Streaming Devices / Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.7-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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is $189 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ($59.99 vs $249). On Smart Home, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.0 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. On Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (7.8 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads (9.5 vs 8.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. Overall, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.6/10 for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $59.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2023 |
| 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 | MediaTek MT8696T — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 4✓ | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | 128✓ | 16 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Ethernet | Gigabit (built in) | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 + BLE |
| Operating System | tvOS 26 | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) |
| Remote | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; 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 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) and Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Platform & Apps
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 5.0 — a 4.0-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.8 against 4.0 — a 3.8-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…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores 9.0/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • 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).
- • 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).
- • Your main use case is smart-home.
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 7.8/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $189 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Fastest Fire TV stick, and the only one with Wi-Fi 6E
- +16GB of storage leaves real room for apps and games
- +Best Fire TV stick for cloud gaming
- +Ambient Experience turns an idle TV into an art frame
Cons
- −Three years old with no 2026 refresh
- −Ethernet still requires a dongle
- −Costs $10 more than the 4K Plus for the same Dolby Vision and Atmos support
- −Ad-heavy Fire TV home screen
- −Likely the last Android-based Fire TV stick, which is a plus for sideloading today and a risk for app support later
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Smart Home, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Smart Home (9.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Value, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Value (7.8/10 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) scores higher on Platform & Apps (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Is the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) worth the price difference over the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $59.99 versus $249. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Smart Home.
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 smart-home. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the better fit for 4k-hdr or gaming.
What's the warranty on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) vs the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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
onn. 4K Pro (2026) — $59.98
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.