And thanks to a recent update, Roku also finally has access to HBO Max.Ĭhromecast: More Options, More Issues Justin Duino / Review Geek You have to go into the apps themselves to start browsing content.
CHROMECAST VS FIRESTICK VS ROKU PLUS
Roku’s homepage is about the apps, just the apps, ma’am: Users see a grid of the services they can access, plus live TV and HDMI inputs if their TV is Roku-branded. And all of them are going to be inexpensive compared to other options in the same form factor.īut Roku is also the most focused of the popular smart TV platforms, if only because its approach is somewhat old-fashioned. You might even find a soundbar or two that runs it. First, it’s the most widely available: In pretty much any electronics store, online or brick-and-mortar, you’re going to find both Roku streaming sticks and TVs preloaded with Roku software. Roku gets our top spot for a couple of reasons. Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity Roku Want to view 4K content on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video? You'll need to splash out on their premium cousins: the Chromecast Ultra (£69/$69) and the Fire TV Stick 4K (£49.99/$42.99).Roku: For Bargain Hunters and Fans of Simplicity Overall, both streamers offer great performance for the money. Speech is clear and pretty detailed across both devices but, while the Chromecast has enough dynamism for a blockbuster soundtrack, we did encounter the occasional lip-sync issues. On the downside, dark detail isn’t terribly strong and there’s a hunt of blur and judder to motion.Īudio-wise, the Fire TV Stick outputs sound up to Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, while the Chromecast tops out at Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. The Chromecast's picture is similarly sharp and detailed, and boasts natural colours and a good deal of punch. The Fire TV Stick's picture is as crisp as we would expect for the money, with suitable insight to the dark scenes and plenty of pop in the colours.
CHROMECAST VS FIRESTICK VS ROKU 1080P
Result: It's close but Amazon Fire TV Stick pips it.īoth these budget streamers serve-up video content in up to 1080p HD resolution, but how do they compare? Neither devices will replace your Xbox or PS4, though. Turn the Fire TV Stick's remote sideways and it become a games controller. There's plenty of Chromecast-enabled games to choose from. (Worth noting: Chromecast will only grant access to Apple TV+ via a laptop or computer, not a smartphone).įinally, both streamers offer the bonus of casual gaming. Both offer access to all the main catch-up TV services and all the major streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and YouTube. When it comes to content, there's not much between the two budget streamers. If you're a fan of Alexa, the Amazon Fire TV Stick would be the obvious choice. Amazon’s Advanced Streaming and Prediction (ASAP), for example, learns your tastes and pre-buffers Prime Video shows it thinks you might watch next. The Chromecast is arguably the simplest and most versatile of the two streamers, but the pricier Fire TV Stick offers some nifty advanced features. Just like the Fire TV Stick, you can adjust the volume or give commands such as "Hey Google, play Stranger Things on Netflix". The Chromecast can be controlled using your voice, too, through Google Home devices. The Fire TV Stick also supports streaming through your phone, but it's not as slick or widely adopted.
Not only can you view almost any media app on your TV, you can use your TV as a monitor for your laptop or computer. Instead, you select a video, song or web page via your phone or tablet and ‘cast’ the content to your TV.
It's similarly easy to set-up but there's no physical remote. The Chromecast takes a different approach.
Set-up is simple and the user interface is well-designed, so it won't be long before you're in business with the Fire TV. You can command your Fire TV Stick to search for a particular actor, director, or film genre, or even say “fast forward five minutes” (although sadly that function only works while watching Amazon Prime content). The Fire TV Stick comes with Alexa Voice Remote, so you can quickly find films and TV shows using your voice.
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