Tech Review: Fire TV vs. Fire Stick

Your entertainment needs and the capabilities of your TV will largely determine which Amazon Fire device is best for you.

The Amazon Fire Box is meant for heavy gaming and 4K streaming, while the Fire Stick is better for new users and TVs with 1080p resolution capacity.

There are a variety of features that separate the two devices, but you won’t have to learn them all to choose the better streaming product.

When to Choose the Fire Stick vs. Fire TV

The Fire Stick supports 1080p resolution and is better for first-time users who are not familiar with the vast amount of Amazon Fire TV features. The Amazon Fire Box can stream in 4K or UHD and has the capacity for heavy gaming.

There are some standard features that both pieces of equipment share. These include a quad-core CPU, the ability to select from tens of thousands of shows, and integration of Alexa voice commands. Note that when looking for shows, the voice command searches for movies within Amazon Prime.

You can download many apps using both types of equipment, except for the recent removal of the YouTube app. Use the voice command by speaking directly into the remote to launch Spotify, ask questions about specific actors, check the weather, or even request jokes.

Rather than typing the name of the show you want to watch, you can use voice search for this command. Along with entertainment, you can use both pieces of technology to complete a wide variety of tasks; download apps such as Hulu, NBC, Showtime, PlayStation Vue, and more. For example, if you enjoy TED Talks, you can download the app.

Fire TV Stick

• Control the Fire TV Stick via the Alexa supported remote
• The device plugs directly into your TV via the HDMI cord
• The Fire Stick is an elementary system to use, even for those who are not tech savvy
• The system has Dolby Audio and displays 1080p HD at 60 fps
• 4K and HDR is not supportable which can cause lag when gaming
• 1.3 GHz quad-core processor

Fire TV Box

• The Fire Box uses Dolby Atmos, providing rich, high-quality audio
• Streams in 4K, Ultra HD, and HDR for high-speed gaming and smooth content streaming
• 1.5 GHz processor
• Supports high dynamic range or HDR10, giving a broader color spectrum
• Separately sold Amazon Ethernet Adapter helps take advantage of connection speed

And Now, The Results of Analyzing the Fire Stick

There is a United States version of the Fire Stick as well as a UK version. The two function identically but offer different shows. The Fire TV Stick is small, weighing 32 grams. The main components of the Amazon Fire TV Stick package are the voice-enabled remote, a 1.2 inch male USB Fire Stick, 2 AAA batteries, and a 3.4-inch desktop power adapter. Note that the system does not receive power through the HDMI extender. The device has a micro USB that is only for power.

Amazon recommends that you use the USB extender to enhance your Wi-Fi reception. The latest Fire TV Stick is faster and more responsive than the initial version. The Fire TV Stick operates on 1.3 GHz and uses Dolby Audio. The supported resolution is 1080p at 60 frames per second.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick has MIMO dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1. MIMO technology stands for multiple-input-multiple-output. The technology uses several antennas to achieve higher throughput. Therefore, you can connect multiple devices to your Wi-Fi with less interference.

Even though the Fire Stick has MIMO technology, it is not the equipment for heavy gaming. The gaming experience is slower on the Amazon Fire Stick, and it is likely that you'll experience lag time. Regarding alternative smart devices, many people choose to upgrade to a Fire Stick from a Chromecast.

Apple TV and Roku perform similar functions to Amazon's products, but give you the ability to control power and volume from the remote. The same remote is usable for all generations of Amazon Fire products, which cannot control sound or the on-off function. You'll have to keep a separate remote handy to operate volume control.

You have the option to install the Kodi Media Server on the Fire Stick. Kodi boxes are media players that provide you with access to content and add-ons. Kodi Media is a free and open source software application. It only takes a few minutes to set up streaming from your PC to your Amazon Fire Stick using the Kodi Media Server. After setting up your Fire Stick, you can connect your Kodi account.

To operate the Fire Stick correctly, you'll need to connect your PC and the Fire Stick to the same wireless network. Streaming in this manner allows you to view videos more smoothly than casting directly from your phone. If you are satisfied with 1080p, the Amazon Fire Stick is an ideal choice. Plus, there are far more shows available in the standard format rather than in HDR or 4K.

Pros and Cons of the Amazon Fire Stick

Pros

• A budget-friendly way to gain more streaming options
• Small and simple to take your favorite shows with you everywhere
• Fully compatible with a 1080p TV
• Wi-Fi upgraded to 802.11ac

Cons

• The Fire TV Stick searches for movies through Amazon Prime membership first
• App selection is missing the third-party streaming service, Apple iTunes
• Not 4K enabled
• Not as fast as the Fire TV Box
• Does not support as many games as the Fire Box

The Truth About The Amazon Fire Box

The Fire TV box operates on 1.5 GHz and supports a 4K resolution at 60 fps. This feature is beneficial because it means that you will experience much faster speeds when viewing content and lower latency when gaming.

To take advantage of the speed that the Fire Box offers, get the Amazon ethernet adapter. The addition of an ethernet cable will reduce latency and increase the reliability of your connection. Ethernet offers greater security than Wi-Fi and tends to have less interference.

A 4K TV will help you experience the Fire Box fully. The device supports Ultra HD or UHD 4K TV shows on Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services. There are differences in appearance between Amazon’s 2nd and 3rd generation of streaming devices.

Amazon manufactured the Fire Box into a dongle shape with a flexible attachment leading to the USB. Note that the dongle puts its full weight USB connector, which might cause strain over time. You can avoid the damage this may cause by affixing the dongle to your TV.

The Fire Box uses RF technology rather than IR, so you don’t have to point the remote at the box to use it. There is no line of sight needed to use the remote. The Fire Box package includes the voice-enabled remote, the Fire Box dongle, the USB wall adapter, and a long USB cable. This third generation of Fire TV devices saves more space than a set-top box. The Fire Box dongle can hang from any USB port without being noticeable.

The Fire Box can play HDR shows, but it cannot convert a show in standard dynamic range into an HDR show. Netflix and Amazon Video offer playback in 4K HDR, and you will be able to watch the full range of that content using the Fire Box. HDR provides a more significant color spectrum which makes for more vibrant visuals than SDR.

If you choose to watch a show in 4K, that version must be selectable from the menu. Otherwise, an HDR version will play. Since the Fire Box has X-Ray enabled, you can get additional scene-by-scene information that would not normally be available to you. The Fire Box has Dolby Atmos, Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital support enabled.

The Amazon Fire Box allows you to stream live TV. This feature is useful because it enables you to watch your regular TV channels even if you are in an area without feed. You may need to familiarize yourself with the settings in the menu to get the desired outcome from using the Amazon Fire Box every time.

Kodi media is not preloaded into the Fire Box nor is the system equipped with HDMI 2.0. If you need extra storage, there is a great benefit to using the Fire Box. It includes Amazon Drive storage specifically for Amazon content.

The Amazon Fire Box is portable and compact and can operate from any open HDMI port on your TV or soundbar. The device has no other USB ports other than the micro USB which is for power only. Amazon no longer manufactures Fire TV with a micro SD port.

To avoid waiting additional time for the Fire TV Box to boot up after it has been powered down, you should use the wall adapter supplied with the product. If you want to control your Fire Box using any device with Alexa, link the devices via the Amazon Alexa app.

If you would like further detail on the Amazon Fire Box, an informational video plays once you have successfully installed the system. When compared to the alternatives, the Fire Box has superior voice detection as compared to the Roku. The choice of which Amazon device to choose is clear if you have a 4K TV and you want to enjoy shows in the highest quality available. Make sure you have a broadband speed of 15 Mbps to experience 4K video properly.

Pros and Cons of the Amazon Fire Box

Pros

• Overall faster performance than the Amazon Fire TV stick with 40% more power
• Capable of 4K and Ultra HD With HDR support; .265 video decoding
• Dolby Atmos audio technology integrated
• Access to 100+ more channels than the Fire Stick and roughly 400 more games

Cons

• A 4K TV is needed to enjoy the 4K Ultra HD feature
• Does not support Dolby Vision
• Dolby Atmos supported, but not as many shows that can play ultra detailed sound
• HDR and 4K content is limited

Key Takeaways from the Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick

These smart TV devices have the power to transform your home into a smart home. For example, you could command for your lights to turn on or many other Alexa commands. If you have just begun your foray into the world of Amazon Fire products, you may want to try the Amazon Fire Stick initially.

It is simple to install and start using. Plus, it's an easy way to familiarize yourself with the more than 500,000 shows and episodes that you can watch. However, if you would like the fastest and most functional streaming option, choose the Amazon Fire TV.

You can gain specific information about shows and actors among other features with the Fire TV. If you have a 4K TV, you may want to choose the Fire TV because you will be able to enjoy all of the shows and apps in vivid Ultra HD. Remember that the Fire TV has the option to add an Amazon ethernet adapter to increase your internet speed.

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