Amazon Fire Stick vs Roku 3

So back in December, Amazon was running a promo for Prime members to purchase the new Fire TV Stick for 50% off, making it just about $21 after tax.  I couldn’t pass up that offer. After using it for a little while now, I figured I would give a review of it.

Before getting started, though, I’ll point out that we have purchased media from a variety of sources, including Amazon, VUDU and Google Play.  I’m not really thrilled with having things scattered across multiple content providers, but thats the way availability of some media is right now.  It does make it fun when you want to watch something and having to remember where you purchased it.  In addition, we also have a rather large library now served by Plex.  So, when testing things out, I will try from all media sources if I can.

The Fire TV Stick includes a short HDMI cable for plugging into the back of the TV which makes it a bit easier to manage and not have something sticking way out of the back of the TV.  It also includes a power adapter to give it the power it requires, so while not completely free of cables, its better than a lot of devices.  Setup takes just a few minutes, you just need to set it up on the WiFi network and associate your Amazon account with it.

The interface itself is very nice looking and very Amazon-centric.  Amazon content is displayed prominently from the start.  Any other content requires you to go into the Apps section.  Integration is not where I believe that media devices should be, but its on par with all of the other devices I’ve seen or used.

The interface is also very quick and responsive.  I’m sure this has to do with the overpowered processor and RAM in the device.  I say overpowered because it really is overpowered for its primary function, and that is watching videos and listening to music.  There is an optional gamepad, but not anything I was interested in.  For games, I’m certain the processor and RAM would be used much more fully, and possibly be even a little weak for some games.  But for a “stick” its currently the most capable one currently on the market.

Choosing what to watch was pretty straightforward -- if you want to watch something on Amazon, that is.  Prime videos are displayed as such, and your purchased content is also easy to get to.  Netflix comes pre-installed, but again, you have to go into the Apps section to get to it.  Easy enough, but it is at least a few extra remote clicks to get to it, again, highlighting the fact that its designed to showcase Amazon content.  Since its a Fire device, I don’t begrudge them this at all.

Starting a video is very very fast.  About half the time of the Roku 3 or less to start up an Amazon video.  Netflix is pretty much the same, as is Plex.

There is no Google content available at all.  Apparently Google and Amazon are bitter enemies, despite Fire devices being based on Android.  There is no way for the average user to get Google content on any Fire device that I’m aware of.  This is a very shortsighted move from both companies in my opinion.  If the goal is to get them to purchase content, then build a device to showcase yours but don’t limit the customer options.  If I have a mixed quantity of media, which I do, then I want the device I purchase to be able to handle it, regardless of the source of that media, or I won’t purchase the device.

Plex worked exactly as I expected it to, with no issues at all.  In fact, with Direct Play on the Fire Stick, I was able to watch everything in our library without any stuttering or transcoding.

The remote.  This is where the Fire TV Stick is a huge disappointment.  For some reason, Amazon decided to be “high tech” instead of sticking with what everyone is used to.  I’m sure that most people who use this remote will fall into either the love it or hate it category, and I fall into the latter.

Instead of buttons, they chose to use a disk with a laptop-like touch pad click.  There is almost no sensory feedback at all to register a button press, so unless you’re paying attention, you might either not push the button at all or press it repeatedly.  Standard directional buttons with adequate movement would have been much preferable.  Its the standard remote layout for a reason -- its familiar and it works.  There was no need to change it.

The Android app to control the device is just as badly designed.  You swipe your finger in the direction you want to move and then tap to select.  This is an absolutely awful design.  Accidental taps are way too easy to issue, and also very easy to scroll too fast or not at all in a direction.

The remote itself is enough to make us not want to use the Fire TV Stick, despite the nice processor and look of the interface.

Compared to the Roku 3, the Amazon Fire TV Stick has a much more modern interface and is quite a bit faster, especially at starting videos from Amazon.  However, the remote is terrible and its just a bit too Amazon-centric.  When combined with the fact that there is no Google Play videos, its not something we will use regularly.  Right now, we take it with us when we visit my parents to give the kids something to watch while we visit.

For someone who primarily uses Amazon for videos, and possibly Netflix or Plex, its a good device, especially for the money -- if you don’t mind the remote.  My parents have no trouble navigating it at all, they also have Fire tablets and only consume content from Amazon.

So, for us, the Roku 3 will be the device we continue to use.