![]() ![]() Thankfully, both the Fire and Chromecast offer a varied selection of streaming apps, although each has its unique set of oddities and caveats too. This is the make-or-break section for both streamers, as the whole point of sticking one of these in your TV is so you can enhance it with smart functionality. **Winner** Google Chromecast with Google TV Apps and software Overall, our vote goes to the Chromecast thanks to its USB-C connection, less obstructive design and greater selection of colours. Amazon also sells the Alexa Voice Remote Pro as an optional extra, which adds backlit buttons, two programmable shortcut buttons and a find my remote feature for when it inevitably slips between the couch cushions – but that is an additional £35 / $35 / AU$59 so we won't count it in this versus. It's a bit chunkier and feels slightly more solid in the hand, compared to the Chromecast remote. It gets a couple more Amazon services-based shortcut buttons, as well as a Disney Plus shortcut button instead of YouTube. Overall the controller is fine perhaps a tad small and fiddly for some, but that will be down to personal preference.Īmazon bundles in its Alexa Voice Remote, which it has been slowly refining over the years to include better functionality. The Chromecast also gets a colour-matched remote with directional buttons, volume controls, a Google Assistant button (and microphone), power, an input switching button and two pre-assigned app shortcut buttons for YouTube and Netflix. This means no obstruction of other HDMI ports, and an easy switch out if you need to replace the cable, thanks Google! It also has a rounded puck design with a flat HDMI cable stretching out the top end, and a USB-C connector on the bottom edge. ![]() First of all, it comes in three different colours to choose from: Sky (a pastel blue shade), Sunrise (pink, but whatever you say Google) and Snow (white, obviously). Speaking of the Chromecast, it features a much more aesthetically pleasing design. This isn't the case for the Chromecast, which instead firmly informs you that it will not work over the TV's USB power and instead demands you plug it straight into the wall. ![]() One benefit of the Fire TV stick is that it technically can run off your TV's USB for power, however, you do receive an on-screen message suggesting that you use the included power adapter for the best performance. Thankfully Amazon does include an HDMI extender in the box if you do find this to be an issue, or if you need your Fire TV stick to stretch a little closer to the nearest plug socket. That being said, it did encroach onto its neighbouring HDMI connectors when we tested it with the Sony A80K, however your experience may differ depending on what TV you plan on hooking it up to. The boxy black design is pleasingly lowkey overall, with a stealthy design that is fairly unobstructive when it's lodged into your TV's HDMI socket. It also features a micro USB connection, which in 2023 is nothing short of irritating, as practically everything has converted to USB-C by now. ![]() It's a black plastic cuboid that resembles an enlarged USB thumb drive, with an HDMI connector sticking out of one end. Starting with the Fire TV Stick, Amazon is keeping its tried and true design format that it's used since the first generation Fire TV Stick launched in 2014. Neither streaming device features a particularly alluring design, but that's okay considering they'll be hidden behind your TV during use. ![]()
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