Amazon Fire Tv vs Roku Ultra – A Comprehensive Guide

Media streaming devices give users the freedom to tweak their entertainment system more than they would have done with the remote; users can, therefore, buy or rent movies and shows and interact with the various free channels and applications on the media players.

Roku and Amazon are media streamers which tend to have more similarities than differences but the one thing that we are sure of is when you are using Roku, you can purchase and even rent new TV shows and movies from within the application, but when it comes to the Amazon Fire TV, you will have to purchase the iTunes content from a different source.

So while the differences are significant, and could even burst all your brain cells as you try to figure out the best media player, both of these devices retail at fair prices and that is between $30 and $40. The units have also incorporated the major TV applications and are both reliable but with the provision of strong internet speeds.

What are the differences between Amazon Fire TV and Roku Ultra?

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku Ultra- How do they compare?

Build and Design

The design of the Fire TV cube only allows for it to be placed beside your TV set, worry not though because it is going to complement the overall décor given the combination of the blue stripe and the overall black. Functional buttons have been placed on the top of the unit for easy access and use, and the unit comes equipped with other relevant peripherals such as the Ethernet adapter, a power adapter, the remote control, and an IR extender cable.

Roku Ultra, on the other hand, features a more modern design, and could easily go unnoticed when compared to the Fire Tv cube; the unit is flat in design which makes positioning more practical. On the top part, you will be treated to a sleek combination of black and grey detailing the name of the device and at the back of the unit; you will find the relevant connectivity ports, such as the Ethernet, USB and the HDMI port not to forget the expandable micro SD slot.

So, in terms of build and design, the Roku Ultra is more practical as regards positioning, it features a more contemporary design, and can fit in any setting and still remain functional.

Storage

We will not focus on the RAM because both units have incorporated the same 2GB RAM space, but as regards storage space the differences are quite significant in that the Amazon Fire TV has a large 16GB internal memory space necessary for streaming, and the storage of channels and applications. A large storage space in a media streaming device enables the unit to stream high quality and clear videos.

The above then means that you will probably experience delays when streaming with Roku Ultra because it only has 1GB, the above space if filled with many channels and applications will cause a strain during streaming.  However, users have been provided with the micro SD slot, where they have the option of expanding their storage space.

So with the Amazon Fire Tv, you can expect high performance after installation, but for the Roku Ultra, you will have to incur extra costs to get a large micro SD as you expand your internal memory.

Throughput Speeds and performance

For any networking device to work effectively when transmitting information the ISP has to be up to standard and match the speeds of the device. So for as much as a unit might be capable of transmitting data from one to device to another in less time, if your internet connectivity is slow then you will experience lagging, or buffering.

Your storage space will also contribute to your unit’s performance, so if the storage space is little then the information that you will be searching for will not be presented as fast. Wired and wireless connections both perform differently with the former offering the best internet speeds. The provided throughput speeds are convenient, and it is, therefore, other factors such as storage and connectivity that might limit performance.

We will, therefore, settle with the Roku Ultra simply because it offers connectivity through Ethernet, and has an expandable storage space, users can, therefore, expect high performance but with the consideration of all the relevant factors.

Amazon Fire TV vs Roku Ultra- A comparison overview

Amazon Fire Tv

Fire TV Cube, Hands-free streaming device with Alexa, 4K Ultra HD, includes Alexa Voice Remote

• The fastest, most powerful Fire TV streaming device.
• From across the room, just ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play your show.

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The one major selling point for the Amazon Tv is its ability to provide a seamless searching experience using the incorporated Alexa voice. Amazon is a giant tech company with a wide scope as regards innovation, and apart from consolidating the world market into a webpage, it runs other important services like cloud computing and live-streaming among others.

In 2018 Amazon introduced a new media player configured to offer entertainment by providing a breadth of channels and applications, “the Amazon Fire TV,” which has been equipped with a large storage space for seamless streaming.

Pros

• Voice control can be integrated with other smart home devices
• Has incorporated many connected applications
• Set up and use is pretty easy
• Comes with a lot of connected applications

Cons

• The media streamer bugs a lot
• Alexa is not very responsive

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Roku Ultra

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Setting up and using your Roku media streamer is on the fly and you will have your unit running in less than five minutes. The media player was unveiled back in 2008 and has incorporated a powerful processor, offers the best wireless connectivity with faster throughput speeds. Users will also be able to use the enhanced voiced remote as they search through the many channels and applications.

Roku Ultra has been configured to work with almost all types of TV, has a built-in wireless standard, and offers high definition streaming of up to 720p. Users will additionally be provided with a free application that can be used on both the IOS and Android phones.

Pros

• Voice control is perfect
• Installation and set up is pretty easy
• Offer convenience with the headphone jack on the remote
• The unit is Ethernet cable ready

Cons

• The unit is buggy
• The interface is not entirely intuitive

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Conclusion

So while both the Amazon Fire Tv Cube and the Roku Ultra can offer connectivity to the internet via WIFI, a stable wired connection would be appreciated by many, and which you can only find on the Roku Ultra media streamer.

Final Verdict-so which is better? Amazon Fire Tv or Roku Ultra

Roku Ultra is the better unit because it has incorporated an expandable memory slot, the unit allows wired internet connectivity and offers stable throughput speeds.

FAQ’s

1. Does Roku have premium subscriptions?

Roku Ultra has incorporated some paid subscriptions but you will first enjoy the free 7-day trial after which you will be billed on a recurring basis.

2. Is it possible to expand Amazon’s fire TV cube?

No, you cannot expand Amazon’s Fire Tv internal memory but you can use the thumb drive to install more applications.