV App Store has a total of 17,122 apps, while Fire TV has a total of 14,798 apps.
In addition to video streaming, there are plenty of music streaming services on both platforms, such as Apple Music.
Winner stream: Apple TV
Gaming
Of course, both of these devices are more for home theater and TV show streaming than gaming, but there is a certain segment of the population that streams games to their devices.
Apple TV has access to Apple Arcade, a curated list of the best iOS games. These games go far beyond typical mobile games and include real hours of role-playing and other entertainment.
You can stream Amazon Luna through Fire TV. The streaming service is similar to Google Stadia, and the list of games available to Amazon Prime subscribers each month changes. Performance may not be ideal depending on your Wi-Fi, but Luna is full of console games that you can play without a PC or console.
Winner Gaming: Draw
Smart Home Performance
The TV remotes on both platforms offer something that neither the Chromecast nor the Roku streaming joystick or their other competitors can offer: smart device control.
You can use HomePods to control your Apple TV and other Apple devices. HomeKit has a limited number of compatible devices compared to Alexa, but the benefit of the Apple ecosystem is that you have remote control through your iPad and other devices as the Apple TV acts as a HomeKit hub.
Alexa is one of the most popular smart home platforms on the web, and any Fire TV device gives you complete control over your smart home. You can use the remote control to give Alexa voice commands, turn the lights on or off, change the volume on the Fire TV, and more.
Winner: Fire TV
Overall Winner: Apple TV
After all, Apple TV is the best streamer for most people. While the Apple TV is more expensive, it’s full of features that the Fire TV just can’t handle. For example, you can even connect your headphones to your Apple TV via Bluetooth. You can’t do this with Fire TV.
Apple TV Vs Amazon Fire Stick: how Is Better for Streaming?
Apple TV Vs Amazon Fire Stick: how Is Better for Streaming?