Apple TV vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Which One is Better for You?

Believe it or not, there are 200+ streaming services in the market at present, and the count just keeps on growing with each passing day. Consumers have more choices than ever before to stream their favorite TV shows and movies online, especially those that they cannot watch on scheduled programming. One of the best aspects of streaming services is its universal flexibility. In other words, you can stream an entire row of episodes or catch a live game on any compatible display – be it a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop, etc. However, most people prefer to view a character’s journey on a large screen TV and in the highest definition possible. This experience is unlike any other! What’s more, today’s television sets come with ‘smart’ technology, personalized interfaces, web browsers, and pre-installed apps. These smart TVs make it a hundred times easier for people to access the streaming platforms without hassle.

For people who don’t have smart TV sets, a streaming box or a dongle offers the best alternative. This compact device connects a television to the internet and enables it to access streaming content from online services. Multiple cable providers give a streaming box to the subscribers as a part of their plans. For instance, Cox cable deals hand out a Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player to anyone interested in getting a dose of streaming apps along with the usual cable channels. However, if you are a cord cutter, then you can purchase a streaming device from other companies, such as Apple or Amazon. Both Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick are top-performers in the streaming market. Are you confused regarding which one to buy? Then, let this post guide you and help you find the best streaming player for your home.

Apple TV vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Similarities

Both Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV 4K launched in September 2017, and even though new versions are expected to come out soon, their classic functionality has remained intact. One thing is clear from this: The two streaming devices support up to 2160p resolution, which is equivalent to the 4K standard. Besides this, they include thousands of built-in apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. Technically, both have a dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which creates an instant connection to the web, the latest HDMI ports, which are compatible with the latest models, and support HDR-10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround, as well as Dolby Atmos. On top of that, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV come with their own remote controls that have AI-assistance (Alexa for Amazon/Siri for Apple) and can let you navigate via buttons or voice commands.

Apple TV vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick: Differences

Let’s check out the differences between the two streaming media players in question below:

Price

As of 2020, Apple TV 4K costs $29.89/month for 6 months or $179 overall for the 32GB storage. If you want more data, then the price for 64GB rests at $33.16/month for 6 months or $199 overall. On the other hand, Amazon Fire TV Stick costs only $29.99 for standard streaming and $49.99 for streaming in 4K.

Storage

Streaming devices usually have built-in storage where you can download apps from the web. Apple TV 4K has a huge storage capacity, which starts at 32GB and goes up to 64GB, depending on how much you need. While, Amazon Fire TV Stick has a capacity of 8GB, out of which, only 5GB is available since the rest is taken up by the Fire OS and the pre-installed apps.

Gigabit Ethernet

This is a transmission technology, which provides a data transfer rate equal to 1 Gbps or 1000 Mbps per second. It is ten times faster than the regular Ethernet! Fortunately, Apple TV 4K box consists of a Gigabit Ethernet port right at the back, where you can connect a Gigabit Ethernet cable directly for your gaming or ultra-fast streaming needs. Whereas, with Amazon Fire TV Stick, you’ll have to purchase a separate Gigabit Ethernet adapter to use your cable.

Design Impact

How a streaming device looks next to your TV and how it contributes to the ambiance of the room also matters. Design-wise, Apple TV 4K is a slim rectangular box, which is almost 4 inches wide and 1.4 inches high. You’ll have to set it on a table to make it work. For Amazon Fire TV, you don’t need to make space on a surface. You can simply attach it to your TV set at the back.

Final Verdict

While both Apple TV 4K and Amazon Fire TV are state-of-the-art streaming gateways, they have their unique selling points. If you want a more affordable option that is unobtrusive to your living room design and lightweight-enough to carry in your bag, then go for Amazon Fire TV Stick. If you want more storage capacity for your innumerable apps and a gigabit Ethernet port, purchase Apple TV 4K.