When you think of a Fire TV Stick, streaming is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Plug one into the back of your TV, and you instantly get access to major streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and more. It's also a great hub for free content, thanks to FAST (free ad-supported TV) channels and popular free streaming apps such as Pluto TV, Tubi, and Plex.
So when I was trying to decide which streaming stick to buy a while back, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max was an easy choice, especially when it was on sale for $40. It offers 4K streaming, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Wi-Fi 6E support. On top of that, after using it for so long, I've found it to be a noticeably smoother experience than webOS on my LG TV. Needless to say, it quickly became my go-to streamer.
Over the past few months, however, I've been testing a Roku Ultra, and while I still love the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, I've found myself enjoying the Roku experience a bit more. The interface is cleaner, the Roku app's Headphone Mode is fantastic, and the built-in USB port makes it easy to watch local media files.
That said, even though I've been using the Roku Ultra more often lately, there's one feature that keeps pulling me back to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max — and it's the reason it remains plugged into my TV at all times. It's something no other streaming platform has quite embraced as much as Fire TV: cloud gaming.