If you're looking to buy the best Amazon Fire TV stick for you, then you've got quite a few device to work through, from the low-end Fire TV Stick HD to the high-end models that we're looking at now.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K puts its main feature where its mouth is, offering high-res movie and TV streaming, and you might be wondering why you'd opt to spend even more on the top-spec Amazon Fire TV Cube if it also only offers 4K streaming.
There's a world of difference between the two — not to mention a fair amount of money — and we'll run you through the key distinguishing features of the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube.
- Read more: Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Fire TV Stick 4K
- Read more: Amazon Fire TV Stick vs Fire TV Cube
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: price
- Stick 4K: $49.99 / £59.99
- Cube: $139.99 / £139.99
Perhaps the biggest difference between the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Fire TV Cube is the price you'll pay for either of them.
To buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, you'll have to pay $49.99 / £59.99, and it's in the middle of Amazon's line-up of standard streaming dongles.
In comparison, the Fire TV Cube costs $139.99 / £139.99, which is a substantial price hike between the two.
The difference there is $90 / £80. That changes frequently when either model is put on sale, as Amazon's devices are often reduced from their RRP.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: design
- Stick 4K: dongle with remote
- Cube: multi-port cube with remote
You can probably gather the design difference between the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Cube from the names: one is a stick, the other is a cube.
The Fire TV Stick 4K is a svelte dongle which plugs into your TV's HDMI and USB ports, and can be secreted behind your set. Out of sight, out of mind.
The Fire TV Cube is a chunkier offering, so you need shelf space for it near your TV. Not only does it connect to your TV via HDMI but it has a USB, ethernet, IR and HDMI-in port for complex home theater set-ups.
Both come with a remote, though the Stick 4K has the Alexa Voice Remote and the Cube has the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced. Both give you all the expected features, including buttons for streaming services and voice commands, but the Enhanced also includes controls for live TV viewing and has a settings button.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: what it's like to use
- Stick 4K: decent speeds for navigating Fire TV
- Cube: as the Stick 4K plus extra smart home functions
The 'usage' section is where the Cube rears its head.
Both the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube are focused around their ability to run Fire TV, Amazon's smart TV operating system. It has all the apps you'd expect including Netflix, Apple TV Plus and, of course, Amazon's own Prime Video. It also lets you stream music, browse the web and play games on Luna or Xbox Game Pass.
The Stick 4K has 8GB storage which the Cube doubles, so if you'll want lots of apps, the Cube does it better, however with 2GB RAM both will work as fast.
However the Amazon Fire TV Cube offers lots more than just Fire TV: it's designed as a central part of a smart home system so you can use it to control other Alexa devices. This could be your home theater set-up or your house lights, kitchen kit or smart doorbell.
These benefits will, of course, only be of use to people who have a smart home system on Alexa.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: video & audio
- Stick 4K: 4K video, Dolby Atmos audio
- Cube: 4K video, Dolby Atmos audio
If your main point of comparison between the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and the Fire TV Cube is the audio and visual fidelity, then we've got some news for you: there's no comparison.
That's not because one's way better than the other, but because they're both identical specs-wise.
Both devices let you stream in 4K or Ultra HD resolution, if your TV and chosen streaming service support it. They also support Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+ and HLG, all of which again requiring a TV which supports them.
In terms of audio, the sticks support Dolby Atmos. Once again, you'll need an audio set-up which supports this, whether your TV's speakers naturally do or if you buy a soundbar like the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: overview
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K | Amazon Fire TV Cube |
|---|---|---|
US price | $39.99 | $139.99 |
UK price | £49.99 | £139.99 |
Resolution | UHD / 4K | UHD / 4K |
Audio | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Memory | 2GB | 2GB |
Storage | 8GB | 16GB |
Remote | Alexa remote | Alexa remote enhanced |
Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.2 |
Verdict
I want to be even-handed, but I can't: the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the better streaming device for the vast majority of buyers.
It almost entirely matches the TV Cube in terms of specs, and most features too, plus it's under half the price of its cuboid sibling.
The Fire TV Cube will only be suited for people with a developed Alexa smart-home system, and even then it's certainly not mandatory.
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