Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
The fastest streaming box, with an ad-free interface — at a price that just jumped.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) wins by 0.2 points, which is not enough to settle it. The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is $139 cheaper than the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) ($59.99 vs $199). On Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (7.8 vs 4.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. On Smart Home, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads (7.0 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. Overall, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores 7.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.6/10 for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $199.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2022 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (2160p) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8696T — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 2.0GHz | Apple A15 Bionic, 5-core CPU at 2.9GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 4✓ |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | 64✓ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | None on this variant |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | 5.0 |
| Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | tvOS 26 |
| Remote | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; no backlight; no remote finder | Siri Remote (3rd Gen), USB-C rechargeable, Siri voice; no backlight; no Find My tracking |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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 Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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 Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-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, 64GB Wi-Fi) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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, 64GB Wi-Fi) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.0 — a 2.0-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 4.5 — a 3.3-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
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).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • You want to spend less — it's $139 cheaper.
Choose the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores 7.0/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores 9.0/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
Pros & Cons
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
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)
Pros
- +Comfortably the fastest streaming box you can buy
- +tvOS has no ads on the home screen, unlike Fire TV and Google TV
- +Excellent Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos handling
- +Rechargeable USB-C Siri Remote
- +Longest software support record in the category
Cons
- −No ethernet port on this variant — you need the 128GB model for that
- −No Thread radio, so it cannot act as a Thread border router
- −Price rose from $129 to $199 in June 2026, a 54% 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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Value (7.8/10 vs 4.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores higher on Smart Home (7.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) scores higher on Speed & Performance (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $59.99 versus $199. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 64GB Wi-Fi) 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
Premium Option
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) — $249.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.