Digital Streaming devices are a cost-effective tool to watch online contents directly on the home. There are various streaming devices available in the platform, and among them, the most popular ones are the Amazon Firestick and Roku. These are the full-featured streaming device to watch movies, TV shows, Live TV and on-demand contents over the internet. One can stream live TV and other media contents in full HD quality with better sound effects. In Firestick, there is an option to side-load third-party apps, but on Roku, there is no way to install third-party apps within it. You can access only its native apps available on the Roku channel store. Likewise, both the devices come with different features and functions, so let we see which one is the best by comparing Amazon Firestick vs Roku.
Important Message
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What is Amazon Firestick?
Amazon Firestick is the streaming media player that is shaped like a small USB flash drive. It is a fully-featured streaming device designed with external storage. You can access all its supported apps and games over the internet. Firestick supports most of the android apps because it runs on Android OS. It is a handy tool, and you can take it with you while travelling and watch all your favourite content anywhere you want.
What is Roku?
Roku is a media streaming device that runs on Roku OS. Roku Stick is a small device which is connected to the TV. You can stream various media contents from thousands of streaming services over the internet on your big screen. It is designed with very low storage space, but you can increase the storage by using a micro SD card. You can stream various media contents, live TV channels and on-demand content on Roku streaming player.
Read also: Amazon Firestick vs Fire TV
Amazon Firestick Vs Roku
Here are some the important categories to be considered before buying a streaming device.
Price
Both Firestick and Roku are available at a very affordable price. Where the basic version of Firestick costs $39.99 and the Firestick 4K costs $50. There is no monthly cost, and but you need to pay for your Amazon Prime cost to activate your Prime account.
Roku streaming stick cost $49.99, which includes Roku premium, the basic Roku express cost $29.99. There is no monthly cost, and it offers free streaming with ad-supported contents.
Set up
Amazon Firestick and Roku have a simple setup process. Both the devices have to be plugged into the HDMI port on the TV and connect to the network to access it on the TV screen.
To set up a Firestick, you need to enter your Amazon account login credentials. But no account login required to set up Roku on your TV.
Remote Control
Amazon provides the remote control device along with the Firestick purchase. The latest version of Firestick remote support Alexa Voice feature. You can do all the functions like play, pause, search for streaming titles and many more with the Alexa Voice Command. Recently Amazon launched the smartphone remote app called Fire TV, by installing this app, you can use your smartphone as a Remote control.
Roku offers remote control along with its purchase. No set up is required to use your Roku remote. Roku remote is provided with same firestick remote buttons, in addition to this, it contains shortcut buttons for instant access. The latest version of Roku players (Roku Premiere+, Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Ultra) comes with a voice remote. Like Amazon, Roku also launched its mobile app, and you can use this app as Roku voice remote to search for streaming titles, play, rewind and many more.
Home Interface
Firestick comes with user-friendly interface with six primary menu option like Search, Home, Your Videos, Movies, TV Shows, Apps and Settings. All its apps are organised in rows. If you want to see all your installed apps, navigate to app section, or scroll to the right and click View all, it will display all your installed apps.
Roku is provided with a customizable user interface with all the list apps installed on your device. You can create a separate group for all the third party add-ons for your instant access. Roku menu options and the visuals are shown on the left side.
Device Storage
Both the streaming devices come with internal storage. The Firestick comes with 8 GB storage. Amazon offers free cloud storage along with any content purchased from Amazon. To get additional storage, connect an external device to Firestick through OTG cable.
Roku stick also comes with 256 MB storage capacity, it very low when compared to Firestick. You need to use Micro SD Card to extend your memory storage.
Streaming Resolution
The Firestick supports different media streaming, and picture qualities include 480p, 720p and 1080p. The Firestick 4K supports all the high-quality resolutions includes 720p, 1080p, 2160p and 4K Ultra HD. The picture quality includes HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and this feature is supported only on Ultra HD TV.
Roku supports all the HD resolution includes 480p, 480i and 720p. If you want to stream Roku contents in 4K UHD and HDR10+, these resolutions are supported by Roku Ultra, Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+ and Roku Streaming Stick +.
Audio Support
Firestick and Firestick 4K supports Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound and HDMI audio pass-through up to 7.1 sound quality which delivers crystal clear sound.
Roku supports various digital audio supports includes Dolby Audio, HDMI, DTS Digital Surround and even supports various audio formats like MP3, WMA, WAV, AIFF and many more.
Screen Mirroring
You can mirror your phone, tablets and windows screen to the Firestick connected TV. No app is required to mirror your android mobile or tablet and windows to your Firestick. But you need to install a casting or mirroring app when you want to cast, or mirror contents from your iPhone or iPad.
Roku also supports screen mirroring. It is built with the Miracast technology to share screen. This feature is supported by Android and Windows. You cannot mirror or cast your iPhone or any other iOS device to Roku connected TV.
To Conclude
Both Amazon Firestick and Roku are the best streaming devices at an affordable cost. Both devices support most of the features. These two streaming devices support various third-party streaming apps and games. It is slightly difficult to choose between Amazon Firestick vs Roku. One advantage of using Firestick is installing third-party apps, which is not possible on Roku. We hope that the above points are enough for you to choose between Firestick or Roku. You are advised to use any VPN services on your streaming devices to safeguard your streaming data and personal information.