Are you struggling to choose between Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick as your streaming device? You’re not alone! They’re both good choices, and the one you pick all comes down to your personal needs and preferences. Let’s break it down so you can decide for yourself.
Ease of use
The word that sums up Roku is simplicity. You can personalize the home page, install apps from Roku’s store, and navigate as you would on your phone.
Fire TV Stick has a bigger learning curve than Roku because it’s an open system. This means you can install external apps and plug in Bluetooth devices like game controllers. It’s also slightly more challenging to navigate because the display updates according to your previous choices.
If you know your tech, consider the Fire TV Stick because it gives you more choices. If you’re a first-time user looking for a hassle-free device, then Roku may suit you best.
Home screen navigation
Both systems support most of the streaming services and apps on the market, including Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO, and Netflix, but the way you’ll navigate through each one is different.
Roku is clean and organized. The menu is on the left side and the apps are on the right. You can personalize it by choosing how to arrange the apps.
You can’t personalize a Fire TV Stick. Instead, it will adjust its menu for you according to your most frequent and recent uses. It will also throw in suggestions that it “thinks” you’d like.
So, Roku is great if you like things tidy and under your control. It’s especially good for family use because it won’t change its setup according to the last user. But if you like to be updated with the latest releases and you’re a solo user, then Fire TV Stick could be the better choice.
Remote control
Both Fire TV Stick and the Roku streaming stick include a remote for your TV, barring the most inexpensive versions of Roku, which don’t come with a remote. There are some differences though.
Roku’s remote has a traditional design and includes a few shortcut buttons, but if the pre-set offerings aren’t your go-to apps, they have the potential to become useless. Also, some high-end remotes have a jack to plug-in your headphones for private listening.
Fire TV Stick’s remote is more stylish and ergonomically designed. Plus, it has a better connection so you can use it from further away without having to point it directly at the device.
The big difference here is the headphone jack. If you plan on plenty of private listening, then Roku will set you up for the best experience.
Voice control
Both systems have a microphone on the remote, but the real perks come with whichever smart speaker you have at home.
Roku provides voice control through Google Home and Amazon Alexa. And even though Fire TV Stick has more voice control options on the whole, it doesn’t work with Google Home. So, if your smart-home setup is Google-based, Roku is your only choice.
Given that it’s also an Amazon product, Fire TV Stick works great with Alexa and can even control other smart-home devices like lights or smart garage door openers. Also, Alexa can respond directly from the TV, which is a fantastic perk.
Voice control through Fire TV Stick or Roku depends on which smart speaker system you already have at home. If you don’t have one, then you may want to go with Fire TV Stick because it supports voice control for more apps.
Apps
Both systems have a wide offering but a slightly different focus.
The Roku channel has a wide selection of ad-based networks, like CNET, SciGo, and YouTube. Also, you can access free live channels, though the gaming selection is limited.
Fire TV Stick ups the ante for app selection. There are more games to choose from, but the supported movies and channels require memberships. For example, if you want to enjoy the TV shows and movies on Amazon Originals and AMC, you’ll need to pay for them.
If you’re in it for the games, definitely go for Fire TV Stick. However, if your focus is on TV and movies, you’re better off with Roku.
So, which streaming device is right for you? Consider all the options outlined above before you make your decision and you’ll be better prepared to start enjoying everything these devices can offer.
Feature photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
