Streaming Devices / Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs Google TV Streamer (4K)
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs Google TV Streamer (4K)
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Ethernet and Thread for $99 — the best-value smart-home streaming hub.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Google TV Streamer (4K) wins by 0.3 points, which is not enough to settle it. Fire TV's flagship box — HDMI input, built-in ethernet and hands-free Alexa. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Google TV Streamer (4K) is $40 cheaper than the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) ($99.99 vs $139.99). On Value, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Platform & Apps, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. On Connectivity, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads (9.5 vs 7.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. Overall, the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.1/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.8/10 for the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) | Google TV Streamer (4K) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) 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 | Amlogic POP1-G — octa-core, 4x Cortex-A73 at 2.2GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz | MediaTek MT8696 — quad-core Cortex-A55 up to 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 4✓ |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | 32✓ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Ethernet | Built in (10/100) | Gigabit (built in) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + BLE | 5.1 |
| Operating System | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) | Google TV on Android 14 for TV |
| Remote | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced; hands-free far-field voice on the device itself; no backlight; no remote finder | Voice remote with Gemini, AAA batteries, customizable shortcut button, Find My Remote chime |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Porcelain, Hazel |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Audio Support
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are level here, at 8.5/10 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 Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-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 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Google TV Streamer (4K) 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 Google TV Streamer (4K) 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 Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Choose the Google TV Streamer (4K) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.0/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 8.5/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
- • Remote matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 7.5/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • You want to spend less — it's $40 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is 4k-hdr.
Pros & Cons
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
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Pros
- +Gigabit ethernet and Thread border router built in, at a quarter of the price Apple charges for the same
- +4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage is generous at this price
- +Google Home panel makes it a genuine smart-home hub, not just a streamer
- +Find My Remote solves a problem every other remote here ignores
- +Full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 5 only — no Wi-Fi 6, which is hard to defend on a device launched in 2024
- −The Cortex-A55 chip is modest next to Apple's A15
- −Remote takes disposable AAA batteries rather than charging over USB-C
- −Google TV's home screen is advertising-led, like Fire TV's
- −Capped at 4K60
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or Google TV Streamer (4K) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google TV Streamer (4K) 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 Value, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Platform & Apps (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Is the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) worth the price difference over the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $139.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better fit for 4k-hdr.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Google TV Streamer (4K) 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
Premium Option
Roku Ultra (2024) — $149.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.