And not just built-in Alexa - any Alexa-enabled device in your house can control the Fire TV, like an Amazon Echo or Sonos One. But the Fire TV’s real ace in the hole is Alexa. Outside of Apps, the Fire TV offers mobile-style games, and there are some pretty good ones, worth playing if you get the dedicated gaming controller, sold separately. To Alexa or not to Alexa: Some searches are smarter than others Some dubious looking third-party ones exist, but we haven’t tested them, so we can’t comment on their performance. Also, since we brought up web browsers with the Fire TV, it’s worth pointing out the Roku doesn’t feature officially supported browser apps. Maybe that is because we have been using Roku for several years now, but the apps, too, can be a little behind the curve. ![]() On the Roku side, you get the same grid-like layout Roku has been using for years, and while it is extremely easy to use and customize - you can relocate apps anywhere you want - the interface is starting to feel a little dated. We’ll be sure to update once we’ve had time with them. While Amazon and Mozilla claim both offer the full web experience, the same as you would find on desktop or mobile, we have yet to test them - and TV web browsers have a history of inconsistency. The Fire TV also includes a couple of web browsers, Mozilla Firefox and Amazon Silk. You do get the latest version of apps with Fire TV these days, which is a step up from when the device debuted a couple of years ago. You have to do a bit of extra clicking to get to Netflix and other apps, but they are there, and the quality of those apps is strong. You’ll notice in our video, though, that what you see most prominently is stuff Amazon wants you to watch through its streaming service. It feels modern and sleek, partly because the graphics are beautiful to look at. ![]() The Fire TV interface is a polished product. Perhaps the most impactful differences between these devices are in their on-screen interfaces. The Streaming Stick+ auto-detects your TV’s IR sensor and controls power and volume, which may mean you can ditch your TV remote for those times when you just want to Netflix and Chill. Both remotes have voice control buttons – we’ll get to that later – and both have cursor controls, but the Roku adds hotkeys to popular streaming apps for quick access, and then there are the all-new power and volume keys. Taking a look at the remote controls, there are some obvious differences. We suggest using double-sided tape or Velcro to affix the device to the back of the TV, just to be on the smart side. This has some advantages as it will be easy to plug in to most televisions, but a potential drawback to this design is that it can put stress on some HDMI ports due to its weight. ![]() We call the Amazon Fire TV a dongle because, well, it dangles. Let’s first take a look at the devices themselves. In the end, the question we really want to help answer is: Which one is right for you? From user interfaces to voice control, right down to the remote, each of these devices has a slew of distinct special features to offer. From there, the similarities end, and the differences begin. We’re comparing these two streamers because they both cost $70, offer 4K HDR video, and stream content from all of the most popular apps, and then some. We’re pitting the new Amazon Fire TV against the Roku Streaming Stick+. It’s a streaming stick swordfight! Or is it a dongle duel to the death? Actually, it’s a little of both.
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