Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Google TV Streamer (4K)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.5 points. Ethernet and Thread for $99 — the best-value smart-home streaming hub.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Google TV Streamer (4K) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is $40 cheaper than the Google TV Streamer (4K) ($59.99 vs $99.99). On Smart Home, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (9.0 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. On Platform & Apps, the Google TV Streamer (4K) leads (8.5 vs 7.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. On Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.5 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 7.6/10 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 | Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | Google TV Streamer (4K) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 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 | MediaTek MT8696T — quad-core Cortex-A55 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 | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | Gigabit (built in) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | 5.1 |
| Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Google TV on Android 14 for TV |
| Remote | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-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 Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Google TV Streamer (4K) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Google TV Streamer (4K) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-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 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 7.5 — a 1.0-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 Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Google TV Streamer (4K) 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 Google TV Streamer (4K) is marginally ahead, 8.0 to 7.8. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if features and performance relative to price is your priority.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) if…
- • 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).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 8.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • You want to spend less — it's $40 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Choose the Google TV Streamer (4K) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Google TV Streamer (4K) scores 9.0/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • 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).
- • Your main use case is smart-home.
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
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 Stick 4K Max (2nd 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 Smart Home, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Smart Home (9.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Platform & Apps (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Remote, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Google TV Streamer (4K) scores higher on Remote (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $59.99 versus $99.99. 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 Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The Google TV Streamer (4K) is the better fit for smart-home.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs the Google TV Streamer (4K)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd 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
onn. 4K Pro (2026) — $59.98
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.