Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Roku Streaming Stick+: Which should rule your living room?
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Still haven’t landed on the best way to stream shows and movies? No worries. We’ll help you figure out the best solution for your TV viewing needs. Right now, there are two major streaming devices—Roku Streaming Stick+ and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K—let’s compare.
The basics
Both Roku Streaming Stick+ (on sale for $39, from $50) and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K ($50) are fairly inexpensive. Both are small and easy to use, with plug-and-play functionality. And both deliver a wide selection of streaming channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Now, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and more.
One difference is that Roku takes a neutral approach to delivering content, where Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K very much pushes Amazon Prime Video content. How does this play out? If you want to watch, say, Love Actually with the Roku Streaming Stick+, you’d search the title and see all the places Love Actually is available to stream (Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime Video). The same search with Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K will take you to one place: Amazon Prime Video. So even though it has all the major streaming platforms Roku has, it doesn’t show you options without a little effort.
Setup
When you first boot up the Roku Streaming Stick+, you’ll be taken to the main menu with a few streaming channels already installed, including Netflix, Roku Channel, Hulu Plus and others. You can arrange channel tiles in a grid on the main menu any way you want with as few or as many as you please. The downside is it takes a bit of time to set up the Roku Streaming Stick+—to set up WiFi, configure to your own TV and download channels.
But once it’s set up, it can work with one remote (the Roku remote can control your home TV). And the remote has quick keys to get to services like Netflix and Hulu Plus faster without scrolling and clicking through a grid on the main menu. In addition, you can control the Roku Streaming Stick+ with your smartphone via the Roku app. This comes in handy if you misplace the remote.
The Fire TV Stick 4K is very easy to set up if you’re an Amazon Prime member. If you order it using your Prime membership, it ships with your login information already preset. This means you’re instantly logged into the streaming device without punching in long, tedious usernames and passwords. You turn it on and you’re ready to go!
Once booted up, Amazon gives you an easy tutorial on how to use the Fire TV Stick 4K and how to find what you’re looking for, in terms of apps and content. It’s super helpful. With the Fire TV Stick 4K, Amazon Prime Video is always in view (it’s the home screen background), as are ads for Amazon movies and shows. This might be annoying, but you may not notice it.
Experience
Roku features more streaming options than any other platform, with thousands of popular and obscure channels for just about any taste. Below, just a few of the 15,500 positive reviews at Amazon.
“The Roku Streaming Stick+ is simply awesome,” shared a delighted Amazon shopper. “It's super easy to set up, it's powered by your TV and the signal booster that is built into the USB cable ensures a strong wireless connection. This thing attaches entirely to the back of your TV and is completely out of sight once it's installed. I bought this for use with a bedroom TV because I didn't want any unnecessary electronics cluttering up the room, and I couldn't be happier.”
“I've used Roku streaming devices for years and I've never had one fail. This streamer provides true 4K output and slightly improves wireless signal reception in areas where your wireless router signal may not be full strength,” added another satisfied shopper. “I like Roku devices because they work well all the time. They are like the Toyota of streaming devices. They compete well price-wise. They set up easily, are easy to use, stream well and are reliable.”
The big advantage of the Fire TV Stick 4K over the Roku Streaming Stick+ is the Alexa voice assistant built into the remote. Just hold down the Alexa button, speak into the remote and say “Hey Alexa, show me The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and, voila, your wish is granted. You can also use Alexa to order more things from Amazon. It works just like it does on any other Alexa-enabled device! The Fire TV Stick 4K has fewer technical hiccups too.
For more about user experience, take a look at the more than 198,700 rave reviews on Amazon: “Amazingly good at streaming performance…” wrote an enthusiastic reviewer.
“I love how easy setup is on the Amazon Fire stick,” said another happy shopper. “The best setup feature, in my opinion, is how the unit integrates with both my TV and audio system. The power button on the Fire TV Stick powers the TV and the audio system on simultaneously. This is a great feature and now I rarely use either of the other remotes for the TV or the sound bar with subwoofer.”
Bottom line
Both the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Roku Streaming Stick+ are great. Each platform offers speed and reliability, with a wide range of video streaming content. The best pick for you depends on priorities.
If you’re a Prime member, the better option is the Fire TV Stick 4K, for its ease of use and full integration with Alexa and Echo devices. The streaming device slips seamlessly into the full Amazon experience.
If approach to content and breadth of choice matters more to you, and you’re not a Prime member, Roku Streaming Stick+ edges out the Fire TV Stick 4K. Roku makes it easy to find what you want without putting any brand-driven barriers in your way. You pay more for that freedom of choice—and for not having ads pushed at you—but we think it’s worth it.
Want a cheaper alternative? The standard Fire TV Stick is on sale for $30, or $10 off at Amazon. It does everything its 4K sibling can do, except stream 4K video. It’s ideal for older HD TVs.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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