Yes! This article is to fight it out between two of the most famous smart TV sticks out there. Now, in the latter part of 2021, Google and Amazon have taken the lead of the best streaming stick maker with their improved design on the streaming gadgets.
Automatic television is here and it has come to stay. So, if you are the type that has always dream of having your TV turn on by itself on a cool Saturday morning when all that you have in your plan is to rest after a long week of stress at the office, then these gadgets are here to help you.
Google is the company that designed the Chromecast device while Amazon is the maker of the Amazon Firestick. Both devices seem pretty much of a competitor, and offer virtually similar services but with only a little touch of differences. For those that have never even heard of these gadgets before, the Chromecast and the Fire TV, essentially, are devices that users plug into their television to turn their TV into a smart TV. One very cool thing about these devices is that they synchronize very well with the rest of your smart home.
However, this article is to help you decide which, out of the two gadgets, is reliable for you to invest your money. Before that, let us take a look at a brief description of these two devices.
The Chromecast is actually a small, circular gadget that has a short HDMI cord where the device dangles from. The gadget can be plugged into the back of your TV and literally needs a power cord that can be plugged either into your TV’s USB port or intothe appropriate wall socket. Primarily, the Google Chromecast was built originally to be controlled by your mobile devices (iOS or Android) using a feature referred to as a casting.
With Casting, you only need to launch the app [such as YouTube, Hulu, or Pandora] that you wish to play from, and then select the casting symbol located just to the top right side of your screen. And right from there, you can choose your Chromecast and that is it! Chromecast offers to cast support to many of your favorite apps such as Netflix, Pandora, YouTube, and lots more.
One good thing about the Chromecast is its simplicity. It fits rightly behind most TVs and needs no remote to operate other than your smartphone, although it works with a remote app.
While you can use your smartphone, the Chromecast equally allows you to talk with voice. The voice feature incorporated into the device, according to users’ reviews, plays the role of remote for them and they can’t help but admire the versatility and user-friendliness of the device.
On the other hand, the Amazon Fire TV stick is another gadget that is very similar to the Google Chromecast in that users plug in the HDMI port at the back of their TV and they start using their smart TV. Just like the Google Chromecast, the Amazon Firestick also allows you to connect other smart devices in your home for input from the added remote or added voice feature.
The remote that came with the device, named the Alexa voice remote, performs the work of a standard remote that can be used to switch through apps and can also be used for voice inputs just like an Amazon Echo.
As it stands now, the Amazon Firestick is the only veritable competitor to the Chromecast because it offers both functions as a media device as well as a portal for operating many smart home features.
Which streaming device can I buy in 2021?
One thing you need to know is that the Google Chromecast is a little cheaper and easier to use for the average person. However, if you are a professional and tech-savvy individual whowants a more rounded experience with streaming, the Amazon Firestick might pay off in the long run.
Also, similar to the Google Chromecast, the Amazon Fire TV Stick also provides a full HD experience, but it does not need casting, and you only have to explore the Firestick’s TV homepage to find the streaming service or app that you wish to watch from. What this implies is that you have great control of things through the Alexa Voice Remote, and you don’t need any auxiliary device such as a tablet or smartphone.
Both Firestick and Google Chromecast have a wide range of apps that you can stream from. In fact, you will be able to install the best apps on Firestick. Same with Google Chromecast. Both devices also have Voice control.
The voice control through Alexa is more practical marginally. However, if you possess a Google smart speaker, voice control with Google is actually hands-free – this is an option that is not available with any of Amazon’s Fire TV gadgets save the very expensive Fire TV Cube.
One other very important deciding factor is if you are sharing your crib with friends or some other people, you may choose the Chromecast for the single reason that once you cease casting, no other person can have access to your accounts and passwords. With this, you are safe to watch your favorite shows on screen without having the need to sign in and sign out all the time.
Conclusion
If you run a smart home, it becomes important at some points to integrate your TV to have an all-round experience with smart gadgets. The Firestick and the Google Chromecast offer a way of achieving this. The Chromecast features an interface that integrates easily with the apps that you are using every day. It has a very simple design that makes it somewhat intuitive to use for those who are not tech-savvy. On the other hand, the Firestick has a slow and heavy user interface and the organization of the apps is not really that customizable. Hence, if you are a beginner in tech, it may sound nice to invest your money in the Google Chromecast.