GONE are the days of traditional satellite TV: it’s all about streaming these days.
Amazon and Google offer popular stream devices – but which should you buy? In this article we’ve outline the key differences between the Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick.
- Google Chromecast, £55 – buy from Amazon
- Amazon Fire Stick, £44.99 – buy from Amazon
All modern televisions are smart TVs, which means they have an in-built platform that sets you up with access to streaming platforms, TV channels and other apps and services.
Which is great, but what should you do if you’ve got an older TV or a TV that, frankly, has a rubbish smart platform?
Streaming devices are the perfect answer to this conundrum.
If you’re looking to make the jump to streaming directly to your TV, read on to see what the differences are between two of the most popular devices currently on the market.
Google offers more than one version of its Chromecast device.
Amazon‘s hugely popular Fire Stick line presents shoppers with several different options: some 4K, some not, with assorted features and capabilities.
If you’d like to understand more about how they vary, head over to our Fire TV Stick Lite vs Fire TV Stick to see if the cheaper options work better for you.
Or if you’ve got a 4K screen, the Fire Stick 4K vs Fire Stick 4K Max is the explainer for you.
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Differences at a glance
Despite having the same key functions, there are still a few differences that set the two giants apart.
Firstly the Fire Stick needs a remote in order to navigate the home screen, so if you misplace it or lose it, you’ll have to get a new one in order to use it.
Since you’re casting from your phone, you’re able to get away with just using your tablet or smartphone to navigate the apps, which is a great bonus if you’re forgetful.
Secondly, for the Amazon Fire Stick, only one account can be logged in at a time, so if you’re looking to use your own account, you’ll have to log out after every use.
Lastly, not all apps are compatible with Chromecast, so you might struggle to use your favourite streaming apps if they’re not as popular or simply haven’t embraced Chromecast just yet.
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Picture and sound
Both the Chromecast and Fire TV Stick have the ability to stream in 4K, which is obviously the version you’re going to want to go with if you own a 4K television.
However, if you’ve not got a 4K telly or simply aren’t too bothered by the higher-end streaming, you can pick up the 1080p HDR variants of both devices.
If you do happen to choose the 1080p HDR Chromecast or Fire Stick, it’s also worth knowing that the Chromecast is around £20 cheaper than the 4K counterpart and the Fire Stick £10 less.
When it comes to sound quality, they’re even; both the HD Chromecast and Firestick support Dolby Atmos and 7.1 Audio, so you won’t be missing out on a better audio experience should you be leaning towards either.
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Price and availability
Both the Google Chromecast and Fire TV Stick are readily available from a huge range of retailers, so it’s never going to be too hard to get your hands on one.
It is, however, worth mentioning that both types are often on sale during events like Black Friday and Amazon’s Prime Day.
So if any big sales event is approaching, it may be worth holding out to see how much extra you can save.
- Google Chromecast, £55 – buy from Amazon
- Google Chromecast Video with TV, £34.99 – buy from Very
- Google Chromecast With Google TV HD And Voice Remote, £34.99 – buy from Argos
- Amazon Fire Stick, £44.99 – buy from Amazon
- Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, £34.99 – buy from Amazon
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, £59.99 – buy from Amazon
- Amazon Fire TV Stick, £44.99 – buy from Very
- Amazon Fire TV Stick, £44.99 – buy from Argos
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Features
The core features of the Chromecast and Fire TV Stick are essentially the same.
They neatly pack all of your streaming services into one convenient homepage across popular apps like Disney+, Spotify, Amazon Video and Netflix.
Both devices are especially useful if you don’t currently own a smart TV, since they effectively transform the telly into one saving you a fortune if you’re not ready to upgrade your screen.
One glaring difference between the two devices is that the Chromecast requires the service to be Chromecast-compatible.
Nowadays, this isn’t too much of an issue because most major platforms support this feature, but it may be an issue if you have some more niche streaming platforms.
The Fire Stick isn’t perfect either: while its ability to download apps and stream may be a lot simpler, you have to plug the stick into the TV, so it’s only going to be used on one screen at a time.
Google’s device is probably the standout option if you have a busy home and don’t want people logging in and out of your accounts constantly, as it’s only ever linked to whoever is casting to the device from a tablet or smartphone.
Both also come with voice controls: the Fire Stick with Amazon Alexa and Chromecast with Google Voice Assistant.
However, you’ll either need to have a Google eco-system at home, such as the Google Nest, or you’ll have to make sure you purchase a remote with your device.
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Design
The design of both streaming devices differs greatly, but the premise is more or less the same: it’s a dongle that you plug into your TV’s HDMI port in order to transform it into a functioning smart TV.
That’s where the design similarities end, however.
You can pick up the Google Chromecast without a remote, unlike the Fire TV Stick, as you’re able to use your smartphones or tablets as a controller, which may be convenient for some who may be a bit forgetful when it comes to remote finding.
The rectangular black box of the Fire TV Stick may be more aesthetically pleasing, but we imagine it’s a little more inconvenient to use as you’ll have to move around some cables to make space for it.
The Google Chromecast, on the other hand, is a simple disc where the HDMI attachment is further away, so you’ll be able to slot it in easily without having to fuss around with cable management.
Chromecast vs Fire TV Stick: Verdict
Choose the Chromecast if:
- You have multiple people steaming, and you want your account separate
- You have Google Home systems already
- You don’t have a lot of space behind your TV for more plug-ins
Choose the Fire TV Stick if:
- You stream from more niche platforms
- You want Alexa voice control
- You don’t want to have to use a secondary device to navigate the home screen
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