Overall Findings: What’s the Point of an Apple TV or Fire Stick?
Streams video up to 4K to an HD-capable TV through an available HDMI port.
Offers a variety of apps for watching and playing content.
Comes with a slick remote with voice search.
Streams video up to 4K to an HD-capable TV through an available HDMI port.
Offers a variety of apps for watching and playing content.
Comes with an intuitive remote with voice search.
Additionally, both devices offer easy setup and intuitive interfaces, so you can quickly jump in and start watching Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming apps. But even with so many similarities, there are some differences that set the Apple TV and Fire Stick apart.
Specs: Fire TV Stick Has Slight Edge in Video, but Apple TV Has Better Audio
Availability and Pricing: Fire TV Stick Is Much Cheaper Than Apple TV
The biggest difference between these two streaming devices is price and it’s not even close. The cheapest Apple TV 4K model way more than the Fire TV Stick 4K, and when you factor in the monthly cost of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, it’s hard to deny the Fire Stick is much more budget-friendly.
Apple TV 4K: $129 for 64GB model with Wi-Fi or $149 for 128GB model with Wi-Fi or Ethernet
Fire TV Stick (1080p): $39.99
Fire TV Stick 4K: $49.99
Fire TV Cube: $119.99
Apple TV does have an advantage when it comes to storage, as you get either 32GB or 64GB compared to 8GB for the standard Fire Sticks and 16GB with the Fire TV Cube. However, it’s debatable whether this extra storage space is worth the cost, as the only real benefit is a slight performance boost thanks to the way Apple TV caches data.
Out-of-the-Box Experience: Smooth Setup for Both Devices
The Apple TV and Fire TV Stick are both “plug-and-play” devices, meaning you don’t need any additional hardware besides an internet connection and HDMI-compatible TV. Neither device requires you to register a code first—you’ll just need to enter your Wi-Fi password to get started.
Included in box: Apple TV, Siri Remote, Power Cord, Lightning to USB Cable.
Included in box: Fire TV Stick 4K, Alexa Voice Remote (2nd Gen), USB cable and power adapter, HDMI extender cable, 2 AAA batteries.
In terms of physical design, the Fire TV Stick is small enough to be tucked behind your TV, which could be beneficial if your home theatre space is already crowded. Of course, it’s a different story if you opt for the Fire TV Cube, which is a bit bigger than the Apple TV. Speaking of the Apple TV, it’s small enough to fit comfortably into any entertainment setup and also includes an ethernet port if you’d prefer a wired connection for more consistent speeds. Just make sure you have a spare HDMI cable handy, as Apple TV devices don’t come with one.
Channels and Apps: Thousands to Choose From
Offers 15,000+ channels and apps.
Apps displayed in clean grid interface.
Offers 12,000+ channels and apps.
User interface is easy to navigate, but cluttered.
Although Apple has a reputation for saddling developers with stricter requirements to publish on its App Store, you’ll find more than 15,000 apps on Apple’s tvOS according to research firm 42matters. This is actually more than you’ll find on Fire TV Stick, which offers approximately 12,700 apps.
Apple TV used to have an advantage when it comes to app availability, as both HBO Max and Peacock were unavailable on Fire TV Stick at launch. However, both of these services have since been added, which puts Apple TV and Fire TV Stick on par in terms of high-profile content availability.
Features: Apple TV and Fire Stick Both Offer Robust Entertainment Hubs
While the Apple TV and Fire TV Stick are primarily video streaming devices, both offer a wide range of additional features to serve as one-stop entertainment shops.
- Apple ID lets you access your music, movies, and other media across Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Play games with exclusive Apple Arcade service.
Final Verdict: Is Fire Stick as Good as Apple TV?
Based on its affordability and feature set, the Fire TV Stick is the overall winner but you really can’t go wrong with either device.
One of the main differences between Roku and Apple TV is the variety of streaming devices and content. Roku comes in a stick, set-top, and TV format, while Apple TV comes in smart TV, set-top, and app format for numerous devices, including Roku players and smart TVs. Apple TV offers original content, which Roku doesn’t, but Roku also provides many more channels and free programming.
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
Hit Refresh on Your Tech News
About Us
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Terms of Use
Careers
Advertise
Contact
EU Privacy
NEWS
HOW TO
FEATURES
ABOUT US
