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
| Amazon Fire TV Stick
| Chromecast | Android TVNvidia Shield | Apple TV | |
| Price | Will compare it separately with TV Boxes (Here we are talking about Sticks) | ||||
| Processor | Quad-core | Dual-core | 1.2GHz dual ARM Cortex-A7 processor | ||
| Memory | Unknown | 1 GB | 512 MB | ||
| Storage | Unknown | 8 GB internal | 256MB flash | ||
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | 802.11ac MIMO wireless | Dual-band Wireless | 802.11 b/g/n/ac | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Access | Please Refer Detailed Table at End of Blog-post | ||||
| iOS App | Yes with voice search | Yes with voice search | No | Will compare it separately with TV Boxes (Here we are talking about Sticks) | |
| Android App | |||||
| Private listening | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Cross-platform search | Yes | Limited | Limited | ||
| Ports | HDMI output, Micro USB for power only | ||||
| Output Resolution | 4K UHD 60fps | 720p & 1080p up to 60fps | 1080p | ||
| Batteries | 2 AAA | 2 AAA | No | ||
| Dimensions | 0.8″ x 1.6″ x 5.5″ | 3.3″ x 1.0″ x 0.5″ | dia 2″ x 0.5″ | ||
| Amazon Reviews | 2,110 | 16,116 | NA | 1,429 | NA |
| Price | $35 indicative price only | ||||
| Warranty | 1 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]
| App | Roku | Amazon Fire TV | Google Chromecast | Android TV (Nvidia Shield) | NEW Apple TV | OLD Apple TV |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Video | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HBO Now | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu Plus | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Showtime | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sling TV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | AirPlay Mirror | AirPlay Mirror |
| PlayStation Vue | No | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| CBS All Access | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vudu | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | AirPlay Mirror | AirPlay Mirror |
| Starz | No | No | Cast | Cast | Yes | AirPlay |
| Flixster Video | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay Mirror | AirPlay Mirror |
| FandangoNow | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | No | No |
| Crackle | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pluto TV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Crunchyroll | Yes | No | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Twitch | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Vimeo | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| PBS | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PBS Kids | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer (UK only) | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| TV Everywhere (cable subscription required for full access) | ||||||
| Watch ESPN | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| HBO Go | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Showtime Anytime | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watch Disney Channel | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watch Disney Junior | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watch Disney XD | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Watch ABC | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Nick | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | Yes | AirPlay |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | AirPlay |
| FX Now | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Now | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USA Now | Yes | No | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| A&E | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Watch Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Watch HGTV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Watch Food Network | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Smithsonian | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| Nat Geo TV | Yes | No | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Starz Play | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Encore Play | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| News | ||||||
| CNN Go | Yes | No | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| ABC News | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| Fox News | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| CBS News | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC News | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | AirPlay |
| CNBC | Yes | No | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Sky News | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bloomberg TV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TWiT | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | Yes | AirPlay |
| Sports | ||||||
| MLB.TV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NFL | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| NBA Game Time | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NHL | Yes | No | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| Tennis Channel | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | Yes | Yes |
| WWE Network | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UFC TV | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS Sports | Yes | No | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Sports Go | No | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| NBC Sports | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | Yes | Yes |
| Music | ||||||
| Pandora | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Spotify | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Rhapsody | No | No | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Vevo | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TuneIn | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| iHeartRadio | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Apple Music | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Music | Yes | Yes | Cast Screen/Tab | Cast Screen/Tab | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Google Music | No | No | Cast | Yes | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Misc | ||||||
| iTunes content | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Google Play Movies and TV | Yes | No | Cast | Yes | AirPlay Mirror | No |
| SlingPlayer | Yes | Yes | Cast | Cast | AirPlay | AirPlay |
| Plex | Yes | Yes | Cast | Yes | Yes | AirPlay |
| Kodi | No | No | Cast | Yes | No | No |
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).
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