Chromecast With Google TV Vs. Roku Streaming Stick+: Which Should You Buy?
Chromecast with Google TV offers access to a large collection of movies and TV shows and is sure to appeal to many consumers looking to pick up a new streaming device this year. However, Roku pretty much invented this entire streaming category, so how does Google's latest device compare to the Roku Streaming Stick+? Which of these two products makes for the better purchase?
Roku first entered the marketplace in 2008 with a streaming product it had developed in collaboration with Netflix. Since then, the company has released a slew of different types of streaming devices, from set-top boxes to HDMI sticks. The Roku Streaming Stick+ was first introduced in its sixth-generation line of products in 2017 and was the first Roku HDMI stick to offer 4K video streaming. An updated version of the device came out in 2019. Meanwhile, the first Chromecast launched in 2013. Unlike Roku, it wasn't actually an independent streaming product but a device to share content from a mobile device. Chromecast with Google TV, unveiled in September 2020, is actually the first Chromecast device that can work on its own.
As it's newer, Chromecast with Google TV is by far the more powerful device. It runs on a 1.9 GHz Amlogic S905D3 CPU, which has four ARM Cortex-A55 cores, 8GB of storage, and 2GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the Roku Streaming Stick+ uses a ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and only has 1GB of RAM. Also, while they both can handle 4K video at up to 60fps, the Roku stick only supports HDR10, while the new Chromecast can handle HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. If connected to a top-of-the-line 4K TV, Chromecast with Google TV should offer a better picture. The remotes for both products offer voice search, but the Chromecast device is linked to Google Assistant.
Don't write off the Roku Streaming Stick+ just yet. It runs on Roku OS, a customized Linux distribution, as opposed to Chromecast with Google TV which runs on Android TV. In addition, Roku OS works so efficiently that its hardware limitations don't generally affect streaming. While Android TV has around 7,000 apps available to download, Roku OS has closer to 20,000. This includes a variety of streaming apps, offering mainstream, indie and public domain content, as well as independent apps for entire TV series, such as The Prisoner and The Starlost.
Chromecast with Google TV offers an immersive home screen that tries to mimic a streaming service, offering recommendations from different streaming apps, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play. Meanwhile, Roku's interface is more straightforward. Unlike the new Chromecast, which is linked to the user's Google account, and Amazon's Fire TV devices that feature Prime Video prominently, the Roku home screen is more reserved. It orders the apps in three columns and is akin to a smartphone home screen. Roku has its own free ad-based streaming app too, but it's not shoved down the user's throat. It's just another app.
In terms of functionality, Android TV probably has a slight edge in that Roku OS can be a little buggy. Sometimes certain apps will fail to load for no good reason. Then, a few days later, the app starts working again. Or sometimes an HDMI error message pops up when the user tries to stream a video. In this case, rebooting the Roku may help. Chromecast with Google TV seems less prone to these type of issues. Roku OS works fine most of the time, but Android TV is likely a more stable operating system overall.
Both devices can be purchased for $49.99 (C$69.99 in Canada) so ultimately, deciding which to buy comes down to personal preference. For customers with top-end 4K TVs with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, Chromecast with Google TV is the better buy. For those looking for the most choice, including Apple TV (which Roku OS has but Android TV doesn't), then the Roku Streaming Stick+ is the way to go.
Source: Google