The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the latest entry in Amazon's streaming lineup, but is it a better buy than the Fire TV Cube? The market for streaming hardware has exploded in recent years. Roku, Amazon, Google, Apple, and others all have different boxes/sticks to choose from — with each offering different features, operating systems, etc.
Among all of them, Amazon's Fire TV family is one of the most impressive. Want a streaming stick that's often on sale for under $30? Fire TV has you covered. Looking for a flagship device that handles 4K video and has blazing performance? Once again, Fire TV delivers. Especially for people invested in Amazon Prime and/or Amazon Alexa, Fire TV makes the most sense as the streaming platform to stick with.
At the top of the Fire TV lineup is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube — retailing for $55 and $120, respectively. These are Amazon's two most capable Fire TV gadgets on the market, and as such, they have a lot in common. In regards to video streaming, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube deliver identical experiences. Both products support 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR/HDR10+, and Dolby Vision. Both streamers also come with Dolby Atmos, allowing for a 3D audio experience when used with compatible speakers.
Why The Fire TV Cube Costs Twice As Much
If the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube both stream the same high-quality content, why in the world does the latter cost over twice as much? There's actually a very good reason for that. Where the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is just a streaming stick, the Fire TV Cube doubles as a streaming box and Alexa speaker in one. Just like any Echo speaker, users can talk to Alexa on Fire TV Cube completely hands-free. Say, 'Alexa,' whatever command or question you have, and the Fire TV Cube will answer. Whether someone wants to ask about the weather or change TV inputs, they can have Alexa do all of that without ever lifting a finger. Alexa is also built into the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, but it can only be accessed when pressing the Alexa button on the included remote.
Another key advantage of the Fire TV Cube is its increased horsepower. The 1.8GHz CPU and 750MHz GPU inside the Fire TV Stick 4K Max make it the "most powerful 4K streaming stick" in Amazon's lineup. However, that's easily outdone by the Fire TV Cube's hexacore 2.2Ghz + 1.9GHz CPU and 800MHz GPU. The Fire TV Cube also has double the internal storage for apps and games (16GB versus 8GB). The one hardware advantage of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is its newer Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. If someone has a Wi-Fi 6 router and regularly has multiple devices connected to it, this should allow the Fire TV Stick 4K Max to have a smoother streaming experience than the Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standard on the Fire TV Cube.
This is a comparison that ultimately comes down to one question: How badly do you want an Alexa speaker for hands-free TV controls? It's quite simple to access Alexa using the Fire TV Stick 4K Max's remote, but being able to control the television hands-free can be a great treat. If that's functionality someone would genuinely benefit from, getting the Fire TV Cube isn't a bad idea. For everyone else, it makes sense to buy the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, save $65, and call it a day.
Source: Amazon