Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3

Home Archive Serious Business Amazon Fire TV vs Roku 3
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Dec 1, 2014 7:59 PM
Looking to buy one of these devices, curious if anyone has either one and what your thoughts are on it.

I have it narrowed down to the Fire TV and Roku 3 as they are the only two major players that have Amazon Prime support. Amazon is having a killer sale on the Fire TV right now ($69 down from $99). The Roku 3 is $85 but has a few features that the Fire doesn't, namely unified search and the ability to plug in headphones to the remote to watch without disturbing others.

I already jumped on the Fire TV stick when it first went on sale (only $19 for prime members) but I won't be getting it until January.
Dec 1, 2014 7:59pm
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:02 PM
I'm not as familiar with Amazon Fire TV. But didn't Amazon release an Android app for viewing? If so, why not just save some money and go with a Chromecast assuming that the Amazon Android player has Chromecast support?
Dec 1, 2014 8:02pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:03 PM
sherm03;1680828 wrote:I'm not as familiar with Amazon Fire TV. But didn't Amazon release an Android app for viewing? If so, why not just save some money and go with a Chromecast assuming that the Amazon Android player has Chromecast support?
Not a fan of the chromecast anyway, but there isn't an Amazon Prime app for it.
Dec 1, 2014 8:03pm
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:06 PM
After doing comparisons I ended up getting the Roku 3 a few months ago and I love it. It's got all the apps I want and the universal search is clutch.

Hope that helps.
Dec 1, 2014 8:06pm
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:07 PM
justincredible;1680829 wrote:Not a fan of the chromecast anyway, but there isn't an Amazon Prime app for it.
Gotcha. I don't know enough about either of them. But having the headphone plug in is a pretty cool idea.
Dec 1, 2014 8:07pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:10 PM
lhslep134;1680832 wrote:After doing comparisons I ended up getting the Roku 3 a few months ago and I love it. It's got all the apps I want and the universal search is clutch.

Hope that helps.
It does. The main reason I am considering the Fire TV at this point is that the price dropped $30 since this morning, otherwise I would have bought the Roku 3 this evening.
Dec 1, 2014 8:10pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:15 PM
I believe they are giving free months of Hulu for a purchase of either.
Dec 1, 2014 8:15pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:22 PM
like_that;1680840 wrote:I believe they are giving free months of Hulu for a purchase of either.
I see the Roku 3 gets 3 months of Hulu Plus for free. Not seeing the same deal for the Fire TV.
Dec 1, 2014 8:22pm
like_that's avatar

like_that

1st Team All-PWN

26,625 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:26 PM
justincredible;1680842 wrote:I see the Roku 3 gets 3 months of Hulu Plus for free. Not seeing the same deal for the Fire TV.
Nvm, I was thinking of the chrome cast. The fire has a bundle deal for amazon prime though if you don't already have that.
Dec 1, 2014 8:26pm
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Dec 1, 2014 8:51 PM
justincredible;1680836 wrote:It does. The main reason I am considering the Fire TV at this point is that the price dropped $30 since this morning, otherwise I would have bought the Roku 3 this evening.
I forgot to add that the plug-in headphones are also clutch. I like to fall asleep with the TV on and the ability to mute it for others while still listening is a pretty nifty feature.
Dec 1, 2014 8:51pm
iclfan2's avatar

iclfan2

Reppin' the 330/216/843

6,360 posts
Dec 1, 2014 9:18 PM
I have the roku and like it a lot. Have no comparison to the fire and would probably rather have the Apple TV so that I could mirror my computer (mainly for browns games).


"Get busy livin, or get busy dyin"
Dec 1, 2014 9:18pm
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Dec 1, 2014 11:05 PM
What's the portability like for the Roku? I'd like to have something that I can bring with me. I have tried to bring my Chromecast with me on trips, but because the way that hotel WiFi is set up where you have to connect and then enter login information on a website, it won't work. Does the Roku have easier connectivity to multi-step WiFi connections?
Dec 1, 2014 11:05pm