我们终于开始以合理的价格购买智能电视(Smart TVs)，无需专用设备即可更轻松地播放电视节目。但有时，它们的流媒体性能通常还有很多不足之处。
这就是为什么想要在大屏幕上尽情享受娱乐的任何人都必须使用专用的流媒体设备。但这提出了一个更大的问题：您应该购买哪种流媒体设备？
对于大多数人来说，这归结为两种选择：Apple TV或亚马逊的 Fire Stick(Amazon’s Fire Stick)。一种是 iPhone 的创造者提供的优质产品，另一种是来自全球电子商务巨头的物有所值的设备。那么其中哪一个是您更好的选择呢？让我们来了解一下。
Apple TV 4K对比 亚马逊 Fire TV Stick 4K(Vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K)：简况(Rundown)
让我们从一开始就明确一件事——这两种流媒体设备都是在UHD电视上流式传输内容而没有任何问题的绝佳选择。它们仅在某些生活质量功能和定价上有所不同。
Apple TV 4K 是更昂贵的选择。Apple以其高度抛光的优质产品而闻名，这款漂亮的小设备也不例外。小型方形集线器支持空间音频(Spatial Audio)、以太网连接，并提供比竞争对手更广泛的流媒体服务目录。
另一方面，Fire TV 是一款经济实惠的棒，静静地依偎在您的电视屏幕后面。它绝不是“便宜”的替代品，轻松胜过Roku 流媒体棒(Roku streaming stick)或Chromecast等基本设备。无论是视频质量还是杜比全景声(Dolby Atmos)支持，亚马逊 Fire TV(Amazon Fire TV)棒在各个方面都与Apple TV 流媒体盒相匹配。
两种流媒体(Streaming) 设备的共同功能(Devices)
在讨论差异之前，让我们先谈谈两种设备中相同的东西。
- 首先(First)，流媒体。这两款设备都可以让您访问最常见的流媒体服务，例如Disney Plus、Netflix、Hulu 或 Amazon Prime Video(Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video)。
- 在音乐方面，您可以获得所有主要的音乐应用程序(major music apps)，例如Spotify、Deezer和Amazon Music。
- 谈到(HDR10)画质(picture quality)，Apple TV 和Fire Stick都支持HDR10 （亚马逊(Amazon)设备为HDR10+ ）和4K超高清(Ultra HD)分辨率的杜比视界。(Dolby Vision)
- 对于音频，您可以获得Dolby Atmos、Dolby 5.1和Dolby 7.1格式，Apple流媒体还提供 Spatial Audio。
- 对于智能家居，这两种设备都能满足您的需求。您可以使用任何语音助手控制您的智能家居设备：Siri 或 Alexa
- 此外，蓝牙(Bluetooth)连接允许您链接到控制器并在电视上开始游戏，而无需插入控制台。
Apple TV 4K 独家功能
- 这两种设备之间的第一个显着区别是设计。Apple TV 不是一根插在电视后面的HDMI端口中就再也看不到的棒。它的盒子状形状确保您需要将其放在您的表面上，这对于已经拥挤的家庭影院设置可能是一个问题。
- Siri为(Siri)Apple TV遥控器提供动力，并将您连接到Apple生态系统。App Store、Apple TV应用程序、iTunes 和Apple音乐。虽然您不能旁加载Android应用程序，但Apple TV拥有比Fire TV 棒更多的流媒体应用程序。然后是Apple Arcade，让您可以访问优质游戏库。
- Apple TV 在连接性方面也在竞争中得分。您可以将Apple TV 流媒体盒连接到路由器的以太网端口以获得更快的互联网速度(Ethernet port for faster internet speeds)。尽管这可能会造成电缆混乱（因为您还需要一根HDMI电缆来连接电视），因此您可能希望选择Wifi 6连接。
- 如果您是Apple(Apple)用户，您还将获得更加无缝的体验。同一个Apple ID可让您在所有Apple设备上访问您的媒体，无论是Mac、iPad、iPhone 还是Apple TV。您甚至可以使用您的 iPhone 或 iPad 来控制您的 Apple TV(use your iPhone or iPad to control your Apple TV)。
亚马逊 Fire TV Stick 4K(Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K)的亮点
亚马逊流媒体棒的亮点是价格。Apple TV 4K 的价格要贵三倍，但功能大致相同。对于任何聪明的买家来说，这将立即成为决定因素。
视频流设备的较低价格通常会转化为较差的视频质量，但这里并非如此。与Apple TV 一样，Amazon Fire TV Stick支持HDR的 4K 视频输出。它支持HDR10+ –一个改进的版本，可以逐个场景地调整颜色和对比度。它仅适用于选定的三星(Samsung)和松下电视(Panasonic TVs)，并且仅适用于Amazon Prime Video提供的内容（至少在流行的流媒体服务中）。
另一个优点是Fire TV 是基于Android OS构建的。这使得旁加载Android应用程序并访问默认情况下在Fire Stick上不可用的各种应用程序或游戏成为可能。
直到最近，Alexa语音控制遥控器也比Apple TV设备提供的遥控器好得多。Siri 遥控器(Siri remote was notorious)因其触摸板过于敏感和缺少按钮而臭名昭著。但是最近的更新已经解决了这个问题，并且语音遥控器在两种流媒体设备上都能很好地工作。
Apple TV 或Amazon Fire TV Stick：哪个是最好的流媒体设备(Device)？
考虑到价格，亚马逊的Fire TV 棒是更好的选择。(Fire)因此，Apple TV是否提供其价格更合理的竞争对手所没有的任何功能？
好吧，有几个。最重要的也许是卓越的连接选项。由于Apple TV 支持WiFi-6和以太网(Ethernet)，它可以充分利用您的宽带连接来提供无缝流媒体。
另一大优势是无广告界面。没有什么比在菜单中筛选广告更令人恼火的了，这是Fire TV 棒的一个问题。Apple 的流媒体盒还为您提供了更多种类的流媒体频道，除了不太讨厌推送其服务。
但是，如果连接不是问题并且您处理广告也没有问题，那么Fire TV Stick 4K就是您的最佳选择。它便宜得多，可以轻松安装在您的电视屏幕后面，并带有更灵活的Alexa生态系统。有进取心的用户还可以将Android应用程序侧载到他们的Fire TV 棒上，进一步扩展其功能。
Apple TV vs Fire Stick: A Head-to-Head Comparison
We have finally started getting Smart TVs аt a decent price point, making it easier to stream TV shows without a dedicated device. But sometimes, their streaming performance usuаlly leaves much to be desired for.
This is why a dedicated streaming device is a must for anyone looking to binge their entertainment on a big screen. But that poses a bigger question: Which streaming device should you get?
This boils down to two options for most people: Apple TV or Amazon’s Fire Stick. One is a premium offering from the creator of the iPhone, while the other is a value-for-money device from the global eCommerce behemoth. So which one of them is the better choice for you? Let’s find out.
Apple TV 4K Vs. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: The Rundown
Let’s make one thing clear from the get-go – both streaming devices are great options to stream content on a UHD TV without any issues. They only differ in some quality of life features and pricing.
The Apple TV 4K is the more expensive option. Apple is known for its highly polished, premium products, and this nifty little device is no exception. The small square-shaped hub supports Spatial Audio, ethernet connectivity, and offers a much more extensive catalog of streaming services than the competition.
On the other hand, the Fire TV is a budget-friendly stick that nestles quietly behind your TV screen. It’s by no means a “cheap” alternative, handily outperforming basic devices like the Roku streaming stick or Chromecast. Be it video quality or Dolby Atmos support, the Amazon Fire TV stick matches up to the Apple TV streaming box in every respect.
Common Features in Both Streaming Devices
Before we get into differences, let us talk about the things that are the same in both devices.
- First up, streaming. Both devices give you access to the most common streaming services like Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video.
- On the music front, you get all major music apps like Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music.
- Coming to picture quality, both Apple TV and the Fire Stick support HDR10 (HDR10+ for the Amazon device) and Dolby Vision at 4K Ultra HD resolutions.
- For audio, you get Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1, and Dolby 7.1 formats, with the Apple streamer also offering Spatial Audio.
- For smart homes, both devices have got you covered. You can control your smart home devices using any voice assistant: Siri or Alexa
- Also, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to link to a controller and start gaming on your TV without plugging in a console.
Apple TV 4K Exclusive Features
- The first significant difference between the two devices is the design. Apple TV is not a stick that you stick into an HDMI port behind your TV and never see again. Its box-like shape makes sure that you need to put it on your surface, which may be a problem with an already crowded home theater setup.
- Siri powers the Apple TV remote control and connects you to the Apple ecosystem. The App Store, the Apple TV app, iTunes, and Apple music. While you cannot sideload Android apps, Apple TV has more streaming apps than the Fire TV stick. Then there is Apple Arcade, giving you access to a library of quality games.
- Apple TV also scores over its competition in terms of connectivity. You can connect your Apple TV streaming box to your router’s Ethernet port for faster internet speeds. Although this might create a mess of cables (as you need an HDMI cable to interface with the TV as well) so you might want to opt for a Wifi 6 connection instead.
- You will also get a much more seamless experience if you are an Apple user. The same Apple ID will let you access your media across all your Apple devices, whether it is a Mac, an iPad, an iPhone, or an Apple TV. You can even use your iPhone or iPad to control your Apple TV.
Highlights of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
The highlight of Amazon’s streaming stick is the price. Apple TV 4K is three times more expensive, for more or less the same features. For any intelligent buyer, this will be the deciding factor right away.
A lower price of a video streaming device usually translates to poorer video quality, but that is not the case here. Like Apple TV, the Amazon Fire TV Stick supports 4K video output with HDR. It supports HDR10+ – an improved version that adjusts color and contrast on a scene-by-scene basis. It only works with select Samsung and Panasonic TVs and is available in content served with Amazon Prime Video alone (at least among popular streaming services).
The other advantage is that Fire TV is built on Android OS. This makes it possible to sideload Android apps and access various applications or games not available on Fire Stick by default.
Until recently, the Alexa voice control remote was also way better than the remote offered with the Apple TV device. The Siri remote was notorious for its over-sensitive touchpad and lack of buttons. But the recent update has fixed this issue, and the voice remote works quite well on both streaming devices.
Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick: Which Is the Best Streaming Device?
Amazon’s Fire TV stick is the better option when considering the price. Thus, does Apple TV offer any features not found in its more reasonably priced competitor?
Well, there are a couple of them. The most important is perhaps the superior connectivity options. Since Apple TV supports WiFi-6 and Ethernet, it can fully utilize your broadband connection to offer seamless streaming.
The other big advantage is the ad-free interface. There is nothing more irritating than sifting through advertisements even in the menu, which is an issue with the Fire TV stick. Apple’s streaming box also gives you a greater variety of streaming channels besides not being too obnoxious about pushing its service.
But if connectivity is not an issue and you have no problem dealing with ads, then the Fire TV Stick 4K is the way to go. It’s much cheaper, fits easily behind your television screen, and comes with the more flexible Alexa ecosystem. Enterprising users will also be able to sideload Android apps to their Fire TV stick, further extending its functionality.
