When it comes to streaming players, two companies come to mind; Roku and Amazon. Both companies offer very compelling products at hard-to-refuse prices. The cream of the crop from both brands is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ (not to be confused with Roku Streaming Stick 4K or roku streaming stick+) and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max(different from Fire Stick 4K) both announced in 2021 at sub-$60 price points.
Summarily, if you’re already invested into the Amazon ecosystem such as a running Prime subscription or own Alexa-enabled Smart Home devices, and you’re an avid gamer, then the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best option. I would also add that if you live outside of the United States, you’re better off with the Fire TV Stick. But if you live in the U.S, and are subscribed to a number of streaming services that aren’t necessarily Amazon affiliates, then the Roku is undoubtedly the best option.
I have used both Roku TV and Fire TV platforms. I own an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K connected to a Roku TCL Series 4 Smart TV. I tend to prefer Roku products because they are the most platform-neutral option of the two. While Roku has its own streaming channel dubbed the Roku channel, they don’t shove it down your throat. Amazon on the other hand is very upfront about promoting its own streaming platform at the expense of the others. So if you’re an Amazon prime customer, then without a doubt, you benefit more if you went the Fire TV route. Otherwise both support all the popular streaming services including Netflix, Youtube, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Starz, Paramount +, Philo, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and so forth. Also both support Live TV, paid and Ad-sponsored options.
When it comes to hardware and value for money, it’s a question of preference. Both companies have streaming players and even Smart TVs for all pocket sizes. From the Roku camp, the streaming stick with the most maxed out specs is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ released in 2021. This stick plugs straight to your Smart TV’s HDMI port without need of an additional HDMI cable. So it’s very compact but powerful. So you can travel with it in your backpack and use it in a hotel room, doom room or at a friend’s place and still access all your streaming services. The same goes for the recently released Fire TV Stick 4K Max. So, if we are scoring for compactness and portability, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ and Fire TV Stick 4K Max tie.
Now when it comes to audio and picture quality, still both streaming players go head to head. A number of streaming players now support 4K HDR content including Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Sling, and Hulu. Both are 4K streaming players supporting various HDR standards; Dolby Vision, HDR10/10+ and HLG up to 60fp. So you get the most vivid picture with either player. Keep in mind though that your Smart TV must support 4K Ultra HD and the respective HDR standards. But when it comes to audio, the Fire Stick 4K Max edges against the Roku with Dolby Atmos support. The Roku supports Digital stereo and DTS Digital Surround passthrough over HDMI. A combination of Dolby Vision and Atmos which are considered the gold standards in visual and audio picture quality gives the Fire TV Stick 4K Max a considerable advantage.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
$39.95
Available at: Amazon
Buy on AmazonIf you’re an avid gamer, then you should definitely go with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. This stick supports HDMI 2.1 while the Roku supports HDMI 2.0. Now HDMI 2.1 is specifically tuned to support fast-paced gaming. This latest standard comes with improved bandwidth from 18Gbps (HDMI 2.0) to 48Gbps, increased resolution (upto 10K) and frame rate possibilities(upto 120 fps). You also get Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), dynamic HDR which optimizes displayed video on a scene-by-scene or even a frame-by-frame basis, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) which reduces lag and stutter among other features. Amazon also has its own cloud gaming platform called Luna which will work great on its Fire TV Stick.
When it comes to wireless connectivity, again the Fire TV Stick 4K Max gets the upper hand. With WiFi 6 support, the latest generation, the 4K Max edges out against Roku’s Stick 4K+ which supports WiFi 5 instead. WiFi 6 brings faster wireless speeds(upto 9.6 Gbps), less latency by handling large amounts of network traffic more efficiently and better power management. Keep in mind that you’ll need a compatible WiFi 6 router to take full advantage of the benefits of this standard. But with WiFi 5 support, you can’t say that the Roku is in any way inferior. It supports what Roku calls “Long-range Wifi” which includes a long-range wireless receiver that gives you a stronger signal for smooth streaming even in rooms farther from your router. Both lack wired Ethernet options though. You will have to purchase a separate Ethernet adapter if you wish to connect to a wired network.
Still on the wireless connectivity front, Roku players don’t support Bluetooth! I have never understood why Roku has stubbornly refused to include Bluetooth in their products. Bluetooth Audio is pretty much the standard way of listening to music or movies on wireless headphones and True Wireless earbuds and even Soundbars. If you want to quietly watch a movie, you either have to use the Roku mobile smartphone App and pair with your Bluetooth headphones or purchase their premium remotes with private listening. Luckily, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ comes with the Roku Voice Remote Pro which includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and offers voice command support.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max on the other hand supports Bluetooth, so you can pair it with headphones/earbuds/speaker/soundbar and of course comes with Alexa smart assistant. That means you can not only control your TV using your voice, but you can also control smart home devices such as smart bulbs, doorbells, cameras, thermostats, coffee maker and so forth while you binge on your favorite shows.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
$38.00
Available at: Amazon
Buy on AmazonA quick side note to Apple fanboys, all Rokus with the latest software version support Airplay 2.0 and Homekit which the Fire TV doesn’t. That means you can easily stream or cast content such as Apple Music or Apple TV+ movies and shows from your iPhone or iPad to the big screen.
On to price now, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max costs $54.99 $34.99 while the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ goes for $69.99 $49.58. So Amazon’s 4K Max is at least $10 cheaper than its counterpart.
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Ultra HD support | Yes | Yes |
| HDR Support | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 4K, HD | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 4K, HD |
| Audio support | - Digital stereo over HDMI - DTS Digital Surround pass through over HDMI - Supports pass-through of Dolby-encoded audio over HDMI | - Dolby Atmos, -7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 5.1. |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | WiFi 5 (802.11ac dual-band, MIMO Wi-Fi) | WiFi 6(802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) |
| Bluetooth | No | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.0b | HDMI 2.1 |
| Works with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit | Yes | No |
| Voice control | Yes via Roku commands | Yes, with the Alexa Voice Remote (included) or free Fire TV app (available for download on Fire OS, Android, and iOS) |
| Smart assistant Support | Works with Alexa and Hey Google | Works with Alexa |
| Smart home support | Via Apple Homekit | Via Alexa |
| Private listening | Via remote's headphone jack or Roku App | Via Bluetooth pairing |
| Live TV and streaming support | 200+ Live TV channels via Roku Channel and other providers | 400+ Live streaming channels via Fire TV’s live channel guide including services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Philo, Prime Video Channels, Prime Video Live Events. |
| Price | $69.99 | $54.99 |
Bringing this death match to a close, you can tell that Amazon is aggressively going after its competition. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers more hardware specs than the Roku, bringing WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, HDMI 2.1 and Dolby Atmos at a cheaper price. Even then, Roku sticks to its gun offering the most platform-agnostic experience with comparable features at almost the same price range. Ultimately the decision comes to where your loyalty lies.
Pros and Cons of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Roku Streaming Stick 4K+
Pros:
- Platform neutrality: Supports a wide range of streaming services without pushing one over the others.
- Affordable price point: Slightly lower cost compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
- Portable design: Compact and travel-friendly, ideal for on-the-go streaming.
- Roku Voice Remote Pro: Equipped with a headphone jack for private listening.
- Recent software updates: Supports AirPlay 2.0 and HomeKit, making it easier for Apple users to cast content.
- Universal compatibility: Works well with various smart TVs and integrates seamlessly into most setups.
Cons:
- Limited wireless standards: Supports only WiFi 5, not the newer WiFi 6.
- No Bluetooth support: Inability to connect directly to Bluetooth headphones or speakers.
- Fewer advanced features: Lacks HDMI 2.1, Dolby Atmos, and VRR support, which limits gaming and high-end multimedia experiences.
- Wired Ethernet not included: Requires a separate adapter for wired connections, which adds extra cost.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Pros:
- Superior hardware specs: Includes WiFi 6, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.0, and Dolby Atmos support.
- Better for gaming: Supports HDMI 2.1 features like VRR, increased resolution, and higher frame rates.
- Smart home integration: Works seamlessly with Alexa-enabled devices and ecosystem.
- Wireless connectivity: Supports Bluetooth for easy pairing with headphones and speakers.
- Enhanced content ecosystem: Promotes Amazon Prime and integrates easily with Amazon services for a smooth experience.
- Cost-effective: Typically priced lower than or comparable to Roku’s premium model, offering excellent value.
Cons:
- Less platform-neutral: Tends to promote Amazon’s services over competitors’ platforms.
- Larger size: Slightly bulkier, which may impact portability.
- Ecosystem lock-in: Heavy promotion of Amazon services might be less appealing to users invested elsewhere.
- No wired Ethernet included: Same as Roku, users need an external adapter for wired connections.
This side-by-side evaluation of pros and cons helps clarify which device better suits your entertainment priorities—whether you value platform neutrality and portability or cutting-edge hardware features and smart home integration.
Amazon Fire TV Stick, sharp picture quality, fast streaming, free & live TV, Alexa Voice Remote with TV controls
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max streaming device (newest model) supports Wi-Fi 6E, free & live TV without cable or satellite
Google TV Streamer 4K – Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote – Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR – Smart Home Control – 32 GB of Storage – Porcelain
ONN Android TV 4K UHD Streaming Device with Voice Remote Control Google Assistant & High Speed HDMI Cable (100026240) Black
TiVo Stream 4K – Every Streaming App and Live TV on One Screen – 4K UHD, Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos Sound – Powered by Android TV – Plug-In Smart TV, One size
Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen) 4K Ultra HD Streaming Media Player, Google TV Box with 2GB RAM 8GB ROM, 2.4G/5G Dual WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2 & Dolby Audio and DTS-HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Streaming Media Player; 4K HDR, live sports, Dolby Vision-Atmos, AI-enhanced upscaling, GeForce NOW cloud gaming, Google Assistant Built-In, Works with Alexa
NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Pro Streaming Media Player; 4K HDR movies, live sports, Dolby Vision-Atmos, AI-enhanced upscaling, GeForce NOW cloud gaming, Google Assistant Built-In, Works with Alexa
Roku Streaming Stick 4K – HDR & Dolby Vision Roku Streaming Device for TV with Voice Remote & Long-Range Wi-Fi – Free & Live TV
Roku Ultra 2024 – Ultimate Streaming Player – 4K Streaming Device for TV with HDR10+, Dolby Vision & Atmos – Bluetooth & Wi-Fi 6- Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro with Backlit Buttons – Free & Live TV
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi (3rd Generation) with Siri Remote & Apple 1 Year Limited Warranty (64 GB Wi Fi)
H96 Max M9 TV Box Android 14.0 RK3576 8GB RAM 128GB ROM WiFi6 1000M LAN BT5.4 USB3.0 Support AV1 VP9 4K 60fps H.265 HDR Box
About David Okwii
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he's not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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