Roku or Firestick?

In My Humble Opinion
41

The Chromcast option may be little confusing because there are two separate classes of Chromecast devices:

  1. “Chromecast”: The original device made by Google. This only allows you to cast/mirror content from your phone/computer to the TV. The Chromecast itself doesn’t have apps or anything. It just allows video from your phone/computer to show up on the TV. You have to use your phone/laptop to control the Chromecast.

  2. “Chromecast with Google TV”: This is a typical streaming device like Roku and Firestick. You install apps on it and use a remote to control it. It can also do casting like a normal Chromecast.

We have a TV with built-in “Chromecast with Google TV”. The interface is nice for a TV-viewing experience. It has integration with various major apps and can show some of their content right on the home screen. Like with Netflix, it shows the Netflix app and to the right a row of a few of your Netflix shows. YouTube has a row of videos you’ve watched. They have a “Recently Viewed” row which has a row of videos from various apps you’ve watched. It’s good for being able to turn on the TV and jump right into the show you want. Other devices like Roku and Firestick require you to launch the app and navigate within the app to get to the video.

42

You don’t need a firestick to use amazon video anymore. I use a chromecast and enjoy it. I would use Roku if I felt I needed something on it. Considering Roku has an app, I bet that works with a chromecast too.

43

Understood.

44

One feature I particularly like on the remote for my newer Roku (purchased about 6 months ago) is a microphone for voice search. I can start a search, say the name of the show I am looking for, and the Roku will quickly pop up a listing for any streaming service(s) to which I subscribe where the show is available. If more than one streamer has the show, I pick which one to watch, and it jumps to that streaming channel and starts the chosen show. The remote also has the above-mentioned headphone jack, RF capability, and dedicated buttons for particular streaming services.
Disclaimer: I own a couple of Roku devices (the old one seems really slow compared to the new one), and have never used a Fire stick.