Luckily, there’s no lack of content at the moment since Roku offers virtually all major services with nearly 2,000 apps available. Without the ability to sideload apps not in the app store, Roku ends up being more limited and at the mercy of its developers who support it with content. You can’t sideload apps or games like you can with a Fire TV product, so if a developer chooses to remove their app (like YouTube TV had just recently), you can’t download it. There’s no advanced algorithm for finding spot-on recommendations, and the biggest hassle is that Roku apps are locked to a limited app store. Unfortunately this isn’t a case of “If it ain’t broke, don‘t fix it,” since customization is extremely limited and scrolling through more than a dozen channels feels slow even when you hold the scroll button up or down. This menu feels lightweight, there’s minimal lag across devices, and apps auto-update in seconds. You can click right into your apps without being bombarded by full-screen ads, and your favorite services are easily accessible with a press. Once you turn on one of these devices, your downloaded apps (which Roku calls channels) show up in rows of three, broken down into large easy-to-see rectangles. But as one of the first streaming devices to hit the market nearly a decade ago, and the interface is showing its age: It’s too straightforward for its own good. If you don’t care for a customized content experience and want to launch straight into your media, you can’t go wrong here. Roku’s proprietary operating system is simple to use, which is both a blessing and a curse. The Best Roku and Fire TV Streaming Devices See quick info from our testing below, then scroll down for in-depth reviews and testing notes of these models.
We tested several devices from Roku and Fire TV, pitting them head to head to see which is best in a range of price and functionality tiers. These days they’re primarily for 4K video streaming through subscription services like Netflix or HBO Max, but you can turn your home‘s largest screen into an advanced media center with tons of functionality if you know how to make the most of them. Think of them as mini computers, since they provide a standalone operating system for accessing the internet so that you can download streaming apps or channels like YouTube, play video games like the Jackbox series of party titles, and even browse the web. Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices add smarts to any TV or monitor that has an HDMI input.
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