Streaming Devices / Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Apple TV with gigabit ethernet and Thread — the best smart-home hub in the category.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.5-point gap makes the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) the straightforward choice here. Apple TV with gigabit ethernet and Thread — the best smart-home hub in the category.
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) are both current-generation streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is $109 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ($139.99 vs $249). On Platform & Apps, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. On Value, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads (5.5 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Remote, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (7.5 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. Overall, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) | Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $139.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2022 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (2160p) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic, 5-core CPU at 2.9GHz | Amlogic POP1-G — octa-core, 4x Cortex-A73 at 2.2GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 4✓ | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | 128✓ | 16 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (built in) | Built in (10/100) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 + BLE |
| Operating System | tvOS 26 | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) |
| Remote | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced; hands-free far-field voice on the device itself; no backlight; no remote finder |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.0 — a 1.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) if…
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
- • Remote matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 7.5/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • Your main use case is 4k-hdr.
Choose the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 5.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $109 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet plus a Thread border router — the most capable smart-home hub here
- +Comfortably the fastest streaming box you can buy
- +tvOS has no ads on the home screen
- +Double the storage of the 64GB model
- +Excellent Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos handling
Cons
- −At $249 it is by far the most expensive device in this category
- −Price rose from $149 to $249 in June 2026, a 67% increase
- −2022 hardware with a successor widely reported as imminent
- −Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6, both behind newer rivals
- −No USB-C cable included in the box
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Pros
- +By far the fastest Fire TV device, roughly twice the 4K Max
- +Built-in ethernet and an HDMI input are unique in the Fire TV line
- +Hands-free Alexa without needing a separate Echo
- +Super Resolution Upscaling genuinely helps older HD content
Cons
- −No hardware refresh since 2022 — the oldest device in the Fire TV line
- −Still on Fire OS 7 (Android 9), while the sticks have moved to Fire OS 8
- −Ethernet is 10/100, not gigabit
- −Roughly double the price of the 4K Max for the same Dolby Vision and Atmos support
- −Reviewers report it sometimes fails to switch into Dolby Vision automatically
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Platform & Apps (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Which is better for Value, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Value (5.5/10 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Remote, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Remote (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 9.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) worth the price difference over the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the cheaper option at $139.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Platform & Apps.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) is the better fit if you mainly care about 4k-hdr. The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the better fit for home-theater or smart-home.
What's the warranty on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) — $59.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.