Roku or Amazon Fire stick?

**Chris** · 13-07-2021, 16:09

I’ve just plugged our Amazon Fire stick into the TV at our holiday flat and found it is running interminably slowly. It has been attached to the TV in the spare room at home and I haven’t used it myself in quite some time. I’m assuming it has been updated into obsolescence by Amazon and is struggling with newer software that it can’t cope with.

Fortunately, a member of the family has left a Roku Express player down here - just the basic one, so it lacks the voice remote or 4K support but so far I’m impressed with how straightforward it is, and that it doesn’t push its own content as hard as Amazon does.

I’m resigned to having to replace the Fire stick when we get home, as it is now barely functional. While I am very tempted to get a Roku instead, I’m curious whether anyone else has any input before I buy? Are there any hidden pitfalls with the Roku that I might have missed?

Jaymoss · 13-07-2021, 16:13

It is all down to what you want to use it for. If the Roku provides all the content you need then great but the Fire devices can run most standard apks meaning more content and games and so on.

Firestick tip if you tend to run a lot of different apps go into settings and stop the ones you are not using otherwise they all just keep running slowing it down

As you said they also push all things amazon but I install adguard and do not get many on tin the menus and it blocks a good few when using Silk too

**Chris** · 13-07-2021, 16:22

We have one purely for smartening dumb TVs, like the one in the spare room at home, or if we use our own holiday flat or an Airbnb. I’m not worried about the game content, side loading or any of the other crud people like doing with these things.

Jaymoss · 13-07-2021, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

We have one purely for smartening dumb TVs, like the one in the spare room at home, or if we use our own holiday flat or an Airbnb. I’m not worried about the game content, side loading or any of the other crud people like doing with these things.

Well looks like you answered the question. Seeing as the Roku does not have the bloat and you do not want the extra features

OLD BOY · 13-07-2021, 17:48

I think they are both good, but Amazon has the nice new, modern user interface.

cheekyangus · 13-07-2021, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think they are both good, but Amazon has the nice new, modern user interface.

Words I'd use myself to describe the Roku interface.

**Chris** · 13-07-2021, 18:56

Has the Amazon interface changed? I haven’t particularly noticed a change on our Fire stick, although that might mean there has been a further update they didn’t force on it. Based on this afternoon’s use of the Roku, I’m impressed with how clean it is. Obviously it’s also a lot faster than my Fire stick but that’s because the Amazon device is so old (I do periodically check and shut down memory hogging apps - it makes no appreciable difference sadly).

Jaymoss · 13-07-2021, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Has the Amazon interface changed? I haven’t particularly noticed a change on our Fire stick, although that might mean there has been a further update they didn’t force on it. Based on this afternoon’s use of the Roku, I’m impressed with how clean it is. Obviously it’s also a lot faster than my Fire stick but that’s because the Amazon device is so old (I do periodically check and shut down memory hogging apps - it makes no appreciable difference sadly).

guessing your stick may be out of the updated interface loop as it is old

OLD BOY · 13-07-2021, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

Words I'd use myself to describe the Roku interface.

Have they changed it recently, then? I must confess I haven’t used mine for a good few months now as I can get all my apps on my Sony smart TV and the 360. The Roku stick was only about a year old last time I used it, and the interface was quite old fashioned, whereas the Amazon Fire stick reminded me of Sky Q technology.

cheekyangus · 13-07-2021, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Have they changed it recently, then? I must confess I haven’t used mine for a good few months now as I can get all my apps on my Sony smart TV and the 360. The Roku stick was only about a year old last time I used it, and the interface was quite old fashioned, whereas the Amazon Fire stick reminded me of Sky Q technology.

It hasn't changed. It's just my idea of modern.

The screenshots/vids I've seen of the Firestick interface I can't say I like. It's all sparkle, clutter and poor usability from what I've seen.

But everyone's got their own preferences.

Once you load up an app the interface changes to that of the app provider, so simple, and clean is all that is required in order to launch it.

OLD BOY · 13-07-2021, 23:22

Yes, I think it’s down to personal preference. They are both good, though.

**Chris** · 27-07-2021, 21:13

Well, having lived with the entry-level Roku Express box in our holiday flat for 2 weeks, I’ve ordered one for our spare room TV at home to replace our obsolete Amazon Fire stick. I’ve been very pleased with its simplicity and responsiveness. I was also pleased to find it on offer for £19.99 … at Amazon.

cheekyangus · 28-07-2021, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Well, having lived with the entry-level Roku Express box in our holiday flat for 2 weeks, I’ve ordered one for our spare room TV at home to replace our obsolete Amazon Fire stick. I’ve been very pleased with its simplicity and responsiveness. I was also pleased to find it on offer for £19.99 … at Amazon.

Gah! We got a new one at around the same time and it was £29.

Still pleased, it has Apps that aren't supported on our existing Roku as well as being more responsive.

tweetiepooh · 28-07-2021, 11:50

Firestick interface was updated recently but not too drastically. It's great for casting stuff though like "The Chosen". Open app on table, select to cast to Firestick, select and play episode you want.

("The Chosen" is a brilliant crowd funded series on the life of Jesus, more especially those around Him. My favourite is S1E3 where Jesus interacts with children. S2 has just ended and last I checked they've raised enough to S3E4 and mostly there to S3E5. It operates on a pay-it-forward meaning it's free to view but you can pay to keep available to others. Worth watching. Worth watching the "extras" to see how they filmed Palestine in Utah and Texas in the winter - brrr!)

pip08456 · 28-07-2021, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Firestick interface was updated recently but not too drastically. It's great for casting stuff though like "The Chosen". Open app on table, select to cast to Firestick, select and play episode you want.

("The Chosen" is a brilliant crowd funded series on the life of Jesus, more especially those around Him. My favourite is S1E3 where Jesus interacts with children. S2 has just ended and last I checked they've raised enough to S3E4 and mostly there to S3E5. It operates on a pay-it-forward meaning it's free to view but you can pay to keep available to others. Worth watching. Worth watching the "extras" to see how they filmed Palestine in Utah and Texas in the winter - brrr!)

Thanks for letting me know it's something I don't want/need to watch.