So as the title suggests I’d like to make the switch from the Amazon fire stick to the Apple TV. Doesn’t necessarily need the be the latest model, but depending on cost/features I can do.
I’ve just found the whole experience on the fire stick to be getting worse and worse, some apps lag like hell and just the general user experience isn’t great.
I have all Apple products in my home barring the fire the 2 fire sticks I own.
Can anyone who’s made the jump talk me through if it’s worth the £139 and will I notice much difference with the apps and performance?
Did have a look through the forum but with the new tv coming out thought to get some up to date opinions.
Tia!
I've recently got a new Apple TV 4k to replace a Fire TV box which was also getting increasingly flakey. I only have a 1080p TV although I'm musing about getting a 4k.
Now, this is in about 3 parts with confusingly different names:
* Apple TV (the hardware and OS):
Seems really solid - and I'd say the playback, across apps and services, is smoother and better quality than on the Fire TV. Not night and day - but I'm perfectly satisfied. Amazon, Netflix, iPlayer and MrMC (the key apps for me) all went fine.
Integration with other Apple devices for Airplay etc. is, of course, more straightforward (although most of it
could be done with FireTV and appropriate apps) and the main home screen that basically just shows your apps (which can be moved around, put into folders etc) is nice and straightforward. My Mac is still on Mojave, so I'm using the "Computers" app to access music on the iMac - so I haven't braved the Music/Photos app yet.
Not that sold on the remote - I'll probably end up leaving touch sensitivity turned off in which case it's not a lot different from the fire TV. Only howler is the Siri search button on the side which is far to easy to hit when you pick up the remote and which will interrupt your viewing with no obvious quick way to go back.
* Apple TV+ (the content)
Got the ATV when I did basically because the 1-year free ATV+ offer was dropping to 1 month. Thoroughly enjoyed "For All Mankind", waiting for Foundation but in the meantime there's nothing else I desperately want to watch. You'll be able to satisfy any curiosity in the free month. Not sure there's enough content there yet for it to be worth
paying for - they really need to try and buy up some back-catalogue stuff that isn't available elsewhere.
* Apple TV (the app)
...doesn't impress me much. Far too interested in selling me new stuff than helping me get at what I'm already subscribed to and part-way through watching. Didn't help that the "up next" stopped working when I was about half way through "For All Mankind". Even Amazon has a 'free to me' section and clearly separate categories for stuff you're subscribed to. Frankly, I'd have expected Apple to be a bit less mercenary than Amazon (who are clearly selling the FireTV hardware at loss-leader prices). Also, while the ATV app integrates with things like Amazon Prime and iPlayer, it doesn't know about Netflix shows (and, needless to say, doesn't cover my local files & live TV on MrMC) - and although that is Netflix's fault it kinda knocks it on the head as a one-stop-shop for all your shows.
Still, you only
have to use this App for ATV+ shows - you can run all the individual services' apps from the basic TVOS home screen.
Overall, there's no doubt that the Fire TV stick is better value for money, but the ATV does feel like a "more premium" product, especially if you avoid the ATV App. Haven't really tried it for games or other stuff that might really show off the better CPU.
