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I'm sure this is asked about once a week, but I couldn't find anything specific to my main question in the search.
We have an old Amazon Fire TV stick - it's the first generation one from 2015 (IIRC).
We use it to stream Amazon Prime, Disney Plus (we have two young daughters) and the usual iPlayer, ITV hub, All 4, My 5 etc.
The thing that is most annoying is how unresponsive the user interface is. It can take minutes to get from the main menu to something on Disney +, and that feels 4 times as long when there is a 3 and 6 year old shouting at you! 🙂
It's also recently started losing the WiFi connection which takes a reboot to fix.
What should we replace it with? Are the new Fire sticks much snappier? Is the Apple TV worth the extra money? I have other Apple products (Macbook Pro, iPhone) and an iCloud and Apple Music account and don't mind paying extra if it's a better experience. Are the games on Apple Arcade good for kids?
What are the Roku sticks like?
I don't do Google (except at work) due to paranoid privacy concerns (their business model is to sell your data, Apple's and Amazon's is to sell you stuff) so I won't be getting a Chromecast.
We're watching tonnes of TV at the moment, so it'd be good to get something more useable than the current stick. Cheers!
I have had both and the Apple tv box is much better
their business model is to sell your data, Apple’s and Amazon’s is to sell you stuff
I think someone's being a bit naïve; all their business models are to sell your data and sell you stuff.
Anyway, we have a Chromecast. If Google want to know we're watching crap films on Netflix and listening to R6 Music, good for them.
OP - I've just gone through this and replaced v laggy frustrating Gen 1 firestick with their latest firecube. Night and day difference, slick around the menus, 1-2 seconds to start playing something in iplayer, not dropping wifi.
Are the new Fire sticks much snappier?
https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/audio-visual/av-accessories/amazon-fire-tv-stick-1274525/review
"There's no doubt that the Amazon Fire TV Stick is one super speedy device. Scrolling through menus is delightfully quick, and once you find something you want to watch it loads almost instantly (although that does also depend on the speed of your internet connection)."
Roku
Get a new Firestick. And some new kids...
+1 new firestick. Mine doesn't have any of the problems you've reported.
all their business models are to sell your data and sell you stuff
They sell your data to companies who want to sell you stuff. The data itself is worthless unless it can be monitised somehow. Apple just happens to have the stuff too.
Roku! I have a Fire Stick that's a year old and already feels outdated, struggling to start up, load the interface etc.
On tother hand I have a Roku that's 8 years old and still running well.
That said I have no idea how good Apple TV is
Roku has had an issue with BBC streaming recently. It’s said that a reset will cure it but of course you lose all your log ins.
I’ve not tried it yet
It seems like ROKU has the most coverage on apps to me. Prime, Netflix, now TV etc. I don’t think Apple TV does prime or Now I have an older Apple TV and used to be a fanboy but I honestly prefer the ROKU interface. It’s old. A 4200 box not a stick.
It seems like ROKU has the most coverage on apps to me. Prime, Netflix, now TV etc. I don’t think Apple TV does prime or Now I have an older Apple TV
Well the current AppleTV definitely does Prime and NowTV, and my understanding is that it has the widest range of content/apps. Off the top of my head;
Netflix
Amazon Prime
NowTV
BTSport
iPlayer
Disney+
ITV hub
All 4
YouTube (4k coming with next OS update)
Red Bull TV
Vimeo
AppleTV+
Britbox
Eurosport
UKTV
etc.
There's also of course the iTunes store if buying decent films at 4K UHD for as low as £4.99 sounds attractive.
Nice apps from the likes of Plex, Infuse, VLC for playing content off local network/devices.
But I am a fanboy so ignore me 😉
my understanding is that it has the widest range of content/apps.
You'd hope so at quadruple the price of a Fire Stick.
Yeah but Apple TV is £150, Firestick around £20 if you buy it at the right time. You are indeed a fanboys.
Newer fire sticks are definitely nipper than the old ones but still not slick.
I'd probably get a firestick 4k - the performance is noticeably better than the default one. Often in the sale, too. Despite your current one presumably being out of warranty, it might be worth pinging them a note - I've had discounts on new devices before from amazon when an old one has gone bad
Yeah, cost, I know, I wouldn't have posted to be honest but he did say...
I have other Apple products (Macbook Pro, iPhone) and an iCloud and Apple Music account and don’t mind paying extra if it’s a better experience.
If he's in the Apple eco-system, and - dare I say it - used to the high quality experience that gets you, then he's going to get a better experience for his extra money. IMHO natch.
We changed to a newer firestik a few months back as the old one was laggy. Massive difference, much nicer to use
I have Apple TV and it is fast, reliable and lovely user interface, everything you expect from Apple. Nice interface with phone which is great for password sharing etc. It is silly expensive compared to other products on the market, only you can decide if this slickness justifies the cost.
The remote control though has been designed to be like a stealth ninja at disappearing into gaps in sofa cushions. You may have any instant responsive device but every session starts with at least 1 minutes of searching for the remote. It’s also not as portable so if you travel or holiday a lot and want to take something with you a stick type device might be better
If he’s in the Apple eco-system, and – dare I say it – used to the high quality experience that gets you, then he’s going to get a better experience for his extra money. IMHO natch.
High quality experience? It’s some menus. You’re going to get a prettier interface for quadruple the cost. Firestick or Roku and spend the difference on a faberge egg or something.
As others have said, the newer firesticks (we have the 4K one) are a lot quicker than the old one, and the UI is every bit as quick as an Apple TV. Our old 1st gen one is relegated to daughter’s room and we have the same frustrations with slowness and flaky Wi-Fi. Just trying to hold out to Black Friday or a similar price drop to replace it.
We also have an Apple TV 4K in the garage, mostly for Zwift but also used for streaming or YouTube sometimes. I probably haven’t used it to it’s full capabilities but unless you want it for a specific app like Zwift or nowTV (which wasn’t on fire stick last time I checked) then I don’t think it’s worth the extra.
If you do decide to go Apple TV, you can save a bit of money getting a refurb from here:
https://shop.bt.com/products/apple-tv-4k-32gb---grade-b-stock-mqd22b-a-grade-b-FKPN.html
That Firestick Cube I mentioned is more spendy but has more processing/memory than the sticks.
Another Roku advocate here. Yes there was a problem with iplayer recently but the reset and 10 mins logging back in to everything solved it, only All4 has been a problem and that's a rubbish app on any device anyway
I have a firestick and chromecast too and barely ever use them, occasionally to cast from the ESPN or NFL phone apps
If my TV wasn't still ticking along nicely i'd be tempted by the roku tv
@stevious I got mine from there. It was brand new, sealed with just a couple of scratches on the cardboard box 👍
Roku (as long as it's one without the infra red remote, if they are even still available)