Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The 2017 FireTV is a little step forward for the FireTV line, if you already own a FireTV or other streaming device, there are but a few reasons you may wish to upgrade. What’s new: -HDR support -60fps in 4K -Dolby Atmos audio support And that’s about it for notable improvements. You get 2gb of memory and 8gb of storage, and now there’s an optional ethernet adapter. Connectivity Well, none other than wifi and the optional ethernet. Looks the same, feels the same In testing out the box, it really isn’t any different from the other models, of the new features i was able to test out the 4K functionality, but i otherwise do not have HDR or Atmos capability. That’s key: these new features will only work if you have the content and/or the equipment that supports it. No 4K TV? No 4k for you. Non-HDR content? It doesn’t magically make it HDR. No Atmos? You get the idea. Vs the stick and the set top FireTV? This sits somewhere in the middle. If you’re a “basic” user who doesn’t have a 4k tv and mostly uses netflix and a few other apps, the stick will likely be more than enough for you. If you specifically want 4k, HDR, and/or Atmos, then the 2017 model will be the one to get. If you desire connectivity, such as microsd slot, usb port, and built in ethernet, then the clear choice is the set top box. Vs Roku and AppleTV This is all debatable, but Roku is at the bottom for me, and apple is about the same as firetv overall but of course has its own app store and also costs more than the FireTV. If you use apple devices which can interface with an AppleTV, that would be a reason to go Apple, much like if you already subscribe to Amazon Prime, that’s a strong reason to go with a FireTV. I don't include chromecast in this comparison because it's a different beast, it's not a standalone player Mounting: Safe? The box is much smaller than i imagined, all the photos of the device make it seem bigger than reality, it’s about the size as a box of altoids, and while i don’t see an issue with it hanging off the HDMI port, i’ll likely secure it with mounting tape. Long story short: i still think that the Stick is the best bang for your buck and suits most people’s needs perfectly fine, but “power” users or folks who don’t care about an extra ~$20-50 should just go for the 2017 or set top models.