Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming.
Wins overall by 1.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.3 points. The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Roku Streaming Stick 4K are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is $20 cheaper than the Roku Streaming Stick 4K ($59.99 vs $79.99). On Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. On Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. On Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (7.8 vs 5.5/10) — features and performance relative to price. Overall, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 7.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. 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) | Roku Streaming Stick 4K |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $79.99 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2021 |
| 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 | ARM Cortex-A55 |
| RAM (GB) | 2✓ | 1 |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | Not published by Roku |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) dual-band MIMO with long-range receiver |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | None |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | None — this model has no Bluetooth |
| Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Roku OS 15 |
| Remote | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; no backlight; no remote finder | Roku Voice Remote, AAA batteries, TV power and volume; no backlight; no remote finder |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Roku Streaming Stick 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 6.5 — a 2.5-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 Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Roku Streaming Stick 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 5.0 — a 3.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.0 — a 1.5-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Roku Streaming Stick 4K are level here, at 5.0/10 each. matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 7.8 against 5.5 — a 2.3-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K does not close the gap elsewhere.
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).
- • Audio Support matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through).
- • Value matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 7.8/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • 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).
- • Remote matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 6.5/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
Choose the Roku Streaming Stick 4K if…
- • You prefer the Roku ecosystem, app, and design language.
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
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Pros
- +The only Roku stick with Dolby Vision
- +Long-range Wi-Fi receiver helps in rooms far from the router
- +Roku OS remains the cleanest major streaming platform
- +Compact enough to pair with a projector
Cons
- −No Bluetooth at all, so private listening only works through the phone app
- −Needs a wall outlet, unlike the two 2025 Roku sticks
- −802.11ac Wi-Fi, not Wi-Fi 6
- −The oldest silicon in Roku's current line
- −List price rose from $49.99 to $79.99 in July 2026, the steepest increase in the range
- −Dolby Atmos is passthrough to a receiver, not decoded on the device
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or Roku Streaming Stick 4K better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Audio Support (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through.
Which is better for Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Value (7.8/10 vs 5.5/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Speed & Performance (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $59.99 versus $79.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
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 Roku Streaming Stick 4K is the better fit for 4k-hdr or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs the Roku Streaming Stick 4K?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Roku Streaming Stick 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
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (2025) — $59.99
Premium Option
Roku Streaming Stick 4K — $79.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.