Last Updated on February 6, 2023
The market has no lack of media streaming devices these days, and two of the most popular ones are the Tivo Stream 4K and the Fire Stick 4K. Both streamers give you easy access to tons of content and are extremely affordable.
However, if you had to choose one, which media streamer is the better choice? Keep reading as we pit both the Tivo Stream 4K and Fire Stick 4K against each other in a few vital categories.
Contents
Tivo Stream 4K vs. Fire Stick 4K at a Glance
Tivo Stream 4K Advantages:
- Excellent for media streaming and live TV
- Gives you full access to the power of Android TV
- Inexpensive and great value for money
Tivo Stream 4K Disadvantages:
- Low storage (8GB)
- A little tricky to pair the remote with your TV
- Lack of a Gigabit Ethernet port
Fire Stick 4K Advantages:
- Gives you easy access to the entire Amazon ecosystem
- Broad variety of apps
- Easy to use and great value for money
Fire Stick 4K Disadvantages:
- Can be a bit slow to load at times
- Cluttered home screen
- Bias towards Amazon content
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is Fire Stick 4K.
What’s the Difference Between Them?
Set Up
Setting up both devices is not complicated at all. However, the Tivo 4K does make it that much simpler with its customized step-by-step guide, taking you through straightforward ‘a or b’ options so it can learn what types of TV content you like. Additionally, it even suggests content for your library, and you can still add more of your preferred shows and movies afterward.
Some people wonder if Fire Stick 4K will work with any TV. The answer is yes; just make sure that your TV has an HDMI port so you can connect your Fire Stick 4K.
Verdict: Setting up is relatively straightforward, but Tivo 4K makes it super easy with their step-by-step guide and customization.
Remotes
Both their remotes differ quite a bit. To start with, the Fire Stick 4K doubles up as an Alexa voice remote. It’s obvious here that Amazon has designed the remote with an emphasis on voice function, making it easy to pick it up and ask Alexa to play certain media or tell you about the weather.
The remote has a regular rectangle shape with a rather slim design, making it easy to hold. Use the circular navigation pad for easy navigation and speak into the pinhole mic at the top of the remote when you want to use Alex. There are various buttons for volume, power, and playback, and you can also use this remote to adjust your TV power and volume.
The Tivo Stream 4K’s remote stands out with its unique peanut design. It’s surprisingly comfortable and easy to hold, and you get shortcut buttons to access Netflix and Google Assistant directly.
The remote also has the standard buttons that allow you to adjust the volume, power, and channels, and you also get directional arrows as well as info and guide buttons. You can use the Tivo Stream 4K remote to control your TV as well, but you’d need to pair it first. Unfortunately, many people struggle with pairing the remote with their TVs and there’s a lack of clear instructions on how to do so. You also can’t do it easily via the settings menu on the Tivo Stream 4K.
Verdict: The Fire Stick 4k remote wins here since you have the added convenience of using Alexa voice control.
Apps
The Fire Stick 4K gives you access to the Amazon ecosystem, so it’s extremely easy to browse and purchase apps in the Amazon app store. As a very well-developed and established platform, you’ll find a variety of apps for everything and won’t find yourself lacking.
As a platform, Tivo definitely isn’t as established as Amazon, so you can’t expect to find the same variety and number of apps. However, it still has its own content platform and channel. It also works with so many streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Spotify, Hulu, HBO Max, CBS All Access, PBS, ESPN, and more.
Verdict: The Fire Stick 4K simply has a broader variety of apps to suit every need, although the Tivo isn’t lacking behind too much.
Design
Both devices look extremely different, with the Tivo Stream 4K resembling a Chromecast while the Fire Stick 4K looks like a long rectangle. With the Tivo Stream 4K, you get a flexible HDMI cable that connects to the side or back of your television. A micro-USB port allows you to connect the device to an AC adapter, while a USB-C port allows you to connect an Ethernet cable. In contrast, the Fire Stick 4K features an HDMI connector and a micro-USB port.
Verdict: If you like your cables and devices to be hidden out of sight, the Fire Stick 4K is great for that. You can position it at the back of your TV, thanks to its portable design.
Performance
The Tivo Stream 4K allows you to stream up to 4KUHD and HDR10. There can be a slight buffering delay sometimes when opening apps, but overall, the device runs fast enough when you’re browsing content.
When it comes to streaming 4K HDR content, though, the Fire Stick 4K really impresses. When streaming content from YouTube and Amazon Video, the Fire Stick 4K manages to reach UHD resolutions in under 30 seconds. At times, it even displays in 4K HDR at the very start. It’s fast and easy to navigate the interface, and you won’t get any delays.
Verdict: The Fire Stick 4K is simply created for optimal performance. When it comes to the actual streaming of 4K HDR content, it truly delivers.
Search
When you use the search function on the Fire Stick 4K, Amazon searches through more than a hundred services. However, bear in mind that it will only search apps that you have already installed. Overall, the voice search function works well at picking up what you’re saying.
With the Tivo Stream 4K, you can search with Google Assistant or even use it to open certain apps. You can try to use Google Assistant with other generic questions like searching for specific restaurants near you. However, you can’t select them to show more information.
Verdict: It’s a tie. Overall, both streamers have functional and capable search functions.
Conclusion
Both streaming devices offer great value and access to tons of entertaining content. However, the FireStick 4K is simply a more well-established product and offers more apps with impressive streaming capabilities. Use Alexa to control your smart home devices and enjoy how the streamer reaches UHD resolutions in under 30 seconds.
