Before there was any talk of Roku vs Amazon Fire, we compared things like plasma vs, digital or the Playstation vs. the Nintendo 64. There was once a time when television guides were incredibly resourceful. We would keep track of the time and be prepared to sit back for our favorite TV shows.
Now we have robots that clean our houses and smart gadgets like the Alexa devices. Even watching TV has a whole new meaning. People no longer have to wait for their entertainment. They can go to their favorite streaming platform and watch what they want, when they want. We are now in complete control of television.
As expected, there are a number of companies competing for the best streaming device and platform. We aren’t going to dive into all of them, but we will look at two of the biggest devices on the market: Roku vs. Amazon Fire.
A rundown of the capabilities of Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV 4K, Amazon Fire 7 vs Roku
Amazon Fire and Roku both come in different versions, with Amazon starting at $39 for its portable Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Roku starting at $29 for its Roku Express.
Examining the two stick versions of each other, both are highly capable devices. Up to 1080p is supported in both streaming sticks, and both provide similar streaming apps. The speed of processes is also identical as both sticks boast a quad-core processor with dual-band wi-fi connectivity. When Amazon Prime is not in consideration, the two are largely similar to each other.
The only key difference might be the price. The Roku Streaming Stick is slightly more expensive at $49.99 on Roku’s homepage, while Amazon’s Fire Stick is $39.99.
Amazon’s Fire Stick and Roku Streaming Stick are essentially the same, but Amazon Fire Stick is cheaper. (August 2017)
Roku Ultra vs. Amazon Fire TV
Now let’s tackle the big boys. The top model for Roku is the Roku Ultra, coming in at $109 on their homepage. Amazon’s answer to that is the Amazon Fire TV, priced at $89.99. Both are streaming boxes, and both pack a punch.
Right out of the box, the Roku Ultra and Amazon Fire are equipped with exceptional quad-core processors. They both support 4K UHD and Dolby Audio. The two boxes come with USB and microSD ports to allow for extra memory if needed.
The Roku Ultra has the upper hand in terms of video quality, as it supports HDR whereas the Amazon Fire TV does not. The Roku Ultra’s remote also has a headphone jack for independent viewing, but Amazon’s remote does not.
On the flip side, the Amazon Fire TV remote comes paired with Alexa, one of the most dependable smart assistants available. Amazon’s remote is also much more sleek and clean; some might find the Roku remote to be a little cluttered.
Roku Ultra has better video quality and a headphone jack. Amazon Fire TV has Alexa and a better remote control.
Which interface is better, Roku vs Amazon Fire?
Amazon Fire’s interface is reminiscent of Netflix, with tiles flaunting the main attractions and a menu on the right side of the screen. Roku’s is similar, the only main difference being the excessive use of what seems to be the brand’s favorite color, purple.
Amazon Fire gives off a cleaner, more modern feel than Roku. It isn’t just the color, but Amazon Fire’s design layout of the tiles and the font also tidy up the screen better than Roku does.
Roku vs. Amazon Fire TV – which is better? Our choice is Amazon Fire TV
Personally, Amazon Fire TV sits on top for me. The design of the remote and software is minimalistic and smooth, and beats out Roku in terms of usability.
Roku takes the cake for streaming quality, but 4K is already more than great, and we’re sure Amazon will be upgrading that shortly.
Above all, the Amazon Fire TV is cheaper as of August 2017. It also supports Amazon Prime features and comes with Alexa. The cheaper price tag and the sacrifice of UHD is not a huge price to pay, in our opinion. So when it comes to Roku vs Amazon Fire, Amazon Fire takes the trophy.