Watching streaming services over the internet is easy these days. All you need is an internet connection – and it doesn’t even have to be that fast, 5Mbps will do for HD, but 25Mbps is recommended for 4K – and something to watch it on. Many TVs have the requisite software built in, and phones and tablets definitely do, but if you need an addon to get it to work, perhaps on a computer monitor or a TV that’s been left behind by the smart TV revolution, then you’ll need a box.
It doesn’t even have to be a box. Some of the smallest TV streamers are the size of a Kit-Kat Chunky, or fit in a space that’s smaller than a CD. Two of the best on the market are the Apple TV, from the well-known California phone company, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick, from a similarly well-known online book store. But which is best? There’s only one way to find out.
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Apple TV
The Apple TV 4K is tiny for a set-top box. It’s only 93mm in each direction, and just 31mm deep. We struggle to think of something to compare it to – it’s not a lunchbox, because that much lunch wouldn’t satisfy a hamster. It’s not a Wi-Fi router, because they’re generally larger and have spiky antennas coming off them. It’s the size and shape of an old-fashioned tin of cough sweets, perhaps, or a pack of cards used in a game that hasn’t been invented yet.
The Apple TV connects to your internet supply via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection (if you buy the right model), to a wall socket, and to your TV by HDMI. That’s all you get. There’s a small remote too, and it supports Siri for voice control. That’s really all you need, and one of those connectors will be redundant depending on how you like to connect to the net.
The 4K version of the Apple TV was launched in 2022, and comes in two models. There’s a version with 64GB of storage on-board, and which connects to the net by Wi-Fi only. Then there’s a more expensive one, with 128GB of storage, and which sports the Ethernet port alongside the Wi-Fi. They’re both powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, the same chip used in the iPhone 13 and 14, meaning it’s a snappy mover between apps, and quick to start up too. It’s also quite pricey for a streaming box.
Luckily, it’s a fully featured streaming device, and a bit more than that too. There are apps for every streaming service you can think of, and the onboard storage means you can download a lot of apps and games to it. If you’ve got games in your iOS library, are an Apple Arcade subscriber, or have a game streaming subscription, you can play them on your TV using the remote as a controller. The Apple TV also keeps a cache of music and video you’ve played on it, decreasing access times if you want to play it again.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
The cheaper option is the Amazon Fire TV stick. This is a tiny little thing that connects directly to the HDMI port on the back of your TV, though a short extension cable can be used if it doesn’t quite fit. It’s powered by USB, and can completely disappear once it’s installed.
It has Wi-Fi on board, while an Ethernet adapter is available that plugs into the USB port if you really need it. There’s Bluetooth too, and the stick uses it for its remote, as well as connecting directly to headphones and speakers wirelessly if required.
Amazon is a media company these days as much as it is a shop that sells everything, and streaming apps are available for the Fire Stick for all the major services and more besides. It doesn’t have the gaming capabilities of the Apple TV – though simple games like Crossy Road and Tetris are available for it, and you can use Amazon’s Luna game streaming service through one if you’ve got a compatible controller.
There are three models of the Amazon Fire TV Stick. The HD one is the cheapest. Then there’s a 4K model, which bumps the price. And finally there’s a 4K Max version, which doubles the on-board storage to 16GB and uses Wi-Fi 6E for a better connection.
Which is for me?
If you’ve already bought into one of the app ecosystems on offer, or have a subscription to Amazon Prime or Apple TV, then it’s an easy decision – choose the one that matches your existing choices. If you’re looking for something cheap, and don’t care about 4K video, then the HD version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick is an easy choice, though remember you’ll need subscriptions for many of the streaming services. That’s true of the Apple TV too, though you’ll get a few months of Apple TV for free just for buying one. With its faster processor, greater storage and gaming capabilities, the Apple TV provides the better experience when you’re not watching something, but for most cases the Amazon sticks are all you really need.
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