The technology has been so advanced that, we can enjoy a smart tv interface on a non-smart tv. It means if you love to watch internet-based content aka IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) then it’s not necessary that you must have a Smart TV. There are a bunch of media streaming devices available which can convert any non-smart television into a smart television.
Some popular media streaming devices are- Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, Android TV Box, Roku Stick, Apple TV Box, Nvidia Sheild, etc. Now, these devices create confusion in customers’ minds while picking. When customers give a quick internet search, then find lots of options but are unable to decide which is better?
You are probably into the same dilemma that which is better- Android TV Box or Amazon Fire TV Stick?
So, in this guide, I’m going to clear all the confusion shaking in your mind. Though, here I’m going to compare Fire TV Stick Vs Android TV Box. It means I’ll talk about these two devices only. However, you can anytime read our comparison list from here. If you are unable to decide between Fire TV Stick Vs Chromecast, Fire TV Stick Vs Roku Stick, Fire TV Stick Vs Apple TV Box, etc… then feel free to check the above list.
Interested in- How to Jailbreak FireStick For Free Movies and Shows?
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Vs Android TV Box
Note- This is not a paid comparison (unlike other comparison sites do). I’m going to share my personal experience with both devices. Also, I’m not criticizing other devices because both have a different perspective for use. All the devices are best in their field, every streaming devices have different unique features.
Before going to the comparison part, I want to give a little introduction to both the devices. If you don’t want to read this, skip to the next paragraph. This introduction is for the first-time buyer who is willing to buy his/her first media streaming device.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick:
Everyone knows about Amazon. It’s world one of the largest e-commerce company. But, in 2014 Amazon was involved in streaming device manufacturing too. The very first media streaming device was launched in April 2014, by Amazon. They named it Fire TV Stick and the first generation of Fire TV Stick was running on Fire OS it was available in the United States only. The first generation Fire TV Stick was running on Broadcom BCM28155 dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB RAM.
Also read– How to Setup Fire TV Stick for First Time (Step By Step)
Later, the second generation of Fire TV Stick was launched with an improved processor and optimized UI. The second generation of Fire TV Stick was running on MediaTek MT8127D Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz processor and Mali-450 MP4 GPU.
In October 2018, Amazon announced its third-generation Fire TV Stick which supports 4K video quality and Dolby Atmos 7.1 surround sound. This device is improved in speed because it has got an Amlogic S905Z processor and 2GB RAM. The new Fire TV Stick 4K supports HDR protocols.
That’s all about Amazon Fire TV Stick. You can see the comparison between second-generation Fire TV Stick vs third-generation Fire TV Stick 4K here. Now, let’s have a look at Android TV Box.
Android TV Box:
As we all know, Android is an open-source mobile operating system from Google. So, there are lots of manufacturers selling Android TV Box running on Android OS. Here is something you should take care of while making a purchase through Amazon. Lots of shady manufacturers selling cheap quality Android TV Box.
Android TV Box has not gained much popularity like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick. There could be many reasons which I discuss in later paragraphs. It requires an HDMI port to run the Android interface on your non-smart television. As I mentioned above, there are lots of manufacturers providing Android TV Box. So, we cannot give certain hardware details.
Let’s jump to the comparison…
Which is better- Android TV Box or Fire TV Stick?
Note- I’m comparing Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with Mi Box. There are lots of shitty manufacturers of Android TV Box which provides cheap quality.
1- Shape and Size:
When it comes to the shape and size than both the devices are very different from each other. Android TV Box is a bulky device while Amazon Fire TV Stick is quite small and handy.
2- Features:
When it comes to the features comparison between Android TV Box and Fire TV Stick 4K then following differences you’ll experience…
Display:
Both Android TV Box and Amazon Fire TV Stick have got 4K quality. Amazon Fire TV Stick supporting HDR protocols while Android TV Box is dependent on the manufacturer.
In terms of video quality, Amazon Fire TV Stick (4K) is winning this battle.
Operating System:
Fire TV Stick is running on Fire OS 6 which is equivalent to Android 7.1 (Nougat). But, Android TV Box is again dependent on the manufacturers. Many Android TV Boxes running on Android 8.1 (Oreo).
So, in terms of the operating system, Android TV Box is the winner.
RAM:
The third generation of Fire TV Stick has 2GB RAM while many Android TV Boxes have a minimum of 3GB RAM. When it comes to running Kodi and other streaming apps, Android TV Box is fast and smooth.
Price:
There is a big difference in the price of the Android TV Box and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. The Fire TV Stick is costing around $49 while the Android TV Box price is high. The price of the Android TV Box is ranging from $100 to $200.
Final Thoughts:
So, here I can say that Fire TV Stick is providing the best quality streaming experience at a cheaper price. However, the budget is not a problem at all and you want good hardware then I recommend you to go with Android TV Box. But, if you want a compact device with outstanding quality then go for Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K HDR with an all-new Alexa voice control remote.