Fire TV stick vs. Apple TV – which media streamer is better?

Innovation has caused some serious ripple effects in the media streaming device industry and people are now able to access both the local and international programs, sports and news by using the various streaming gadgets such as the Fire Stick TV and the Chromecast.

Smart TVs are the equivalent of the media streamers with some differences, of course, so the question is why should you invest in media streaming devices. Well, the latter has been established to contain some of the latest programs and applications that don’t come pre-built in the smart TV’s. Besides media streamers can be used on different kinds of televisions sets all you will need is strong and reliable internet from your ISP.

Fire TV stick and the Apple TV are products from some of the most reputable developers, Amazon and Apple; and are, therefore, expected to offer the best streaming service while maintaining in mint condition over time.

What are the differences between Fire TV Stick and Apple TV?

Model	Fire TV Stick	Apple TV
Processor	Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz	A8 chip with 64-bit architecture
Storage	8GB internal	32GB
Throughput speed	5-10 mbps for high definition video 3mbps for standard content	6Mbit/s for 720p content 8Mbit/s or faster for 1080p HD content
Ports	HDMI output, Micro USB for power only	HDMI, Ethernet, IR receiver, USB-C
Output resolution supported	720p and 1080p up to 60 fps	1080p HD for high-quality video
Availability	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

Fire TV Stick vs Apple TV – How do they compare?

Storage

The relevance of a big storage space in your media streaming device may not be readily apparent but what you need to know is that it gives you room to cache content. The above especially works with the Apple TV; in essence, therefore, is that the more the storage space the more content you will be able to cache that you can watch later instead of the frequent re-downloading.

So while the Apple TV offers its users 32GB solid storage space to cache content that they may want to stream later, the Fire TV Stick is visibly lacking in internal storage in that the provided 8GB internal memory has been eaten up by the Fire OS operating system and the pre-installed applications leaving users with only 5 GB. The Fire TV stick is, therefore, lacking in storage when compared to Apple TV, which has incorporated up to 32GB of internal storage.

Processor Speeds

The importance of a powerful processor is its ability to enable a new class of applications and games, for example, the Apple TV has been equipped with the A8 chip with 64-bit architecture, which theoretically means that the unit has up to 25% more CPU performance and up to 50% more as regards graphic performance.

The above then means that you can expect your Apple TV to be twice as fast when it comes to CPU performance and four times faster for GPU performance. If we take a trip down memory lane, you will realize that the fourth-generation Apple TV had incorporated a much slower chip, the current model now features the A10X Fusion chip which offers 2x the CPU performance and about 4x GPU performance.

Now when it comes to the Amazon’s Fire TV stick we are provided with a Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz, and to be honest the 1.4GHZ chips have already been determined to be much faster when compared to 1.3 GHz. So, for the latter, you can expect slow loading of programs because the frequency 1.3 GHz makes it take longer to load programs.

Throughput speeds

Throughput will provide you with information on how much data was transferred from your media streaming device at a given time; bandwidth, on the other hand, will inform you on the amount of data that can be transferred from a specific device at any given time. With the above information at your fingertips, you will be able to know how your network is performing.

And just to give you a tip that will help reduce latency when streaming is that you should close the bandwidth-intensive applications. For the Fire TV stick, if you want to make good use of it, your broadband connection should have a minimum of 3mbps for SD streaming and up to 5mbps for HD. The demands from Apple TV, on the other hand, are a bit high in that you will require up to 25 Mbps to stream 4K.

As regards the throughput speeds of the two devices, the Fire TV stick is a lot better, when streaming standard content as you will only need up to 3mbps while Apple TV demands up to 6Mbit/s for standard HD, but which is good for many applications.

Fire TV Stick vs Apple TV – A Comparison Overview

Fire TV Stick

The one admirable advantage of using the Fire TV Stick is that it can integrate with Alexa, a thing that is quite convenient for the smart homeowners, as they will be able to view the live camera feeds, control their thermostats, lights among other smart home devices. And if you can get the prime membership then you can expect to be provided with interesting entertainment options, which include the best movies, shows, sports and TV events.

If you are a prime member you have the option of adding up to 100+ channels, you will also only pay for the channels that you want and have the option of canceling any time. You can also use your remote with Alexa and all you need to do is to press and voice your commands to request for your favorite music or TV episode.

Pros

• Set up and use is simple
• Incorporated a 90-day limited warranty complete with services
• The remote is effective even when used with Alexa
• No hiccups when it comes to streaming

Cons

• The unit is highly-priced
• Buffs when using the ISP’s free modem

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Apple TV

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If we are to look at Apple TV from a brand perspective then it warrants all the bells and whistles, and true to the above the device does deliver. For one it has been equipped with a processor that is faster when compared to Fire TV stick, the storage space is quite large and you can cache as much content as you want and still be able to enjoy the high-resolution viewing. And if we are to look at pricing when compared to the functionality then we must say that the unit is fairly priced.

Pros

• Easy to use and set up
• Offers great resolution
• Has incorporated more apps when compared to other devices
• No additional downloads needs for viewing Amazon prime and its videos

 Cons

• The remote is not very easy to use
• Not able to connect an external hard drive

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Conclusion

Apple TV is quite bulky when compared to Amazon’s Fire TV stick, which you can neatly attach behind your TV set. So, besides being functional, Apple TV is not all that neat, compact, or portable.

Final Verdict – So which is better? Fire TV stick or Apple TV

Apple TV is the better choice when compared to the Fire TV stick because it comes incorporated with a powerful processor and a large storage space.

FAQ’s

1. Can I use one Fire TV stick for all the TV’s in the house?

No, you will have to get a Fire TV stick for all the TV’s in your house

2. Why is my Apple TV streaming so slow?

If your network is slow then your streaming will definitely become too slow, however, to remedy the above just adjust your video resolution to match the provided network speeds.