I’m currently using an old Android box which needs updating because Plex has become very buggy on it.
So I’m looking at either the Amazon Fire TV Stick or the Roku…any experiences? Which you feel performs better?
Thanks!
For me the Roku, particularly the Ultra, is the best value in the streaming market.
The biggest advantage of the Roku is the user interface.
Having said that I have both and a Shield TV as well. There are some apps that I use (The Channels DVR app for one) that have no app for the Roku and there are others that have no app on the Fire and a few that have no app on either of those but do have one for the Shield. I even have a computer hooked up to my main TV that I can use for those times where there is only streaming from the web on a computer.
But if I had to choose just one streaming device it would be the Roku.
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Roku. The Roku developer is very pro-active. Do not get an Amazon Fire TV anything as it’s the same buggy client as any other Android and they are not not supporting it like they should be.
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My Tuppence Worth…
I own both (1 4K Fire stick and 2 older Roku Premiere’s) and in my experience I prefer the Roku’s. I only got the Fire stick early last year as I wanted BritBox for Spitting Image and other content like the original Doctor Who but the app wasn’t available on the Roku at that time. Now it is the Fire Stick has been retired. I think the user interface on the Roku is a lot cleaner and easier to navigate. The only stumbling block with the Roku’s is the sound limitations…You can only get Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus and DTS/DTS 96/24. Even though the audio settings say DTS-HD it is not DTS-HD Master Audio. Only SD audio. Unless I am doing some thing wrong with my testing.
The Fire stick however is Dolby Atmos and Vision compatible with some apps although I am not sure if the Atmos is Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD… I would probably assume that is the Dolby Digital Plus variant due to file size and bandwidth requirements for HD audio when streaming. I don’t know if it will passthrough with Plex though. I have read somewhere that Dolby Vision is coming to the Roku’s via an update but I have not noticed it as yet.
Both Roku and Fire Stick 4K are 4K compliant so it is a case of menu layout and audio preference.
Hope this helps…
KR
CCF
Thanks to all for your recommendations!
It seems to be a unanimous vote for the Roku so Roku it will be…thanks! 
The Roku site doesn’t go into great detail about the difference in hardware specs and makes it sound like they might all run on the same quadcore cpu and that differences between units are elsewhere like audio, remote, picture quality etc…
…
Since almost all my videos are in 720p and I don’t care about any of the extras other than a smooth experience in Plex…would you agree that the cheapest (Roku Express) would be enough for my needs?
Because I know that for the Fire TV Stick for example, I’ve seen recommendations made for the higher models due to better hardware specs but if it’s not the case for the Roku, then I’d guess the Express is enough…right?
HI
When I set up my Mum and Step Dad’s Plex server I used 2 Roku Express + sticks they were H265/HEVC compatible as most of my content has been encoded with that codec and therefore Plex wouldn’t max out the processor trying to re-encode the media.
If most of your media is 720p H264/AVC and you won’t be recoding in H265 then the normal express is fine but you will be limited 1080p content you can stream via Netflix etc. if you go down that route later on…
Pay the extra and get the Express+ and future proof yourself. It will give you more options.
KR
CCF
Ah…x265, you make a good point. I have a pretty even mix of 264 & 265 so if I understand you correctly, that makes the Express+ the necessary choice then?
Although I don’t see a Roku called simply Express +?
The current range is Express, Express 4K, Express 4K+, Streaming Stick 4K, Streaming Stick 4K+
Utterly confusion and very little info on the differences!?
The website says nothing about H265 compatibility!
Chumbo
I apologise…I used 2 Roku Streaming Stick+'s for my folks. They are still available but it looks like they have been replaced with the Roku Express 4K to keep in line with the alternative Fire Stick 4K and avoid confusion (cough!). As long as the device is 4K compatible then you will be fine for x265 etc as 4K content streamed via Netflix etc is I believe is streamed in x265/HEVC.
There are three Roku devices that are 4K x265 compatible…
Roku Express+
Roku Streaming Stick+
Roku Premiere
Checked on amazon and prices are around £40 here in the UK.
If you require HD audio the only device that supports this is the nVidia Shield. It’s on my wish list!
Hope this helps…
Kind Regards
CCF
Thanks!
Ok, I’m all set then, a Roku it will be 
Cheers,
It sounds like you’ve made your choice on Roku for FWIW I’ve switched from Roku Ultra 4K to the latest Fire TV sticks. I haven’t identified the issue but I have problems with Roku streaming all of my DVD ripped media. I have to turn off direct streaming on the Roku.
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