It’s so hard to choose …
Streaming video boxes just aren’t very exciting anymore. There, I said it. The Apple TV 4K was mostly intriguing because it dramatically lowered the price of 4K content. But most consumers don’t need an expensive streaming box, since most TVs today have a decent selection of built-in apps. That’s why I find cheaper portable video gadgets, like last year’s Roku
Both devices support 4K HDR video and give you access to all of the streaming apps you could want. Plus they integrate voice searching in useful ways. But, of course, there are some major differences between them. And it turns out, picking a winner isn’t very easy.
Amazon Fire TV
Pros
- Features 4K/HDR
- Only $70
- Alexa voice search remote works well
- Fast performance
Cons
- No Dolby Vision HDR
Summary
Amazon’s new Fire TV offers everything the last model was missing. It’s cheap, powerful and finally supports 4K/HDR. If you have an Echo in your home, it’s an especially ideal addition.
Rocku Streaming Stick+
Pros
- Features 4K/HDR
- Only $70
- Fast performance
- Voice search works well
- Portable and works over USB power
Cons
- No Dolby Vision HDR
- No Alexa integration like the Fire TV
Summary
Roku’s Streaming Stick+ packs a lot of features into a small device. It brings together 4K/HDR and speedy performance for just $70. And while it’s not as portable as the cheaper Streaming Stick, it’s still easy to move around.
Source: Engadget
