If you’re looking to buy a media streaming device, Amazon’s Fire TV lineup offers plenty of options. There is the basic Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Fire TV Stick 4K. All of these devices have a similar dongle form factor and can be connected to any display that has an HDMI port. Amazon also has an interesting device called the Fire TV Cube, which can do a lot more than just stream. Here’s why the Fire TV Cube might be a better option for you on the Fire TV Stick.
funky design
The appearance is one of the most obvious differences between the Fire TV Cube and the Fire TV Stick. All Fire TV Sticks follow the same general design. It is slim, lightweight and has a rectangular shape that almost resembles a large USB drive.
The Fire TV Cube looks brutal by comparison. The square box measures 3.4 inches by 3.38 x 3.38 x 3.02 inches and weighs 465 grams. Unlike the Fire TV Stick, which hides behind your TV, Cube is designed to sit near or in front of your Smart TV. It looks elegant and will well complement your entertainment center. It has four buttons on top, and a blue LED across the top edge. Since the Fire TV Cube is a huge device, make sure there is space around the TV.
Better performance, more storage space
Fire TV Cube is Amazon’s premier streaming device. In terms of performance, the Fire TV Cube blows other Fire TV devices out of the water. Amazon says it’s the fastest of its Fire TV lineup. It’s powered by a hexa-core Amlogic S922X processor, featuring four Cortex-A73 performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz and two Cortex-A53 efficiency cores running at 1.9GHz.
In comparison, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is powered by a MediaTek quad-core CPU clocked at 1.8GHz. While Fire Sticks are prone to lags and lags in the long run, this is not likely to be an issue with the Fire TV Cube. The Cube will feel more responsive and lively in everyday use because it has more RAM and raw power to take advantage of. Also, if you plan to do some graphics-intensive games or work, Fire Cube is a better choice as it has a faster GPU.
The Fire TV Cube has 16GB of onboard storage compared to the 8GB on other Fire TV devices. More storage means more space for apps and media files.
As for streaming performance, Fire TV Cube offers 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support. In that respect, it matches the Fire TV Stick 4K and Stick 4K Max, both of which offer 4K HDR streaming at 60 frames per second. Meanwhile, the basic Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite work at a maximum of 1080p at 60fps.
It’s basically an Echo speaker that can also stream
The biggest difference between the Fire TV Cube and the Fire TV Stick is Alexa hands-free. The Fire TV Cube is basically a complete Echo speaker that can stream as well. It has a built-in 1.6 inch (40 mm) tweeter and eight omnidirectional far-field microphones that can pick up your voice from across the room. This means that you talk to Alexa and give commands without touching the remote control. And since it’s primarily an Echo speaker, you can also control your other smart home devices like lights, security cameras, thermostats, etc. The Fire Stick can also manage your IoT devices, but first you have to connect your devices to the Echo speaker.
You can control the TV and sound system
The Fire TV Cube comes with HDMI-CEC and infrared (IR), allowing you to control your TV, speakers, A/C receivers, and satellite boxes with Alexa.
You can control the power and input on your TV, turn up or down your speakers, or switch to cable using just your voice. For example, you can say “Alexa, turn on the TV” or “Alexa, turn up the volume.” In select markets such as the US, UK and Germany, you can even change channels on your cable or satellite receiver with a voice – “Alexa, set ESPN to cable”.
Essentially, the Fire TV Cube makes it possible to control the entire entertainment system with just voice commands without having to fiddle with remote controls or separate controls, making the experience seamless.
Ethernet connection out of the box
Connectivity options are limited with the Fire TV Stick as you only get HDMI and USB ports. The Fire TV Cube has an HDMI, infrared and micro USB port. Cube also comes with an Ethernet adapter for a wired Internet connection. This can come in handy if your Wi-Fi isn’t strong enough and there are other devices in your home that are fighting for bandwidth. The Fire TV Stick and Stick 4K also support Ethernet connection, but you need to purchase the adapter separately.
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The Fire TV Cube is a unique device that is better in many ways than the Fire TV Stick. While it is more expensive than the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, it also brings a lot of value. Much more than a streaming box, it combines the power of an Echo speaker and Fire TV Stick. In addition to providing hands-free control for content playback, the Fire TV Cube allows you to control your TV, audio system, and satellite box using voice commands.
Amazon Fire TV Box is a fusion of Echo speaker and Fire TV Stick.
Since the Fire TV Cube is also a complete Echo speaker, it can act as a central hub for all your smart home devices, including lights, thermostats, and security cameras. Not to mention that the Fire TV Cube offers better performance and more storage space than the Fire TV Stick. Instead of buying an Echo speaker and a 4K Fire TV Stick, you should get a Fire TV Cube instead and kill two birds with one stone.
If you simply need streaming capabilities and aren’t interested in adding smart speakers to your setup, Fire TV Sticks are still better options.
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