There’s plenty of content to consume online and a streaming device is an easy and smart way to access them. One would argue these are better options than the smart TVs in terms of performance, portability, price, plug-and-playability. Now, one of the leading options when it comes to a streaming device is the dongles from Amazon. You must be already acquainted with the Fire TV Stick 4K, which was the premium offering from the brand in India up till the recent launch of Fire TV Cube.
So now with the new option of Fire TV Cube, you might be in dilemma over choosing a streaming device between the Stick and the Cube. So, to make things easier for you, here we will be comparing the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (review) and Amazon Fire TV Cube in detail. And hopefully, by the end, you will know where to spend your bucks.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Specs comparison
| Product | Fire TV Stick 4k | Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) |
| Streaming resolution | 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG | 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound |
| Ports and connectivity | HDMI out, power input, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 LE | HDMI out, power input, Infrared port, Micro USB port, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 LE |
| Smart Assistant | Alexa | Alexa (Hands-free too) |
| Processor | Quad-core, 1.7GHz | Hexa-core, 2.2GHz |
| Memory | 8GB | 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage |
| Price | Rs 5,999 | Rs 12,999 |
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Design
Both the devices have completely different designs and shapes. The Fire TV Stick comes in a small rectangular shape with 108x30x14mm dimensions and weighs 53.6 grams. The device is more suited for wall-mounted TVs as in you just have to insert it in the TV’s HDMI port.
Meanwhile the Fire TV Cube has a bulkier size and weight. The dimensions of the device are 86.1x 86.1x 76.9mm and it weighs 465 grams. It needs a table or a platform near the TV for its installation.
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Both the streaming devices Fire TV stick 4K and Fire TV Cube ship with a separate remote while the latter has dedicated buttons for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Prime Music, and other apps.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Hardware and Software
The Fire TV stick 4K is equipped with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz speed and is assisted by an IMG GE8300 GPU. The device offers 16GB of internal storage but doesn’t have any memory space.
The Fire TV Cube, on the other hand, gets a Hexa-core processor comprising a quad-core unit with up to 2.2GHz speed and a dual-core processor clocked at up to 1.9Ghz speed. It is paired with an ARM Mali G52-MP2 GPU, 2GB RAM, and 16GB built storage capacity. So, it should offer a faster and smoother performance.
Both the devices support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for experiencing 4K content with compatible TVs. For audio, they come equipped with Dolby Atmos and a 7.1 surround sound system for a rich output.
The Fire TV Cube also comes with a built-in 40mm speaker, even though you cannot play audio content on it. Rather, the sound will be streamed via the connected television or soundbar.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Audio, Ports, and connectivity
The Fire TV Stick 4k is limited to just an HDMI port for plugging into the TV and a micro USB for charging.
On the other hand, the Fire TV Cube has a Micro USB port, an infrared port, an HDMI port, and a power port. Note that it needs to be tethered to a power source all the time.
Amazon also bundles an IR extender adapter (to control a set-top-box) and an Ethernet adapter with the Cube.
For wireless connectivity, the two devices allow dual-band Wi-Fi support and Bluetooth 5.0.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Alexa Integration
Both Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube support Alexa voice assistant but with the latter, Alexa works hands-free too. That is you can evoke and control Alexa using just your voice. Whereas in the Stick 4K, you gotta press a button on the remote.
The Fire TV Cube further allows you to connect IoT devices and smart home appliances to it. You can easily control the functionality of these connected devices even when the TV is turned off. It works as a full-fledged Alexa speaker as well.
Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Cube: Verdict
The Fire TV Cube comes at a price of Rs. 12,999 while the Fire TV Stick 4K is currently priced at Rs. 4,799.
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Now although both Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube share some similarities, they have some big differences as well. The Fire TV Cube is the flagship product from Amazon and it is a more complete package with both Smart TV and Smart Speaker capabilities. It is more powerful and comes with more connectivity options. That said, if you just want to smarten up your dumb 4K TV, then the Stick should make more sense. In the end, it all boils down to your existing entertainment setup and requirements.
Points in favor of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
- Compact design
- Lesser installation process
- Relatively affordable
Points in favor of Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Faster processor and an integrated speaker
- More number of ports and connectivity options
- Can control the whole range of IoT devices and home appliances, even through voice.
