Roku Stick Vs Fire Tv Stick- How Do The Media Players Compare?

The advantage of using media streamers is that you can delete or ignore a channel that doesn’t interest you, and the advantage of deleting is that you create space for other more interesting content and you also enjoy seamless streaming.

Roku and the Fire TV stick are media streamers that took over the entertainment industry over 10years ago, the units are similar in many ways and stream effectively for as long as you have a strong internet connection. The advanced units come incorporated with a remote which you can use to operate with your television set.

Ever wondered what the future of streaming devices would look like, well we might say that the future is already here because people wanted a portable streaming device that they can take to the cabin or a trip. Both Roku and the Fire TV stick are, therefore, portable devices that you can take with you on your adventure; you only need to ensure that you have a reliable internet connection.

And now that the media players are portable, we are waiting for the developers to give us a unit that we can use on our tablets to stream the same breadth of content and applications.

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

Model	Roku Stick	Fire TV Stick
Processor capacity	ARM Cortex A7 quad-core 800 MHz	Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz
Storage	256mb	8GB
RAM	512mb	1GB
Throughput Speeds	3.0mbps for SD 9.0mbps for HD	7-10mbps for HD
Ports	Micro USB port	Ethernet port, USB port, micro SD slot
Availability	Check Price Here	Check Price Here

 Roku Stick Vs Fire Tv Stick – How do they compare?

Speed and performance

The right internet speeds enhance the performance of a media streaming device, but there are other factors that come into play that could affect your WIFI signals. Media streaming devices in the home depend on routers for internet connectivity but if you have other devices connected to the same network and engaging the bandwidth-intensive applications then your streaming will be affected.

Additionally, if your router is not within a clear sight of view with the media streaming device the signals will be affected and so will your streaming. A streaming device storage space also contributes to the unit’s performance and if you have a small storage space then best you brace for issues such as freezing and lag.

Both the Roku and Fire Tv stick feature decent throughput speeds, but the Fire TV stick seems to be faster at least when compared to the Roku streaming stick and even has a large storage space complete with a powerful quadcore processing unit.

Build and Design

The first noticeable difference between the Roku streaming stick and the Amazon Fire TV stick is their sizes, Roku is smaller, while Amazon’s is a bit bigger to the point of looking more traditional. A compact media streaming device, therefore, is not only effective when used behind your TV that is hung on the wall but should also be convenient whenever you want to travel in which case the Roku media streamer turns out as the better option.

There is also some notable difference between the remote units that come with the media streamers, Amazon Firestick remote is quite attractive and sophisticated we must say, thanks to the thoughtful combination of the shiny and matte black finish. The remote has not incorporated any type of wordings but the symbols on the buttons are self-explanatory and responsive.

Roku remote is highly functional first because of the voice option and second because you can use it for private listening, the build and design of the Roku remote looks traditional, however, the writings are appreciated by many users who don’t want to go through the manual. So if we are to consider ease of use by all categories of people then the Roku remote takes the win.

Wired Connectivity

The security and convenience of wired connections has always been preferred over wireless connectivity. And as usual, the developers at Amazon thought it wise to equip the Fire TV stick with enough wired features to help enhance performance and which have consequently given the unit a better competitive edge when compared to the Roku Stick.

You will, therefore, be provided with an Ethernet port for enhanced internet speeds, and a USB port, that equips your unit with 500MA in power. Other important incorporations are the micro SD slot meant to expand your internal memory; the Roku streaming stick, on the other hand, does not have many wired connections apart from the micro USB port.

Roku stick vs Fire TV stick- A Comparison Overview

Roku Stick

The convenience of the Roku stick in any home is that it eliminates the need for a separate remote, the media player has also gained relevance as a 4K streaming device while conforming to the latest wireless standards. Roku stick is small in size thus convenient for those who wish to take their entertainment with them just don’t forget to carry your remote with you.

So why else do we love this media player, well the Roku streaming stick retails at a rather fair price and features an intuitive interface; if you, however, don’t feel like browsing through the many channels, you can use Amazon Alexa to control your Roku but through the Amazon Echo. And away from Amazon, Roku users will be provided with a free mobile application that they can integrate with their android or IOS devices.

Pros 

• Minimizes noise through private listening
• The powerful quad-core processor enhances the unit’s performance
• Allows hands-free control via Alexa voice
• Comes with a clearly labeled easy to use remote

Cons

• Users complain of an irresponsive remote control
• Remote is not convenient for the long term

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Fire TV Stick

Amazon Fire TV stick furnishes its users with thousands of channels including the most relevant ones such as Disney+, Netflix, and Apple TV. And when it comes to the hands-free option the unit becomes much more functional as you can connect it to the smart devices in your home such as the cameras and have the live feeds of the connected rooms delivered to you.

For the sports and reality show lovers, you can subscribe to HULU, YouTube TV, or sling and engage the varied content.

Pros

• Can integrate with your smart home
• Set up and use is pretty simple
• Has a large storage space for games and applications
• Allows voice control

Cons

• Firestick has problems integrating with the universal controller
• The interface pushes a lot of the Amazon products

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Conclusion

Both Roku and Fire TV sticks offer decent streaming speeds but when it comes down to functionality it will depend on your usage; the reason for the above is because Roku’s processor is not as powerful and it also has a small storage space.

Final Verdict- so which is better? Roku Stick or the Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TbV Stick is the better unit because apart from the 8GB storage users have the option of using the micro SD slot to expand their internal memory, the unit is additionally highly functional, thanks to the high processing capacity.

FAQ’s

1. How do I improve the streaming quality of my Roku stick?

There are several things that you can do, from changing the location of your router to changing the wireless channel.

2. Is it possible to travel with my Firestick?

Yes you can take your Fire Stick with you, and connect it to the television set of your destination