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You are here: Home / buying guides / Roku vs Amazon Fire vs Chromecast vs Android TV vs Apple TV

Roku vs Amazon Fire vs Chromecast vs Android TV vs Apple TV

By Bryan Leave a Comment | Last Updated February 18, 2017

So many Streaming Media Players in market and lot of confusion in your mind on which one to go for !!

Although title of post is to compare with Android TV & Apple TV, being costlier & bulky options we shall compare them separately. So I will only be comparing streaming sticks today, not their set-top box counterparts.

Chromecast :

Although I have added here Google Chromecast being pioneer, they sounds to be nowhere in comparison to Roku & Amazon fire TV stick !   Both of these superseding Chromecast performance with menu based user interface &  remote control with voice search engine. Only best thing is that it performs what it is meant for, simply connects to TV & mirrors your mobile screen 🙂 Fastest to connect & simple to use

Roku vs Amazon Fire vs Chromecast vs Android TV vs Apple TV Specifications comparison

Roku

(3600R)

Roku Streaming Stick (3600R) review

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote review

ChromecastAndroid TV

Nvidia Shield

Apple TV
PriceWill compare it separately with TV Boxes

(Here we are talking about Sticks)

 ProcessorQuad-coreDual-core1.2GHz dual ARM Cortex-A7 processor
Memory Unknown1 GB512 MB
StorageUnknown8 GB internal 256MB flash
 Wi-Fi Connectivity802.11ac MIMO wirelessDual-band Wireless802.11 b/g/n/ac
BluetoothYesYesNo
AccessPlease Refer Detailed Table at End of Blog-post
iOS AppYes with voice searchYes with voice searchNoWill compare it separately with TV Boxes

(Here we are talking about Sticks)

Android App
Private listeningYesYes No
Cross-platform searchYesLimitedLimited
Ports HDMI output, Micro USB for power only
Output Resolution 4K UHD 60fps720p & 1080p up to 60fps1080p
Batteries2 AAA2 AAANo
Dimensions0.8″ x 1.6″ x 5.5″3.3″ x 1.0″ x 0.5″dia 2″ x  0.5″
 Amazon Reviews2,11016,116NA1,429NA
Price$35 indicative price only
Warranty1 Year Limited

System Requirements : HD TV Set with HDMI input, WiFi Internet connection.

Based on above specifications comparison (Although some specs like storage & RAM are unknown for Roku) the Roku Streaming Stick have got onto more popularity in less time span over its close rival Amazon TV stick. Roku being powered by a quad-core processor with internals tuned up at their R&D the new Streaming Stick even has more processing power than Amazon Fire TV stick and Chromecast.

So based on my research Roku seems to be the way forward 🙂 What do you say ?

Check for latest price of Roku on Amazon

Access List to Audio & Video Apps through All Streaming Devices [Quick Reference Table]

AppRokuAmazon Fire TVGoogle ChromecastAndroid TV (Nvidia Shield)NEW Apple TVOLD Apple TV
NetflixYesYesCastYesYesYes
Amazon VideoYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabAirPlayAirPlay
YouTubeYesYesCastYesYesYes
HBO NowYesYesCastYesYesYes
Hulu PlusYesYesCastYesYesYes
ShowtimeYesYesCastYesYesYes
Sling TVYesYesCastYesAirPlay MirrorAirPlay Mirror
PlayStation VueNoYesCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
CBS All AccessYesYesCastYesYesYes
VuduYesNoCastCastAirPlay MirrorAirPlay Mirror
StarzNoNoCastCastYesAirPlay
Flixster VideoYesYesCastCastAirPlay MirrorAirPlay Mirror
FandangoNowYesNoCastCastNoNo
CrackleYesYesCastYesYesYes
Pluto TVYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
CrunchyrollYesNoCastYesYesYes
TwitchYesYesCastYesAirPlayAirPlay
VimeoYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
PBSYesYesCastYesYesYes
PBS KidsYesYesCastYesYesYes
BBC iPlayer (UK only)YesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
TV Everywhere (cable subscription required for full access)
Watch ESPNYesYesCastCastYesYes
HBO GoYesYesCastYesYesYes
Showtime AnytimeYesYesCastYesYesYes
Watch Disney ChannelYesYesCastYesYesYes
Watch Disney JuniorYesYesCastYesYesYes
Watch Disney XDYesYesCastYesYesYes
Watch ABCYesYesCastCastYesYes
NBCYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
NickYesNoCastCastYesAirPlay
Nick Jr.YesNoNoNoYesAirPlay
FX NowYesYesCastYesYesYes
Fox NowYesYesCastYesYesYes
USA NowYesNoCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
HistoryYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
A&EYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
LifetimeYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
Watch Travel ChannelYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
Watch HGTVYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
Watch Food NetworkYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
SmithsonianYesYesCastCastYesYes
Nat Geo TVYesNoCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
Starz PlayYesYesCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
Encore PlayYesYesCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
News
CNN GoYesNoCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
ABC NewsYesNoCastCastYesYes
Fox NewsYesYesCast Screen/TabYesAirPlayAirPlay
CBS NewsYesYesCast Screen/TabYesYesYes
NBC NewsYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesAirPlay
CNBCYesNoCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
Sky NewsYesYesNoYesYesYes
Bloomberg TVYesYesCastYesYesYes
TWiTYesYesCastCastYesAirPlay
Sports
MLB.TVYesYesCastYesYesYes
NFLYesNoCastCastYesYes
NBA Game TimeYesYesCastYesYesYes
NHLYesNoCastCastYesYes
Tennis ChannelYesYesCastCastYesYes
WWE NetworkYesYesCast Screen/TabYesYesYes
UFC TVYesYesCastYesYesYes
CBS SportsYesNoCastYesYesYes
Fox Sports GoNoYesCast Screen/TabYesAirPlayAirPlay
NBC SportsYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabYesYes
Music
PandoraYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
SpotifyYesYesCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
RhapsodyNoNoCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
VevoYesYesCastYesYesYes
TuneInYesYesCastYesAirPlayAirPlay
iHeartRadioYesYesCastYesAirPlayAirPlay
Apple MusicNoNoNoNoYesYes
Amazon MusicYesYesCast Screen/TabCast Screen/TabAirPlayAirPlay
Google MusicNoNoCastYesAirPlayAirPlay
Misc
iTunes contentNoNoNoNoYesYes
Google Play Movies and TVYesNoCastYesAirPlay MirrorNo
SlingPlayerYesYesCastCastAirPlayAirPlay
PlexYesYesCastYesYesAirPlay
KodiNoNoCastYesNoNo

Terminology Used in Above Table :

  • Yes : Native App of product
  • No : Official App NA (You may be able to “Side-Load” it)
  • AirPlay : App is available via AirPlay from iPads, iPhones or Macs (Apple TV only)
  • AirPlay Mirror : App is available using the AirPlay screen mirroring function only (Apple TV only)
  • Cast : App is available via “cast” function on an iPad, iPhone or Android device
    (Google’s version of AirPlay; Chromecast and Android TV only)
  • Cast Screen / Tab : App is available when using the “Cast screen/audio” option on the Chromecast app (Android only), or the Google cast extension on a Chrome Web browser (Chromecast and Android TV only).

Related

Filed Under: buying guides Tagged With: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku

Disclosure : Writer has extensive experience of over 25 years in Research & Development. All reviews on this website are based on user reviews & extensive internet research.  He or his team was not compensated for this post by the product owners or promoting this product. Purchase of product is readers own responsibility.
Disclaimer : HowzBuy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

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