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1. #Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 update#
2. #Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 android#
3. #Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 tv#
4. #Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 download#

Winner: Roku Premiere+, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (tie) Search Caleb Denison/Digital Trends While that does technically put it behind the other devices, as long as you’re comfortable with your casting device of choice, Chromecast is incredibly simple. Instead, you will be navigating apps and content libraries through your phone, tablet, or PC. While we generally prefer the service-agnostic Roku interface, Amazon uses Alexa for all sorts of voice-control functions that Roku can’t compete with, though Roku does support rudimentary voice-activated requests through any separate Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices you may have.įor its part, Chromecast does have decent functionality via the Home app, but it doesn’t really have a traditional user interface, per se. The Roku interface is extremely user-friendly - some might even call it “bubbly” or “boring” - whereas the Amazon Fire TV interface has a little more techno-flash, yet is still very able to take care of business. As we’ve now come to use both the Roku and Fire TV interfaces regularly, this has become a tough call to make. We’ve owned one Roku device or another for the last several years but also have put some serious time into testing Fire TV set-top boxes and streaming sticks. Winner: Roku Premiere+, Roku Streaming Stick+ User interface Riley Young/Digital Trends This announcement notwithstanding, Roku is still king of the app mountain.

#Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 download#

Conversely and perhaps more importantly, you can now download the YouTube app on Amazon Fire TV.

#Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 update#

Speaking of making that choice, Amazon and Google recently ended their feud over video services, and the latest update to the Amazon Prime Video app now supports Chromecast natively.

#Chromecast vs roku vs firestick 2017 android#

The good news is that, unlike Roku and Amazon Fire TV, any Android or iOS app can be Cast-enabled if the developer chooses, making for an ever-growing selection.

You can also use the official Roku app to select content on your smartphone.Ĭhromecast apps (“Cast Enabled” apps) also number in the thousands now, but support for the casting platform between PC, Android, and iOS devices varies, which can be frustrating. When it comes to the sheer number of available apps (not counting games), the Roku devices, with access to thousands of apps (or channels, as Roku calls them), win by a landslide. Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K App library Caleb Denison/Digital Trends Amazon recently dropped support for its own game controller in newer models, but you’ll find third-party solutions if you really want to get your game on with your Fire TV Stick 4K. Most are multiplayer party titles such as Risk, Scrabble, and Monopoly. Chromecast’s games are fine, but you won’t find much to please the console crowd.

These games are highly appealing to casual gamers and represent more than just a novelty. Sure, the Roku devices will let you play Angry Birds and a handful of other cute games, but the Fire TV Stick 4K has access to a huge library of more advanced titles (like Machinarium and Minecraft). Winner: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Games Dan Baker/Digital Trends As of our most recent update, that would be the Roku Premiere+ and the Fire TV Stick 4K, but as the Fire TV Stick 4K packs a bit more punch, that is our pick.

Well, technology moves fast, so the winner in this category is generally the most recently released product. Winner: Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra Processing power It’s not that the other options here are complex - in fact, they’re all quite manageable, and some of you may get along better with the traditional remote-powered user interfaces you’re likely already used to - but the Chromecast takes the top spot here for overall intuitiveness. That includes any content you can put on a Chrome browser window, i.e., anything on the web. Find what you want to watch or listen to on your personal device, “cast” it at the Chromecast with the tap of a button and, voilà, it’s on your TV. Chromecast devices leave all the smarts to your mobile device, simply acting as a conduit through which your TV can access content. Since Chromecasts use your mobile device or computer to “cast” content to your TV, they’re devoid of a traditional menu-based user interface, a remote control, and onboard storage. In fact, in a world of smart devices, the Chromecast is perhaps the dumbest of them all.īut when it comes to simplicity and ease of use, that’s a very good thing. Ease of useĮven though they let you access the same content, the Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra function quite differently than the other devices on this list. Looking to up your entertainment game on a budget? Be sure to check out the best Roku deals and best 4K TV sales available now. The good news is that we’ve reviewed all the options for you, and categorized them by how user-friendly these products are, their processing power, games, video quality, and other important factors that can influence which product you end up purchasing.