Apple TV vs FireStick – Which One Should You Buy in 2025?

In this Apple TV 4K vs. All-New FireStick comparison, I’ll examine the two streaming devices based on several key factors. These include features, specs, user interface, app selection, and pricing. 

Amazon FireStick and Apple TV are popular streaming devices with unique features and capabilities.

Choosing one may be challenging as both devices cater to different preferences and priorities.

To simplify your decision-making, we will provide a detailed comparison of the devices to help you make an informed decision.

I will compare the high-end versions of both devices – Apple TV 4K and FireStick 4K Max 2nd Generation.

These premium models are designed to deliver cutting-edge streaming experiences, supporting the latest technologies in video quality, audio performance, and smart home integration.

Apple TV 4K Overview

Apple TV is a compact device that lets you stream digital content on your TV, including movies, TV shows, live TV, and music. The media player is a sleek square box with curved edges. It also includes a voice-enabled remote control for your TV and other connected devices.

To start with Apple TV, you need an internet connection and a TV with an HDMI port. You connect the streaming device to your TV using an HDMI cable, instantly turning it into a smart TV.

The Apple TV 4K is the most advanced model in the Apple TV series and competes with Amazon’s most advanced FireStick.

All-New FireStick 4K Max Overview

The Amazon FireStick is a compact streaming device shaped like a stick that lets you stream movies, TV shows, music, live TV, and more on your TV. You plug the stick into your TV through the HDMI port, instantly transforming any non-smart TV into a smart TV.

The all-new FireStick 4K Max is the most advanced of the FireSticks. Its features and specs make it a worthy competitor to the Apple TV 4K. The Fire TV remote, which can be controlled by voice using Alexa, also controls the Fire TV and other connected devices, such as soundbars.

Now that we have an overview of each device, let’s compare them to help you choose the best one for your streaming needs. Read this Apple TV 4K vs. FireStick 4K Max review to learn which device best suits you.

Apple TV 4K vs. All-New FireStick 4K Max: Features

Let’s compare the two devices based on their features.

Apple TV 4K Features

Apple TV 4K is a distinctive black box with curved edges and a matching black remote featuring distinct buttons. Unlike the FireStick, which disappears when attached to the HDMI port, it is visible in front of your TV. You need HDMI cables to connect the device to your TV, which can sometimes clutter the space.

One thing that makes the Apple TV better than the FireStick is that it has an Ethernet port, allowing you to connect your internet cable for improved internet speeds and seamless streaming, particularly in situations where the TV is located far from the router. Additionally, its remote has rechargeable batteries, which are ecologically sustainable, unlike the disposable batteries of a FireStick.

The Apple TV 4K remote is voice-enabled, letting you control your TV and other connected devices. It is also easy to use, with the following buttons: power, click pad, volume up, volume down, mute, back, play/pause, and TV Control button. However, the remote lacks direction buttons, making it difficult to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy to use.

Apple TV 4K offers private listening through Bluetooth, like AirPods. Although the feature is not as perfect as on Roku, it allows you to stream content privately without disturbing other people in the house, such as binge-watching a show late at night.

As for offerings, Apple TV 4K has everything you want in a streaming device: movies, TV shows, on-demand content, live TV, and games. Additionally, the Apple Arcade makes this device a mini-gaming console, which is a significant advantage for gaming enthusiasts.

All-New FireStick 4K Max Features

The all-new FireStick 4K Max is a black USB-like stick you attach to your TV’s HDMI port to convert your non-smart TV into a smart one. It has an Alexa voice remote, HDMI extender, USB cable, and power adapter.

If you live in a small house and are short on space on your TV stand, the FireStick’s compactness might be just what you need. The stick has two ports: one wider than your TV’s HDMI port and the other a narrower USB port, allowing it to be connected to a power outlet. The TV can supply power to the stick; however, for optimum performance, connect it to a power source.

The Alexa voice remote has distinct buttons, including dedicated Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. These designated buttons allow you to navigate directly to the respective streaming platforms. Overall, the all-new FireStick 4K Max remote takes the crown compared to the Apple TV4K.

Unfortunately, Amazon does not prioritize private listening with FireStick. You may connect the device to Bluetooth headphones, but the experience is problematic, with delayed audio and occasional disconnection between the two devices.

Verdict

The two devices are similar in features, making it hard to choose. However, I would prefer the all-new FireStick 4K Max for its compactness and intuitive remote.

Apple TV 4K vs. All-New Fire Stick 4K Max: Specs

The specifications are a critical factor to consider when buying a streaming device. Let’s compare the two devices and see which wins in this category.

Apple TV 4K Specs

Apple TV 4K is compatible with UHD and HD TVs, with HDMI⁴. For a video streaming experience, it supports 4K resolution, HDR10 with Dolby Vision, and HLG. In addition, the audio experience gives this device an edge over FireStick thanks to its support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1, Dolby 7.1, and Spatial audio.

Regarding the processor, Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip. This is considered one of the best processors for smooth gaming and app exploring.

Another feature that makes Apple TV 4K better than the all-new FireStick 4K Max is its storage capacity. If you like downloading apps and offline content, you may want to consider 64GB or 128GB storage offered by Apple TV 4K, compared to only 16GB from the all-new FireStick 4K Max.

All-New FireStick 4K Max Specs

The all-new FireStick 4K Max is comparable to the Apple TV 4K in terms of specifications. It is compatible with HD and UHD TVs, supporting high-quality video formats such as Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10. In addition, FireStick 4K Max supports HDR10+, a technology that adds dynamic metadata to files to give bright and premium image quality. This added feature gives it an edge over Apple TV 4K.

The audio experience with FireStick 4K Max is excellent, featuring support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1, and Dolby 7.1 surround sound, HDMI audio pass-through, and a 2-channel stereo output.

The FireStick 4K Max uses a quad-core 2.0 GHz processor. While this is an improvement over previous FireStick models, it still lags behind the Apple TV 4K’s A15 Bionic chip.

The 2nd-generation FireStick 4K Max offers an immersive experience that transforms your TV into an Alexa-supported smart display, featuring themes, backgrounds, wallpapers, and unique widgets. This smart display comes into play when you’re not streaming, making your TV appealing.

Verdict

The two devices have similar specifications, differing only in a few areas. However, Apple TV 4K wins in this category due to the additional Spatial audio support, which delivers an immersive sound experience that transforms your home into a mini-cinema. It also beats the FireStick 4K Max’s 16GB storage.

Apple TV4 K vs. All-New FireStick 4K Max: User Interface

Apple TV and FireStick house hundreds of apps and games. The arrangement of these apps and games on the home screen, as well as the ease of navigation, is also important. Let’s compare the interface of Apple TV 4K and the FireStick 4K Max.

Apple TV 4K Interface

If there is one area that the Apple TV 4K nailed, it’s the organization of apps on the home screen. The apps are distinctively arranged in spaced tiles, unlike in FireStick 4K Max, where the tiles sit closely together.

Apple TV 4K gives you ultimate control over what appears on your home screen by allowing you to customize the menu. You can also group your favorite apps into folders for easy retrieval. Additionally, Apple TV 4K does not bombard you with ads and promotions for Apple-related content. While you will come across sponsored Apple content, it is inside the Apple TV app, and you can hide the app in a folder to avoid the ads.

All-New FireStick 4K Max Interface

The FireStick 4K Max interface is decent, but it lacks some key aspects. First, the upper section is laden with Amazon-sponsored content, including featured originals, movies, and TV shows. Sometimes, when you power on the FireStick, the sponsored content starts playing, which can be distracting.

The FireStick’s interface is somewhat cluttered.

Finally, the Amazon pre-installed apps take up considerable space on the upper section of the window. You can’t rearrange these or hide them in folders.

Overall, the FireStick 4K Max’s user interface is responsive and easy to navigate. You can also access your favorite app or show by searching via the voice remote or entering a keyword in the search bar under Find.

Verdict

Apple TV 4K earns more points here because it lets you customize your home screen, create folders, and has limited ads.

Apple TV 4K vs. All-New FireStick 4K Max: App Selection

Streaming devices have become popular because of their wide selection of apps and games. So which device offers more apps, the Apple TV 4K or the All-New FireStick 4K Max? Let’s find out.

Apple TV4K App Selection

According to 42 Matters, a TV app intelligence solutions provider and researcher, Apple TV 4K has over 18,000 apps. Most apps are free to download and use, but some require subscriptions or purchases.

Apple TV 4K has a wide selection of apps for streaming content and playing video games. The big five apps are available: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and HBO Max. Other significant apps for home entertainment include Peacock TV, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, and Twitch for gamers.

Apple’s gaming collection is better than FireStick’s. These apps are hosted in the Apple Arcade, bringing all your favorite games together. Popular games include Rayman Adventures, Hello Kitty Island, Super Fruit Ninja, and Asphalt 8 Airborne.

The Apple TV 4K interface offers a better gaming experience than the all-new FireStick 4K Max. It is better designed and faster.

All-New FireStick 4K Max App Selection

The all-new FireStick 4K Max transforms homes into entertainment hubs through hundreds of apps, channels, video games, and other digital on-demand content. Currently, the Amazon Fire TV app store boasts 16,429 apps.

The leading streaming app giants include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney Plus. Over 14,000 apps on the app store are free to download, with the remainder requiring a one-time payment to download and access. Some free apps, like Netflix and Spotify, need subscriptions and have in-app purchases.

Like its Apple TV 4K counterpart, the FireStick 4K Max has a dedicated gaming app called Luna. The app offers a rotating list of popular video games, including Resident Evil 7, A Plague Tale, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

You can play the games with your FireStick remote or pair the device with compatible game controllers. Some compatible game controllers that work perfectly with Luna include the Luna Controller, Xbox One, and PlayStation DualShock 4.

Verdict

The Apple TV 4K takes this cup for its more comprehensive selection of apps. The Apple Arcade also has a slight edge over the Amazon Luna, and the interface offers a better gaming experience.

Apple TV 4K vs. All-New FireStick 4K Max: Sideloading Apps

The sideloading ability of a streaming device is crucial because you may want to install third-party apps that offer free or paid services not available on official app stores. These third-party apps include IPTV services, media players, and video games.

Let’s compare the two devices based on their ability to sideload apps.

Sideloading Apps on Apple TV 4K

Apple TV 4K allows you to install third-party apps that the tvOS App Store does not support. However, there are certain conditions you must meet, including:

• Your Apple TV 4K should be running on the 4th-generation tvOS version
• A free Apple TV developer account
• A MacBook with Xcode 7 installed
• An installed Xcode project
• A USB-A to USB-C cable

The steps to sideloading third-party apps on Apple TV 4K are long, complex, and require technical expertise. You must also connect your Mac and Apple TV 4K to the same network and connect the two devices with a USB-A to USB-C cable. See this article for more information about sideloading third-party apps on Apple TV 4K.

Sideloading Apps on All-New FireStick 4K Max

FireStick 4K Max is excellent for sideloading third-party apps, games, and IPTV services. The only prerequisites to sideload an app absent from the Amazon App Store are installing the Downloader app and allowing installation from unknown sources in the device’s settings. Check out our guide to sideloading apps on FireStick using the Downloader app.

Verdict

The all-new FireStick 4K Max wins this category, hands down, due to its ease of sideloading apps.

Apple TV 4K vs. All-New FireStick 4K Max: Pricing

The price is crucial in an Apple TV4K vs. all-new FireStick 4K Max comparison because the two devices have a considerable difference in pricing. After comparing the two devices regarding other aspects and features, you want to choose the device that suits your budget.

Apple TV 4K Price

Apple TV 4K offers two models with different pricing, depending on the storage and whether it uses Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi plus Ethernet. The two models include:

• Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi with 64GB storage) at $129
• Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet with 128GB storage) at $149

All-New FireStick 4K Max Price

The FireStick 4K Max is priced at $59.99. However, it is currently available at a discounted price of $39.99. It is the latest generation of this model and offers the best streaming experience among Amazon Fire TV Sticks.

Verdict

The all-new FireStick 4K Max takes the crown in this sector because it is more affordable while offering almost the same streaming experience as the Apple TV 4K. Although the Apple TV 4K offers some premium features and larger storage, the FireStick provides a similar experience at a fraction of the cost.

Which Device Is Better?

It is impossible to determine which is the best Apple TV 4 K or FireStick. Both devices offer excellent streaming capabilities, hundreds of apps and games, and a similar user experience.

Your choice will depend on your entertainment needs, preferences, budget, and whether you have an existing smart home ecosystem. For example, buying an Apple TV would make sense if you already own an Apple HomeKit, Apple Watch, iPhone, and MacBook.

Related:

• Roku vs. FireStick – What is the Difference
• FireStick vs. 4k vs. Lite vs. 4k Max vs. Fire TV Cube
• Best Apps for FireStick
• How to Jailbreak a FireStick

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