Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV – A Comparison

For a long time people had to pay traditional cable companies to watch television. But with the rise of streaming, cable companies have been rendered more or less obsolete. Record numbers of people are cutting the cord on traditional television in favor of better alternatives. The best of these alternatives are Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV.

Fire TV 

Amazon Fire TV is a small box that you connect to your High Definition Television. It enables streaming of over 250,000 shows as well as movies on Netflix. It also includes Amazon Instant Video, games, music and HBO Now. The Fire TV comes with 2GB of memory, 1080p HD video, voice search and a fast quad core processor for playing games. Amazon prime customers gain access to a number of perks including TV shows and movies. For customers who already use Amazon Prime, then Fire TV is a must. The Fire TV costs around $60.

Apple TV 

Apple TV is heralded as being powerful, but also expensive. The Apple TV is a streaming media player, which means it lets you watch videos, music, games, and use other types of applications from the Internet on your TV. The Apple TV supports 4K Ultra HD and HDR video. It has 32GB as well 64GB options, with little difference aside from storage space. The Apple TV costs around $200. It is the most user friendly, the fastest and has the best interface. The streaming is also the best with the Apple TV. Apple TV works with third party controllers which allows for advanced gaming. Additionally, Amazon TV can be streamed on Apple TV, but iTunes cannot be used on Fire TV.

Chromecast 

Chromecast is a little different from the Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. It is a dongle that lets users “cast” content onto a television. It also helps to find applications and content. Chromecast does not confer any TV shows or movies like the Apple or Fire TV, so when you get one you are not really subscribing to a list of channels. In 2016 Google launched the Chromecast Ultra which enables users to cast 4K streams. Chromecast is a beaming device so that content you are looking at on your iPad or computer can be cast to a larger screen in high quality. It is a very useful application but limited in its scope.

Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV – Comparison Summary 

Apple TV is the most powerful and fastest streaming device. However, it is also a little overpriced. For those who want better value for money with a lot of options and a good quality stream the Amazon Fire TV is probably a better option. It is one third of the price for much the same services with only minor differences. It can often come down to individual user preferences. The Chromecast is a different device altogether and not really in the same category, though it can be useful for easy streaming to a television.

When using these devices, it is important to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so your information is secure. Having a Google or Amazon device connected to other devices such as computers and iPads can be a recipe for disaster, especially in the digital age. Install a VPN so all of your streaming and browsing are secure. The best VPN’s include Nord VPN, Express VPN and IP Vanish.