Fire Sick vs Nvidia Shield
Onn and Android Boxes
Nov 11, 2023
First, I’m not trying to sway anyone’s preference. I’m just providing my experience and knowledge as guidance to what is arguably the most often asked question by those new to streaming, some variation of, “Should I buy this device or that?”
When I was 18 and looking to buy my first motorcycle an older, wiser rider told me not to buy the biggest, most powerful bike I could afford. Start small and spend less to learn and decide what you really want. The same applies to streaming devices. You can spend $200+ for an Nvidia Shield or start small with a $20 Onn or a Fire Stick 4K for $25-30 depending on promotions. Later if you feel you need the Shield, they’ll still be available.
In the great debate, I’m on the Fire Stick side even though I admit I’ve never used any other device. Here’s why…
1. Price. I can have 2 Fire Sticks on all 3 of my TVs That’s 6 Fire Sticks for the price of 1 Nvidia Shields.
2. Having multiple Fire Sicks allows me to quickly switch between shows by simply changing the source on the TV. Although my TVs don’t support Picture-in-Picture for HDMI input, if yours does, you have that capability as well. Available memory is not a problem for me personally, using multiple Sticks allows you to distribute applications among them negating the argument that Sticks don’t have enough memory. Also, TiViMate allows recording, but recording while viewing often fails. Using a separate Stick for recording solves the problem.
3. Although it’s true that Amazon controls the Operating System on the Stick and loads up a lot of bloatware (software you don’t need or want) that has been inconsequential for me. It is largely outweighed by easy access to a plethora of free apps in the Amazon App Store and the ability restore your settings and apps from Amazon. This is tremendously helpful if you need to do a factory reset, upgrade to a later version of the Stick, or want to duplicate your setup on multiple Sticks. There are other more advanced controls available through the Amazon site which most people won’t use, but give you more control of your Sticks by restricting access and resetting remotely. I don’t think you’ll find these convences with any other streaming device.
4. I can use my TV remote to control both the Stick and TV simultaneously. This is incredibly convenient especially when switching between multiple Sticks. The Amazon Fire TV Remote smartphone app is a good alternative to the Stick remote, but it also has one outstanding feature for advanced users. You can cut and paste to the app. This won’t be of importance to you until you find yourself attempting to use the onscreen keyboard to enter long strings of text necessary to setup some applications. Onn and Shield may support some are all of these capabilities, but as of this writing it appears Onn does not allow Cut and Paste and it’s unclear to me if Shield does.
5. Portability. I’ve taken my Fire Stick traveling in multiple countries with no problem. It’s small, easily packed and if lost, stolen or damaged you’re only out about 30 bucks. Most hotels and Air BnBs have sufficient, unrestricted internet and TVs with accessible HDMI ports to plug into. Remember when traveling you’ll want to take the Fire Stick remote since the smartphone remote app has to be on the same network and the TV may not support the CEC remote sharing feature. You’ll need the Stick remote to establish a connection to the hotel network, then you can use your smartphone. You might also want to carry an extension cord. If you’re traveling outside the US and canada you might want to include a 3 prong to 2 prong electrical outlet converter as well.
6. Speed and picture quality. Nvidia proponents will say that the Stick is slower and has lower video quality. I have yet to see a real world side-by-side comparison of how this results in a better viewing experience. No question the Shield is significantly faster and has more memory, but the Stick delivers a true 4K picture without buffering (screen freezing or stuttering). Most buffering on the Stick results from an Internet, WiFi provider issue, or lack of memory. I'm able to run K O D I with several addons, TiViMate, a few other apps and several diagnostic apps with 1 gb of free memory. But, as I said earlier, you can always spread your apps across multiple Sticks. Since the Stick plays 4K without any problems, the only advantage of the Shield's speed is in non-viewing operations such as searches, navigation, file transfers and deletions.
7. Durability. The Stick was introduced 9 years ago. First gen Sticks are still functioning. My 5 year old 2nd gen is still kicking. Yes functionality, speed and memory have improved with the subsequent releases, but you could buy every upgraded version and still not have paid as much as one Shield.
This is based on my 5 years of experience with the Stick. I may not be 100% accurate about the Shield or Onn, but I’m not debating or trying to change anyone’s preference.
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Simple to set up and use
Every day is an earth day
You don’t have to be an environmental scientist to make sustainable choices. We considered sustainability in the design of this device. Here’s how:
Materials
50% post-consumer recycled plastics in streaming media player.
80% recycled aluminum in streaming media player.
20% post-consumer recycled plastics in the remote.
Cable and adapter not included.
Device Packaging
97% of this device’s packaging is made of wood fiber-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.
Low Power Mode
To reduce its energy consumption, this device will enter Low Power Mode when it goes to sleep. Learn more here.
Part with Purpose
There may come a time when you want to trade in or recycle your device. Explore options with Amazon Second Chance.
Technical details
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
|
Size |
99 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm (only housing) | 108 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm (including the connector) |
|
Weight |
48.4 g |
|
Processor |
Quad-core 1.8GHz MT8696 |
|
GPU |
IMG GE9215, 750MHz |
|
Storage |
8 GB |
|
Wifi |
MT7921LS. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) networks. |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 5.0 + LE. Pair with compatible Bluetooth speakers, headphones, video game controllers, and more. |
|
Voice support |
Yes, with the Alexa Voice Remote (included) or free Fire TV app (available for download on Fire OS, Android, and iOS) |
|
IR device control with included Alexa Voice Remote |
The included Alexa Voice Remote can control Fire TV Stick 4K Max and certain functions (such as power and volume) on a wide range of compatible IR-enabled devices, including TVs, soundbars and A/V receivers. Note: Certain functions may not be available on some IR-enabled devices. |
|
Cloud storage |
Free cloud storage for digital content purchased from Amazon |
|
Ports |
HDMI ARC output, micro USB for power only |
|
Audio support |
Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 5.1. Dolby Atmos is available on select Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ titles when connected to compatible equipment. |
|
4K Support |
To watch movies and TV shows in 4K Ultra HD, you need a compatible Ultra HD TV. All services may not be available in 4K/HDR. Certain services are subject to change at any time, may not be available in all areas, or in 4K/HDR, and may require separate subscriptions. Learn more about services. |
|
Content formats supported |
Video: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9, AV1 Audio: AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC), Photo: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
|
Output resolution supported |
2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps |
|
System requirements |
High-definition television with available high-speed HDMI input, high-speed internet connection via Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6 router needed for Wi-Fi 6 support. Auto-Low Latency Mode is included in the HDMI 2.1 standard. |
|
TV compatibility |
TV must support minimum HDCP requirements for protected content playback. Compatible with 1) 4K UHD TVs with HDMI capable of 2160p at 24/25/30/50/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2 or 2) high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 50/60 Hz. Learn more about high-definition. |
|
Warranty and service |
1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2-year and 3-year extended warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately. Use of Fire TV is subject to the terms found here. |
|
Content availability |
Certain apps and services are subject to change or withdrawal at any time, may not be available in all areas and languages, and may require separate subscriptions. |
|
Accessibility features |
VoiceView screen reader enables access to the vast majority of Fire TV features for users who are blind or visually impaired. Watch videos and TV shows with closed captioning displayed. Captions are not available for all content. You can also listen to Fire TV with compatible Bluetooth headphones. Learn more about compatibility. |
|
Included in the box |
Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen), USB cable and power adapter, HDMI extender cable for Fire TV Stick 4K Max, 2 AAA batteries, Quick Start Guide |
|
Software Security Updates |
This device receives guaranteed software security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase as a new unit on our websites. Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own a Fire TV, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen)
|
Size |
38 mm x 142 mm x 16 mm |
|
Weight |
43.4 g (without batteries) |
|
Batteries |
2 AAA (included) |
|
Technology |
Bluetooth |
|
Compatibility |
Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen), Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max |
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon impact
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
As certified by
Reducing CO2 The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Reviews with images
Helpful for a specific use - adjusting the display scaling on my TV so the image isn't cut off.
I have a pretty old Samsung 720p DLP TV in my bedroom. This TV doesn't have many options being older, and with every other streaming stick I've always found that it cuts off parts of the image that's displayed, perhaps an inch even. I learned that the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has a feature which allows you to resize the scaling of the images, so I'm able to watch content without missing part of the image. If you care about this kind of thing and you're in the same situation where you can't adjust this with your TV, it's definitely worth picking this up as other devices don't have this feature.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023
Configuration: Fire TV Stick 4K MaxVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
Configuration: Fire TV Stick 4K MaxVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2023
🎇PROs :
1. Ability to use captive portal internet. Currently the tvOS on the AppleTV does not allow for this unless you go through a process to spoof the MAC address of a device on the captive portal or somehow get a hold of the internet provider's help desk to have them add the MAC address. A "dance" I successfully completed once but by the time I was complete it was too late to watch anything.
2. Ease of use - PnP HDMI port and power via the Micro USB port to power adapter.
Then sign into your Amazon account to customize.
3. Picture / Streaming speed is excellent on both 4K and 1080P
4. Responsive when going through menus and applications - caveat, if there is enough storage available
to make memory and swap cache available.
5. Main screen is customizable to set your favorite applications there. Especially helpful if you have in
kids room.
6. You can add/use a remote app to your iPhone or android device if you like to control your Firestick
from your phone which is pretty fun & cool if u like other apps.
🔴CONs :
1. Only has storage amount of 8GB ??? It's 2023 Amazon could afford to add a adapter or more storage
to these devices without adding much to the cost. Even 16GB of flash storage would have been great!
2. Not being able to easily close down applications to make more RAM and storage available for apps wanted. This device is running Amazon's version of Android, but even a quick way to shut down or uninstall applications from the remote would be convenient & useful.
3. All of the privacy settings are automatically set to "ALLOW" - location, watching history, targeted ads, application downloads etc. You have to go into EVERY application as well as the SETTINGs for the device and the application setting on the device to TURN ALL OF THIS OFF. Unless you really "DIG" into the settings are kinda hidden which is the point as Amazon makes a ton of money off of SELLING DATA provided by the device and applications to 3rd parties.
4. The constantly running ads in the main interface and now the ads that pop-up when using live streaming applications like DirectTV Stream. We've come accept commercials are annoying enough when watching broadcast TV but an ad that takes over the screen in the middle of the program is a bit too far.
5. No geo-location ability. This means applications that have the ability to "LOCATE" where it is based on the IP address of the internet will automatically know which channels to load (or allow you to "spoof" your location with a VPN). If this is not present services like DirectTV Stream default to the billing zip code and you are locked to the channels for your billing zip code.
5. Updates are a PITA. Update notifications are given ( how many ? what for? ). Usually it takes 4-7 attempts to check for and run all of the updates. . Backing out of the update, restarting the device and running the scan for updates then shows the update completed and another update is showing. This is a common theme with all Android based devices.
CONCLUSION:
It is a excellent little 4k device that get the job done , unit runs very smooth surprisingly even with stock apps, just hopefully in future updates give user optional control to uninstall / stop running apps not wanted or used to free up RAM space. Definitely recommend getting 1 or 2 if you dont have a smart tv or want a external 4k streaming device capable of running over WiFi6 technology.
Configuration: Fire TV Stick 4K MaxVerified Purchase
✨Product is Excellent, 4k Quality streaming, WiFi6✨
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2023
✨2023 - EXCELLENT FiRESTiCK 4K MAXX STREAMING PRODUCT, CONNETION VIA WiFi 6, EASE OF USE customizable MENU - Can get a special price if you upgrade from your old to newer model✨Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2023
🎇PROs :
1. Ability to use captive portal internet. Currently the tvOS on the AppleTV does not allow for this unless you go through a process to spoof the MAC address of a device on the captive portal or somehow get a hold of the internet provider's help desk to have them add the MAC address. A "dance" I successfully completed once but by the time I was complete it was too late to watch anything.
2. Ease of use - PnP HDMI port and power via the Micro USB port to power adapter.
Then sign into your Amazon account to customize.
3. Picture / Streaming speed is excellent on both 4K and 1080P
4. Responsive when going through menus and applications - caveat, if there is enough storage available
to make memory and swap cache available.
5. Main screen is customizable to set your favorite applications there. Especially helpful if you have in
kids room.
6. You can add/use a remote app to your iPhone or android device if you like to control your Firestick
from your phone which is pretty fun & cool if u like other apps.
🔴CONs :
1. Only has storage amount of 8GB ??? It's 2023 Amazon could afford to add a adapter or more storage
to these devices without adding much to the cost. Even 16GB of flash storage would have been great!
2. Not being able to easily close down applications to make more RAM and storage available for apps wanted. This device is running Amazon's version of Android, but even a quick way to shut down or uninstall applications from the remote would be convenient & useful.
3. All of the privacy settings are automatically set to "ALLOW" - location, watching history, targeted ads, application downloads etc. You have to go into EVERY application as well as the SETTINGs for the device and the application setting on the device to TURN ALL OF THIS OFF. Unless you really "DIG" into the settings are kinda hidden which is the point as Amazon makes a ton of money off of SELLING DATA provided by the device and applications to 3rd parties.
4. The constantly running ads in the main interface and now the ads that pop-up when using live streaming applications like DirectTV Stream. We've come accept commercials are annoying enough when watching broadcast TV but an ad that takes over the screen in the middle of the program is a bit too far.
5. No geo-location ability. This means applications that have the ability to "LOCATE" where it is based on the IP address of the internet will automatically know which channels to load (or allow you to "spoof" your location with a VPN). If this is not present services like DirectTV Stream default to the billing zip code and you are locked to the channels for your billing zip code.
5. Updates are a PITA. Update notifications are given ( how many ? what for? ). Usually it takes 4-7 attempts to check for and run all of the updates. . Backing out of the update, restarting the device and running the scan for updates then shows the update completed and another update is showing. This is a common theme with all Android based devices.
CONCLUSION:
It is a excellent little 4k device that get the job done , unit runs very smooth surprisingly even with stock apps, just hopefully in future updates give user optional control to uninstall / stop running apps not wanted or used to free up RAM space. Definitely recommend getting 1 or 2 if you dont have a smart tv or want a external 4k streaming device capable of running over WiFi6 technology.
Images in this review
