Google Chromecast and Amazon Firestick are completely altering how people view and use their televisions. With so many streaming devices available today, deciding which one to purchase can be difficult.
If you want to buy one of these streaming devices to watch movies and turn your TV into a smart TV, this guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Design
While both the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Chromecast are designed to plug into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, most design similarities end there. Google Chromecast is a round, black dongle with a short, flexible HDMI cable. This flexible cable allows you to position the Chromecast between other devices that may be using other ports.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick looks like a black USB-style stick, similar to the NOW TV Smart Stick. It’s small and thin and can fit easily between any other products that are plugged in behind the TV.
Both can be connected to power adaptors and are concealable when not in use.
Conclusion: Both are relatively similar in design as they are small, thin, and compact. There is no clear winner in this category.
Hardware
Google has not disclosed the hardware equipment used in Chromecast; therefore, we do not know its processor and its storage capacity.
We do know that the Amazon Fire Stick has Quad-core 1.8GHz (750MHz GPU). Dolby Atmos and multi-channel (up to 7.1) audio are supported by the 4K Chromecast and Fire TV Sticks.
Conclusion: Both the devices are similar in audio quality, but due to a lack of information regarding the internal hardware of the Chromecast, the Amazon TV Firestick is better.
Performance
These two media streamers are equally good performers in absolute terms, but it’s worth digging deeper into their pros and cons in case they reveal aspects specific to your needs.
Both streamers support the HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG standards, as well as 4K video at up to 60 frames per second.
They are also all ready for 3D audio with Dolby Atmos, though, as previously stated, there is no Atmos content available on Netflix with the Fire Stick.
Conclusion: To summarize, Chromecast with Google TV streams audio and video in the same quality as the most recent Firestick models.
On the other hand, Firestick has three models that stream in the same quality as one Chromecast model; therefore, FireStick is superior in this category.
Connectivity
In case of connectivity, both devices are connected to the USB port in your device via HDMI cable. The devices have great WIFI support; therefore, they easily connect with your device.
The Google Chromecast has Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) Bluetooth®, whereas the Amazon Firesticks have Wi-Fi 6, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax.
Conclusion: There is a stalemate as both devices are relatively the same in connectivity.
Storage
The storage capacity of the Google Chromecast has not been disclosed, whereas the Amazon Firesticks has 8GB of storage. Users have reported that Chromecast has some storage-related issues.
Conclusion: The Amazon Firestick is better in regard to storage, as it has fewer complaints, and we don’t know the exact storage capacity of the Chromecast.
Display
In terms of actual picture quality, there is very little difference between the two. When it comes to HDR viewing, they produce images that are sharp, textured, and tonally well-balanced, making for an excellent experience.
The colors on both are deep and natural, with enough finesse of production to give the picture a sense of realism.
Both will provide smooth and exciting viewing if the appropriate source material is used.
Conclusion: The display quality of both devices is similar, making no clear winner.
Price
Although the price difference between these devices is minor, every bit counts.
The Chromecast with Google TV was the more expensive of the two at launch, costing £60/$50, while the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K cost £50/$40. That is, of course, the full price.
Both devices are frequently available at a discounted price in the market.
Conclusion: The pricing gap between the two is minimal. The features of the Amazon FireStick are somewhat similar to the Chromecast; therefore, the FireStick is the clear winner.
App Support
A streaming service must be compatible in order to be viewed via Google Chromecast. This list used to be quite limited, but it has since grown to include all of the major services and apps, such as NOW TV, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
If you intend to stream with multiple people, Chromecast may be preferable. The media player facilitates account switching because each member of the household can stream directly from their smartphone, tablet, or PC, eliminating the need to re-login to your accounts or share passwords.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick handles everything through the Fire TV homepage, eliminating the need for a secondary device such as a smartphone or tablet.
From here, you can access all of the apps and channels, and you can navigate using the remote or voice commands.
Conclusion: The ease of use with the Google Chromecast is better than the Firestick, making it the clear winner.
Final Verdict
Both of these media streamers are excellent choices, and it is not only a close call, but it may be entirely dependent on individual needs.
With little to choose between them in terms of price and performance, the difference comes down to usability – and it’s here that Google TV shines. It’s sleek, attractive, and, most importantly, it’s an excellent content recommendation engine.
If you’re stuck on what to watch next, there’s a better chance it’ll solve your problem – and quickly – which is a very useful feature when time is limited.
This is especially true now that Google TV allows for multiple user profiles. Hence after a tough competition, Google Chromecast is the winner.
