Streaming TV devices are increasing in popularity not only because of their affordability but also because of their reliability in coming up regularly with the latest features in order to remain competitive.
Just recently, Apple unveiled the new Apple TV which, according to consumers, is now long overdue. Of all the streaming devices available on the market today, the Apple TV is one of the earliest streaming video devices that was introduced for the first time in 2007.
Currently, Apple, Amazon, Roku and Google are four tech companies that dominate the streaming device market. Sales in streamed content from these companies reportedly covered 86 percent of the total sales earned in 2014.
If these are the four popular names when it comes to creating competitive devices for streamed TV content, perhaps the next thing that consumers want to know is simply which among them is worth purchasing.
While most people tend to be subjective in their choices, there are those who still keep their options open to new innovations and have even shown willingness to go from one brand to another.
Let's take a closer look at each of these streaming devices.
PROS
The Apple TV comes with an intuitive remote that features a touchpad which users can also use like a motion-sensitive gamepad that's akin to the Wii Remote of Nintendo. Through this remote, users can swipe and click on the screen similar to what they normally do on their iPhone. Moreover, the Apple TV features a Siri-powered voice search that allows users to make quick searches on a number of video services (Showtime, Hulu, etc.), apps and media library.
Amazon Fire TV also has a voice search capability and comes with a game controller. Released in 2014, Amazon has initially focused on the device's gaming features and now boasts that it currently has over 700 games available on the platform. Other notable features include a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, Adreno 320 GPU and a Bluetooth-enabled controller.
Roku's third-generation device now ranks as one of the most popular dedicated streaming devices in the market and has reportedly made up 34 percent of the total sales in 2014. It comes with a WiFi-enabled remote which allows the user to give out commands no matter which direction the remote is being pointed at. It also allows private listening because of its built-in headphone port. It has a dedicated button that turns on the microphone which the user can use for voicing out his search.
Chromecast is a dongle that is used by plugging it into a TV's HDMI port. It's paired with a Chromecast app which is installed on the user's phone or tablet. Whatever media content is playing on the user's device, the Chromecast would mirror it and then display the content on TV. Since it has no remote, Chromecast is the most portable device among other devices.
CONS
While the Apple TV has an interface that is definitely slicker compared to its rivals, it doesn't really offer much in terms of new streamed content. It's also unsure if Siri is an exclusive feature to iTunes content or if it would also be compatible with apps such as HBO Now, Hulu and Netflix.
Amazon Fire TV comes with an optional game remote that has a separate price of $40. It's not built with a voice-search capability. There's also a question on speed quality since some games tend to run slowly.
While the Roku is now on its third generation, it still carries the same processor found in Roku 2. It also needs to ramp up its gaming experience in order to maintain its popularity.
Meanwhile, the simplicity of the concept of Chromecast makes it a highly unlikely candidate for earning dissatisfaction from its users. If there's one thing that may contribute to its downfall, it could be its lack of a physical remote and a gaming controller.
PRICE
Apple TV will come in two versions, namely the 32GB and the 64GB versions, which will retail at $149 and $199 respectively. Apple is expecting that its legion of loyal consumers will not mind paying a $50 to $100 premium for the latest generation of the Apple TV.
Amazon Fire TV is retailing at $99. As mentioned earlier, its game controller is sold separately.
Roku's pricing of $99.99 makes it slightly higher than Amazon's. Since the third-generation model has become voice-enabled, it only makes sense for it to command a higher pricing than the former Roku 2, which costs $70.
As always, Chromecast remains as the cheapest streaming TV device available in the market at $35 apiece.
CONCLUSION
Whatever reason the consumer has when purchasing a streaming TV device, it all boils down to the fact that no single device is absolutely perfect. Of course, there must be some unique reasons why a person would choose one over the other.
The Apple TV is no doubt the number one choice among Apple loyalists. It is also a good choice for those who love talking to their TV.
Amazon Fire TV is best for those who are heavy consumers of media on Amazon, while those who are looking for the same heavy media options albeit at a more reasonable price should opt for the Roku.
Lastly, Chromecast is good for minimalists and for those who don't mind pairing it with the app on their devices prior to viewing content. The most prominent reason to choose Chromecast is, of course, its pocket-friendly price tag.
