Chromecast and Fire Stick. Economical solutions to transform your old TV into a Smart one

New changes in channels force users to make painful and costly choices. But what if there was a way to turn a classic TV into a Smart TV without spending much EUR?

No alchemy or magic formula, but two solutions that can make this upgrade at a low cost and with excellent results.

The solutions are Google Chromecast and Amazon's Fire Stick; two "sticks" that bring the latest technologies to any device.

But how do they work and which one to choose? Let's find out

How do Chromecast and Fire stick work?

Both are extremely efficient hardware in their main function, that of transforming the classic television into a modern TV .

Transformation that they carry out in two slightly different ways, for a differentiation that defines the choice from a personal point of view. Let's find out more:

Chromecast

There's all the power of Google and the knowledge of Google TV behind this little device. To transform your old home TV into a modern Smart TV , simply connect Chromecast to the TV's HDMI socket. We will then proceed to power the device either via external power supply or by connecting to the USB port which will act as a power hub.

“Magically” our TV will become connected and it will be possible to load and play content directly from the Android and iPhone apps on our smartphones and tablets.

Through this connection we will be able to upload content from the most famous streaming apps, such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, RAI play, Infinity and many others.

The configuration of this device is quick and simple in perfect “Google style”. In fact, it will be sufficient to download the proprietary Chromecast app to configure everything directly from your mobile device.

Chromecast then integrates with Google's smart speakers, allowing the use of voice commands to manage and control the device.

Fire Stick

The device produced by Jeff Bezos' company also has interesting features. We are faced with a single device available in different versions whose main function, as with Chromecast, is to turn a traditional TV into a Smart TV .

Fire Stick is offered in different versions with an entry model with standard features and a more advanced one that supports high resolutions up to Ultra HD 4K.

This device also connects to the HDMI port on the television and to the USB or to an external power supply. Configuration takes place via connection to the Wi-Fi network and the mandatory login with your Amazon account.

Fire Stick is also compatible with many applications. In addition to Prime Video, we obviously find support for Netflix, RaiPlay, DAZN and YouTube.

This "key" also supports voice command functions, in this case through Alexa devices.

Chromecast and Fire stick, which one to choose?

The two solutions are very similar to each other, both in functionality and characteristics. It is therefore difficult to choose on paper which of the two solutions is the best.

However, there are some technical differences between the two tools, which may make one solution better than the other based on your personal needs.

Chromecast and Fire stick, hardware

The Amazon-made dongle slightly surpasses Chromecast in this area, in terms of memory and RAM.

This difference also affects the high definition output, which arrives on Chromecast at 30 fps at 1080p while on Fire Stick it reaches 60 fps at both 720p and 1080p.

From a connectivity point of view, however, there are no major differences to report between the two peripherals. In fact, both manage both wi-fi and bluetooth.

Chromecast and Fire stick, the services

An interesting aspect are the apps to use with the television. Both dongles are of course focused on the offer of their own manufacturer.

So the Chromecast will work very well and without any kind of problem regarding all Google services and Google TV , while the Fire Stick will have an edge when connected to Amazon services such as Prime Video.

To date, for example, the Fire Stick does not allow access to the Google Play Store portal.

Chromecast and Fire stick, voice commands

The same goes for integration with any voice-controlled home automation. Each of the two dongles gives its best when it is configured in the reference environment. Therefore, Fire Stick will ensure perfect connectivity and integration with Alexa, while, vice versa, Chromecast will do so with Google services (Google smartphones, Google Nest etc).

A first evaluation

After an initial comparison and before a comparative table, we can already proceed with an initial evaluation. The two devices, especially when considered in their TOP version, are technically similar. Both can transform a classic TV into a Smart TV and fill it with digital content.

However, each of the two solutions obviously pushes towards its ecosystem, so everyone will work better with the contents and home automation and voice integration systems of the relevant platform.

So probably the best choice criterion is based on your current equipment and which of the two proprietary streaming platforms you want to dedicate more time to (Google TV on the one hand, Amazon Prime Video on the other).

But let's see the two systems better in a direct comparison.

Chromecast and Fire stick, direct comparison

Connectivity: Equivalent

Ease of use and connection : more or less the same

Remote control: the traditional Chromecast is not natively equipped with a remote control, Google "pushes" the user to use the smartphone for this function. You can only find the remote on the version of Chromecast with Google TV . Amazon's solution, Fire Stick, is always sold with the integrated voice remote control supplied.

Memory: Amazon's Fire Stick currently wins against Chromecast, being equipped with double the memory (8 GB) compared to Google's solution (4 GB).

Operating System: customized solutions also in this area. Chromecast is offered with the Chrome OS operating system or with Google TV . Amazon Fire Stick with the Fire OS operating system.

Music and games: both dongles allow you to listen to music in streaming from dedicated platforms. Full support on both sides for Spotify, TuneIn, other commercial solutions, and obviously for each complete integration with the relevant music and streaming app.

Videos and platforms: both solutions allow you to watch the most famous streaming platforms nationally and internationally, from Apple TV to Disney +, from Tim Vision to RaiPlay, as well as Infinity, DAZN and many others.

Whatever your choice, both platforms will be able to guarantee you excellent results, allowing you to avoid replacing the entire TV, with considerable economic and ecological savings.