Streaming Sticks Compared: Roku, Fire TV, Google

99,072 ratings at 4.7, the best rating of any player here. Owners say it works straight out of the box, streams without lag, and has an uncluttered home screen; some treat it as an alternative to an Apple TV. The listing names both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

The remote and the Wi-Fi connection are where owners split, with most finding both easy and some reporting trouble. For a household that wants the apps and nothing in the way, this is the stick.

114,830 ratings at 4.6, more ratings than any other stick here. Owners call the picture crystal clear and setup easy. The listing states Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos.

The remote is the split: some find it great, others say it will not control their TV’s power and volume. A minority report units that stopped working within days.

83,199 ratings at 4.6. Owners call it fast, responsive and worth the money, and praise the 4K picture and the sound. The listing states 16 GB of storage, double the 4K Plus, Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. Amazon positions it for gamers and home theatre fans.

Remote failures are the recurring complaint, with some owners reporting the remote stopped working after a month.

24,760 ratings at 4.6. Owners say it sets up easily, connects to the TV and Wi-Fi without fuss, and streams smoothly, with one noting it suits a 1080p TV well. The remote and connection reports are mixed, as on every Roku here.

A 4K stick on a 1080p TV pays for a picture the screen cannot show. For the second TV in a bedroom or kitchen, this is the one.

10,488 ratings at 4.6. Owners call it the best Roku yet and good value against cable, with easy setup and sharp 4K HDR. The listing names 4K and HDR10+ but not Dolby Vision, which the Streaming Stick 4K above it lists.

Connection and remote problems come up, as on the other Rokus, and some owners raise reliability. If your TV supports Dolby Vision, the older Streaming Stick 4K rates higher and lists both formats.

4,265 ratings at 4.3. Owners rank it among the best players they have used, with a crisp 4K picture, no lag on Netflix and YouTube, and setup simple enough for older relatives. Some report trouble with unofficial apps, and reliability draws mixed reports.

It sits beside the TV rather than hiding behind it. For a Google and Android household it is the natural choice; for anyone else, the Roku rates higher.

17,148 ratings at 4.1, the lowest-rated stick here. Owners like the easy setup and responsive remote, but split hard on value, and the complaint that recurs is apps: some could not download apps they wanted, or found ones they used before were missing.

The cause is the software. The 4K Select was the first Fire TV device to run Vega OS, Amazon’s Linux-based replacement for the Android-based Fire OS on older sticks, announced on 30 September 2025. Which Fire TV Stick is which explains what that changes.