Chromecast with Google TV vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Which is the Best Streaming Device?

Want to transform your TV into a smart TV with top-rated streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu? As long as your TV has an HDMI port, it’s entirely possible! All you need to do is plug in a streaming device, and you’re good to go.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Chromecast with Google TV are two popular options currently available, but which one should you choose? Below, we’ve compared both these streaming devices across different categories to make your decision easier.

Let’s dive in:

Chromecast with Google TV vs. Amazon Fire Stick 4K

Without further ado, let’s see how they stack up against each other:

Price & Value

The Chromecast with Google TV will set you back by $49.99, which is similar to the Fire TV Stick 4K. Both come with voice-enabled remote controls as well as support for UHD 4K and Dolby Atmos, ensuring top-notch streaming quality.

Apps & Google Reviews for each app

When it comes to the Chromecast with Google TV, it supports all the 5,000+ Android TV apps on the Google Play Store. This includes the likes of Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney Plus.

All of these Firestick apps are available on the Fire TV Stick 4K as well, including HBO Max, which was recently added to the Amazon Fire TV app store. Earlier, you had to sideload the app to use it. You can watch Friends via HBO Max on either of these streaming devices.

They all have good Google reviews. By the way, click here if you wish to learn how to buy reviews on Google.

Note: Unable to access certain apps and content in your region? You can get around such hurdles by using a VPN on your Fire TV Stick 4K or Chromecast with Google TV.

Features

As far as features are concerned, the Chromecast with Google TV lets users cast from Android and iOS apps on their smartphone to the big TV screen. You also have the ability to cast a tab from Chrome to your TV. The Chromecast with Google TV can also be synced with other Google-powered devices like your Nest camera or Nest speakers.

Similarly, the Fire TV Stick 4K can be paired with other devices in Amazon’s ecosystem. This means that you can use Alexa to control your Ring cameras, lights, Echo Dot speakers, thermostats, and more.

Audio and Video Quality

Both streaming devices are equally matched in this department, as well. They’re capable of streaming up to 4K UHD at an impressive 60 fps and support HDR 10+, HDR 10, and Dolby Vision formats for a superior viewing experience.

As for audio quality, the same audio codecs are supported by the Chromecast with Google TV and the Fire TV Stick 4K. These include Dolby Atmos (which provides the most immersive sound), Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital.

Design

This is probably the only area where these two streaming devices really differ.  The Chromecast with Google TV dongle is oval-shaped and has a short HDMI cable, whereas the Fire TV Stick 4K is slim and rectangular-shaped with an integrated HDMI connector.

The Chromecast with Google TV (6.4 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches) is bigger than the Fire TV Stick 4K (3.9 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches) and comes in three colours, including Sky (blue), Snow (white), and Sunrise (Pink). On the other hand, the Fire TV Stick 4K is only available in black.

Having more colours at your disposal means you can choose how to style your home entertainment system, though you can’t go wrong with a classic black, unobtrusive stick either. It comes down to your preference at the end of the day.

Remote Control

A voice-enabled remote comes with both streaming devices. The Chromecast with Google TV remote is powered by Google Assistant, while the Fire TV Stick 4K remote is powered by Alexa. The buttons for both remotes are quite similar – there’s a directional pad as well as mute, power, back, voice, and home buttons.

However, the Chromecast with Google TV has a slight edge, courtesy of the TV input button. It also features dedicated Netflix and YouTube buttons, which is useful if you use these apps on a regular basis.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Chromecast with Google TV – Final Word

As you can see, both are similar streaming devices, so choosing one really depends on your preferences and what other devices you have at home (i.e., Google or Amazon). However, the Chromecast with Google TV wins this comparison ever so slightly due to its remote control.