Roku Streaming Stick Vs Apple Tv- Which is the Better media player

Streaming media players such as Roku and Apple TV are slowly getting rid of the cable subscriptions and can, therefore, be used on television or the home theater systems then to WIFI, which then enables music and videos to stream from the different online service provider’s platforms.

Many people are yet to cut the cord and venture into the world of media streaming, yet the media players come with varied benefits and features. For example, media streaming slashes the cost of enjoying most programs by almost half since they do run some of the channels and shows for free. Additionally, on-demand programs are best accessed on the media streamers when compared to satellite or cable TV.

Roku streaming stick and the Apple TV are media streamers with unique strengths and weaknesses, Roku devices, for example, are versatile and will, therefore, provide content from Amazon, Apple, and Google; the units are believed to also contain applications from the above-mentioned service providers. We will, therefore, breakdown the features and functionalities of both the Roku streaming stick and the Apple TV to determine which of the two offers value for money.

What are the differences between the Roku Streaming Stick vs the Apple TV?

Roku Streaming Stick vs. Apple TV- How do they compare?

Storage Capacity

From the information in the table above Apple TV has a larger storage capacity when compared to Roku streaming stick, important to note is that there are two types of Apple TV, the Apple TV HD and the Apple TV 4K, the latter has packed up to 32/64GB, while the former only has 32GB. Each of the two Apple devices performs differently so you might want to be keen to know which device you are using.

However, the storage space on Apple TV can only be used for applications and their data, there are, therefore, some applications that can be used to download movies but don’t expect to download movies from applications such as Amazon Prime or Netflix. Now the advantage of large storage space on Apple TV is because it gives users the option to cache content on the flash storage to use later, more especially if they have low bandwidth.

So while you will use your Roku streaming stick to only stream content, the Apple TV offers lots of storage space with which you can cache content and retrieve later.

Build and Design

We could say that we are disappointed with the build of the Apple TV but then if you look at the back of the unit it has incorporated varied connectivity options, the most relevant one being the Ethernet port with which you can use to access faster and stronger internet signals. The build and design of the Apple TV is, therefore, convenient for use just beside your TV because if it were to go behind the TV set hung on the wall then positioning wouldn’t be too practical.

The build and design of the Roku streaming stick, on the other hand, is very practical in terms of positioning because this particular unit is rather compact and portable. The unit can, therefore, disappear behind your TV depending on the positioning of the connectivity ports in your TV set. So, each of these units builds and design serves a specific purpose, the Roku streaming stick build is, however, more functional, first because it is portable and does not call for too many wires before it becomes fully operational.

Speed and Performance

The speed with which information is relayed to a user using the Apple TV is way faster than what Roku streaming stick offers, and when it comes to performance Apple Tv is the best because users will be treated to about 40% greater CPU performance and about 50% better graphic performance. The same cannot be said for the Roku streaming stick but the fact that it has incorporated a quadcore processor means that it is not badly off, however, we do know that MHZ has a slower clock speed.

Roku Streaming Stick vs Apple TV- A Comparison Overview

Roku Streaming Stick

Roku Streaming Stick (3600R) - HD Streaming Player with Quad-Core Processor

• Powerful quad core processor & best wireless performance
• Brilliant 4k, HDR, and HD streaming

Check Price

The first thing that you should know about the Roku media streaming stick is that it doesn’t stream in Dolby vision however, the incorporated 500,000+ movies and TV episodes will be transmitted to your screen fast and in good video quality. The Accompanying remote control can substitute your TV’s remote, additionally, the streaming stick supports 4K and HDR and conforms to the latest wireless standard.

Another good thing about this unit is that the remote can integrate with Alexa, thus users can use the voice command option to retrieve content from the streamer. The unit is also compact and portable and you can, therefore, take it with you while traveling just don’t leave the remote behind.

Pros

• Set up and use of the media player is pretty easy
• The interface is intuitive when it comes to navigation
• Offers the best 4K, HDR and HD streaming
• Offers a hands-free alternative via Alexa Voice

Cons

• Software updates take longer to update
• The remote is not very responsive during use

View Price on Amazon

Apple TV

It is not entirely possible to compare the Apple TV to Roku, however, the latter does come at a fair price for basic use. So if you are willing to settle with the Apple TV then you can expect to get value for your money. For one is that you will get Dolby Vision support from the unit, you can also expect to be provided with the best 4K HDR movies.

Another interesting fact is that for as much as you will use your Roku streaming remote to control your TV, the Apple TV allows you to use your phone to control your TV and you will also get better content than the ones offered through cable subscriptions.

Pros

• Set up is fast and easy
• Users are provided with many channels
• Offers improved image quality
• There is a lot of free content on Apple TV

Cons

• Set up with the remote is a learning curve
• Access to some of the applications is limited

View Price on Amazon

Conclusion

If you want Dolby vision then you will have to put your hand deeper into your pocket for the Apple TV but if you are not a fan of Dolby then the Roku streaming stick will suffice just fine.

Final Verdict – so which is better? The Roku Streaming Stick or the Apple TV

Apple TV is the better media streamer because it allows users to connect to the internet via the Ethernet port, offers faster throughput speeds, and has a large storage space where users can cache content.

FAQ’s

1. Is it possible to improve the Roku streaming quality?

If you are experiencing a low streaming quality, the first thing to do is to check on your wireless signal strength or use an HDMI extender.

2. Is it possible to use Apple TV with other non-Apple products?

Apple TV+ is available on some of the Samsung smart TV’s Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.