There are currently a growing number of streaming devices available, but some of the best are provided by Roku and Amazon. Here is a comparison of the various devices.
There is currently a vast selection of streaming sticks. It can be challenging to select the one that is right for you with so many options available. But because Roku and Amazon are the market leaders in this area, we have compared their top products.
Roku or Amazon, then? For your decision-making, we are contrasting the two. Because Roku shouldn’t be written off in the battle, despite the fact that Amazon may be one of the most well-known brands in the world. The company is an expert in creating affordable streaming devices and has a solid track record in this area.
We will examine a number of aspects, including as pricing, design, voice control, and the variety of apps and channels offered, to find which smart TV range wins out.
We will concentrate on the Roku Premiere and original Fire TV Stick, the brand’s mid-range devices, but we have also included a full breakdown of every device that is offered by both Roku and Amazon so that you can determine how far your budget will stretch and whether it is worthwhile to spend a little more.
Read our reviews of the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube to learn more about these devices. And if you’re considering upgrading your TV, make sure to check out our guide to the best smart TVs, as well as our explanations of Chromecast and Fire TV Stick and Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Don’t miss our comparison of the best UK streaming services in 2022, which compares the costs and features of each major platform, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BritBox, and Apple TV+.
Roku vs Fire Stick: what’s the difference?
There are currently a growing number of streaming devices available, but some of the best are provided by Roku and Amazon. Here is a comparison of the various devices.
There is currently a vast selection of streaming sticks. It can be challenging to select the one that is right for you with so many options available. But because Roku and Amazon are the market leaders in this area, we have compared their top products.
Roku or Amazon, then? For your decision-making, we are contrasting the two. Because Roku shouldn’t be written off in the battle, despite the fact that Amazon may be one of the most well-known brands in the world. The company is an expert in creating affordable streaming devices and has a solid track record in this area.We will examine a number of aspects, including as pricing, design, voice control, and the variety of apps and channels offered, to find which smart TV range wins out.
We will concentrate on the Roku Premiere and original Fire TV Stick, the brand’s mid-range devices, but we have also included a full breakdown of every device that is offered by both Roku and Amazon so that you can determine how far your budget will stretch and whether it is worthwhile to spend a little more.
Read our reviews of the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube to learn more about these devices. And if you’re considering upgrading your TV, make sure to check out our guide to the best smart TVs, as well as our explanations of Chromecast and Fire TV Stick and Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Don’t miss our comparison of the best UK streaming services in 2022, which compares the costs and features of each major platform, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, BritBox, and Apple TV+.
Price
The RRP for the Roku Premiere and Amazon Fire TV Stick is £39.99 each. The Amazon Fire TV Stick provides voice search with the new Alexa control for this price and full HD streaming.
With their Premiere media player, which supports 4K streaming, Roku has gone one better. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K costs an additional £10 if you want to stream content from Amazon in 4K. You’ll also need a 4K television; see our explanation of what a 4K TV is for additional details.
Both of these gadgets have less expensive alternatives in the form of the Roku Express and Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite if you’re seeking to save a bit more money. Both have an RRP of £29.99.
The only differences between the Roku Express and the Roku Premiere are that the former only streams in HD and the latter has a little more angular media player. The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, in contrast, is a more condensed version of the original Fire TV Stick and does not have other functions like volume and power buttons on the remote.
Read our article on the cost of Roku for a more thorough price analysis. Alternately, look through our guides on Amazon Fire TV Stick prices and channels.
Design
Power and volume buttons on the remote were added to the Amazon Fire TV Stick in a 2020 update, which was a feature that had been highly sought. Although they did increase the smart TV stick’s power by 50% over its 2019 predecessor, the mere inclusion of the buttons eliminates the need to move between remotes in order to adjust the volume.
Although the Roku Premiere lacks volume buttons, it does feature quick links to Google Play, Spotify, and Netflix. The streaming gadget also includes the free Roku mobile app, which has an additional remote and allows you to control the volume.
The software also includes a Roku-specific function known as “Private Listening” mode. Through the Roku mobile app, you can use this feature to listen to the TV audio while wearing headphones. An excellent feature if you have a strange sleeping habit or just want not to bother your neighbours.
Although the user interface is rather simple, Amazon obviously makes sure that its own Prime Video programming is visible. If you have Amazon Prime Video, this is fantastic, but if not, it could be a little annoying.
The homepage of Roku is straightforward and user-friendly, but it’s also far more impartial. For individuals who prefer a single location to view all of their channels, subscriptions, and apps from various sources, this would be a better alternative as Roku does not have its own streaming service (though it does have The Roku Channel).
Voice control
You can voice-control TV with the Roku Premiere and Amazon Fire TV Stick, respectively. It is available as a button on the remote for the Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Roku in-app remote.
Both times, you simply need to keep holding down the speak button, and the smart TV sticks will bring up the desired information. When we tested both of these devices, we discovered that they responded quickly to manual and voice searches and had no trouble comprehending our commands.
You may benefit from purchasing the Amazon Fire TV Cube if you prefer to use voice search as your primary method of accessing these streaming devices. It costs £109.99 more than either of the two mid-range gadgets we’ve been talking about, but it has greater power.
Amazon combined its streaming device with an Amazon Echo smart speaker to create the Fire TV Cube. As a result, voice search has become more sophisticated, and you can now simply talk to Alexa to operate your TV without pressing a button.
Other smart home appliances, such lights, plugs, thermostats, and other smart speakers, can also be controlled by the Fire TV Cube. If you want more than just access to favourite streaming services, this is an excellent choice.
Read our Amazon Fire TV Cube review to determine if the Fire TV Cube is a better option for you.
Apps and channels
Amazon enjoys showcasing its services on the Fire TV home page, as we’ve already mentioned. On the Amazon Fire TV Stick, Amazon Prime Video shows are prominent, although both media players provide a wide selection of apps.
In addition to Disney+, Netflix, the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Spotify, NOW TV, BT Sport, and YouTube, Roku also has Prime Video.
The Roku Express, which costs less, and the Fire TV Cube, which costs more, both offer the same apps and channels.
Both streaming devices can be used to mirror photographs and movies from iOS and Android mobile devices to your TV.
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Roku overview: what smart TV sticks are available?
There are four smart TV sticks in Roku’s main range. These are:
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
The greatest streaming stick available from Roku is the Streaming Stick 4K. In our thorough Roku Streaming Stick 4K review, we praised the gadget for its ease of use and variety of apps. Notably, compared to Amazon competitors, Roku sticks like this one offer more free-to-air TV.
Roku Express
The cheapest Roku streaming device is called the Roku Express. The media player has an RRP of just £29.99, HD streaming capabilities, and other functions including casting images, voice search, and Private Listening mode.
Roku Premiere
The Roku Premiere, the company’s mid-range option, offers HD and 4K streaming of your preferred Netflix, Disney+, and NOW TV shows. Although the media player is smaller than the Roku Express, it nevertheless offers the same functions.
Roku Streaming Stick+
The most expensive dedicated streaming gadget offered by the company, the Roku Streaming Stick+, streams in HD, 4K Ultra HD, and HDR. Unlike the other two Roku devices, this media player is shaped like a stick and can be hidden behind the TV. It offers many of the same functions, including voice search and Private Listening mode.
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Amazon Fire TV Stick overview: what smart TV sticks are available?
Amazon’s smart TV stick range is now made up of five devices. These include:
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max is the newest and greatest streaming gadget available from Amazon. With 4K streaming and an extensive selection of applications and programmes, it delivers exactly what it promises. See our comprehensive Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max review for additional details.
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
The cheapest smart TV stick offered by Amazon is the 2020 release of the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite. Power and volume controls are absent from the remote, however HD streaming and voice search are included.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Additionally upgraded in 2020, the Amazon Fire TV Stick now has power and volume buttons on its Alexa control. The smart TV stick is 50% more powerful than the 2019 model and plugs into the back of the TV, making it relatively unnoticeable.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K delivers HD and 4K streaming for £49.99. The same Alexa control as the first Fire TV Stick and voice search are among the additional features. Additionally, it can check the weather, dim the lights, play music, and handle live camera feeds.
Amazon Fire TV Cube
The most costly and powerful Amazon streaming gadget. The Fire TV Cube is the fastest Fire TV model and can operate extra speakers, smart plugs, lights, and a soundbar if it is compatible. It also supports Dolby Vision and Atmos for £109.99.
Which smart TV stick should you buy?
How much you watch Amazon Prime Video and how many other Amazon subscriptions you have will primarily determine your choice. If you answered “a lot” to both of these queries, an Amazon Fire TV device would likely be preferable to a Roku smart TV stick.
If you don’t want to watch any of the Amazon Prime Video content, it may get annoying that it is prominently displayed on the Fire TV homepage. Although you don’t need to manually scroll with voice search because it eliminates this in a way.
Although the prices of the Roku Premiere and Amazon Fire TV Stick are about equal, the Fire TV Stick only supports HD streaming while the Roku smart TV stick also supports 4K. If you already own a 4K TV, the Roku Premiere can help you make the most of it.
What distinguishes the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max from the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?
There isn’t much to choose between the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max because they are close rivals. However, you can choose the gadget that is best for you by focusing on one or two significant distinctions.
The Amazon stick must first be plugged into a power source, but the Roku stick can function with a wired connection to your TV. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K has scored a modest victory in this case.
Roku effectively competes with the Amazon Fire TV Stick by providing a better selection of free-to-air content whereas Luna, a subscription-based gaming software, is available on the Fire TV Stick.
Roku streaming sticks aren’t compatible with VPNs out of the box, but the Fire Stick 4K Max is. That will definitely benefit some viewers. The Amazon stick requires mains electricity and is slightly larger than its rival. The Roku remote is little more tactile, while the other feels a little more cheap and tacky. There isn’t much to choose between the two products for the majority of users because of these very small drawbacks. However, the additional free material offered by Roku is likely to convince some prospective consumers.
Trying to find a new show to watch? View our list of the top streaming services. Check out our Disney Plus deals for this month if you want to save money.
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