Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Roku Ultra (2024)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Roku Ultra (2024)
Roku Ultra (2024)
Roku's flagship — the best remote in the category, plus ethernet and AV1.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Roku Ultra (2024) wins by 0.3 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 Roku Ultra (2024) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is $90 cheaper than the Roku Ultra (2024) ($59.99 vs $149.99). On Remote, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. On Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (7.8 vs 6.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Platform & Apps, the Roku Ultra (2024) leads (8.5 vs 7.5/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. Overall, the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 7.9/10 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) | Roku Ultra (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $149.99 |
| 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 | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55; Roku claims over 30% faster than its other players |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | Not published by Roku |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) dual-band MIMO |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | Built in (10/100) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | Yes — supports headphone mode |
| 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 | Voice Remote Pro: USB-C rechargeable, backlit, hands-free voice, lost-remote finder; no headphone jack |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-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 Roku Ultra (2024) 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) 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 Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Roku Ultra (2024) 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 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-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 Roku Ultra (2024) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — 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 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 6.0 — a 1.8-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Roku Ultra (2024) 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).
- • You want to spend less — it's $90 cheaper.
Choose the Roku Ultra (2024) if…
- • Remote matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 9.0/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 8.5/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 8.5/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Roku Ultra (2024) scores 9.0/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
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 Ultra (2024)
Pros
- +The best remote of any streaming device here — backlit, rechargeable, hands-free voice and a lost-remote finder
- +Decodes Dolby Atmos rather than only passing it through
- +HDMI 2.1 with Quick Media Switching, rare outside Apple TV
- +Built-in ethernet and a USB 3.0 port for local media
- +Fastest Roku by a wide margin
Cons
- −Ethernet is 10/100, not gigabit
- −The Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) dropped the headphone jack the first-gen Pro had
- −List price rose from $99.99 to $149.99 in July 2026
- −No design change since the 2021 Ultra
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or Roku Ultra (2024) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Roku Ultra (2024) 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 Remote, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Remote (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Value (7.8/10 vs 6.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) 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 Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Roku Ultra (2024) scores higher on Speed & Performance (8.5/10 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 Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $59.99 versus $149.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Remote.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs the Roku Ultra (2024)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Roku Ultra (2024) 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
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro — $199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.