I am personally biased toward Roku TV which I consider very platform-agnostic and simple to use. However, I don’t recommend it for users living outside of the U.S. for reasons I give later in the article. I’ve also equally kept using my Fire TV Stick device. I have written extensively on both platforms and I’ll link most of the articles in this post.
So in this article, we will compare Roku TV and Fire TV in terms of content availability, pricing, and other factors to help you make an informed decision on which one to choose.
Summary of Roku TV vs Fire TV
Roku TV vs Fire TV summary
Roku TV
Roku TV Interface
Roku TV is a popular streaming device that offers a range of features and capabilities for streaming your favorite TV shows and movies . Roku TV also enables you to play your personal media from either a USB drive or over your local network over say a DLNA-compliant media server such as Plex. Further, Roku enables you to watch Live TV over traditional antennae or stream online via Live TV streaming services .
Roku offers a wide range of affordable devices ranging from as low as $30 to as much as $120 . You simply plug one of their streaming sticks into your existing TV’s HDMI Port and stream online content. However, Roku recently announced its own branded Smart TVs after a long partnership with TV brands such as TCL, Hisense, and Philips .
Roku is extremely popular in the U.S. but lacks global market support.
Fire TV
Fire TV home screen
Also, Fire TV is much more customizable and flexible than Roku TV though. One of Fire TV’s appeals to me is the ability to sideload Apps and install VPN apps easily on the device. Also, the Fire TV platform supports more markets than Roku TV.
Alright, now let’s dive deeper into how these two platforms stack up against each other.
Roku and Fire TV Common Features
Roku TV and Fire TV are two of the most popular streaming devices available. Each device offers a range of features and capabilities that make streaming your favorite shows and movies a breeze. Here is an overview of some of the key features offered by Roku TV and Fire TV:
Voice Control
Fire TV remote
Both Roku TV and Fire TV offer voice control capabilities. With Roku TV, you can use your voice to search for content, launch apps, and control your device. This is only possible if you own a Roku remote with mic support or if you use the Roku mobile App.
Fire TV also allows you to use your voice to search for content, launch apps, and control your device through Alexa . Unlike Roku, this is universally supported across all Fire TV devices.
Screen Mirroring
Casting Android smartphone to Roku TV
Roku TV and Fire TV both offer screen mirroring capabilities. With screen mirroring, you can display the screen of your android mobile device, tablet, or windows computer on your TV. This allows you to show photos, videos, and other content on your TV without having to transfer files.
However, unlike Fire TV, Roku TV supports Apple’s Airplay which enables you to screen mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Roku TV. Additionally Apple’s smart home platform, Homekit is fully supported on Roku TV and not on Fire TV.
- How to cast photos and Videos from your phone to Roku TV
- How to Screen Mirror Android Phone and Windows PC on to Fire TV
Smartphone App that also works as virtual remotes
Roku App virtual remote
Both Roku TV and Fire TV have mobile apps that allow you to control your device from your smartphone or tablet. The Roku mobile app will enable you to use your phone as a remote control, search for content, and even listen to your TV through your headphones.
The Fire TV app offers similar capabilities, allowing you to control your device, search for content, and use your phone as a keyboard through the Fire TV app.
- Control your Fire TV Stick with your smartphone
- How to use your smartphone as a remote for your Roku TV
Smart home support
Connecting to a Wired Ethernet network
Connecting Firestick to USB Ethernet Adapter
Unless you own a fully fledge Smart TV from either platform, you can’t easily connect to a wired network. That’s because streaming players from both Roku and Fire TV don’t come with an Ethernet port . You’ll need the Fire Cube 3rd generation or Roku Ultra both of which have an Ethernet port.
So to connect a Firestick or Roku streaming stick to an Ethernet network, you’ll need a USB Ethernet adapter .
- How to connect your Roku streaming device to wired Network via USB
- How to connect fire tv stick to a wired Ethernet network
Wallpaper and screensaver customization
Roku TV Theme Packs
Both devices come with home screen wallpaper and screensaver customization options, which allow users to personalize their streaming experience. Roku TV offers a variety of preloaded wallpapers and screensavers, and users can also upload their own photos and images. Fire TV on the other hand only allows you to customize the screensaver, but not how the home screen wallpaper. So Roku offers a lot more customizations here.
- How to change the screensaver of Firestick
- How to Change Your Roku TV Home Screen Wallpaper and ScreenSaver
Roku vs Fire TV’s unique features
Sideloading Apps
App sideloading enables you to install Apps on a device manually rather than through the official app store. Roku TV used to support this until late 2022 when they disabled this feature. Roku announced that it would disable all non-certified channels across all devices in Feb, 2022 according to cordcutters news .
Connecting to Bluetooth headphones and speakers
Taotronics headphones
Roku devices typically don’t support Bluetooth audio streaming like Fire TV devices. You can’t just pair your Bluetooth headphones or speakers with your Roku devices and listen to music or movies playing on your TV. This is one area in which Roku lags behind the competition. Instead, you have to purchase one of those premium remotes from Roku that support the 3.5mm headphone jack and then use that to connect to your headphones over an AUX cable .
Not so with Fire TV devices. Bluetooth audio streaming is fully supported on Firestick devices. You simply have to pair your headphones or speakers or Airpods with the Firestick and listen to movies and TV Shows playing on your TV.
VPN support
VPN Apps on Fire TV
Fire TV devices on the other hand support VPN apps out of the box. All major VPN providers such as ExpressVPN, Surfshark, IP Vanish, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, and CyberGhost are available on the Fire TV App store. You simply download and install it on your device, log in to your account, and connect to your provider’s VPN network. It’s that simple.
External storage via USB drive
Connecting USB Drive to Firestick using an OTG cable
Roku Smart TVs usually include one or two USB ports which you can use to connect an external USB drive. You can then view photos or play music and video files stored locally on the external USB drive through the built-in Roku media player. Roku Media Player supports drives that are formatted with the FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3, and HFS+ file systems. Roku streaming players/sticks don’t include a USB port. Unlike Firesticks, you can’t connect Roku streaming sticks to a USB drive using an OTG cable. Furthermore, you can’t use external storage to install Roku Apps.
Built-in Media player support
Roku Media Player
Both Roku and Fire TV devices have a built-in media player. Roku’s media player is a lot more robust and powerful than Fire TV’s media player. Furthermore, Fire TV’s built-in media player is only supported in select Fire TV devices — typically the Smart TVs and Fire Cube 3rd generation. Roku’s media player on the other hand is accessible across all its devices.
So if you have personal media stored on a USB drive or a NAS Drive, then you’re safer going with Roku TV.
Built-in Web browser support
Fire TV Silk Web browser
Roku TV devices don’t have a built-in web browser. In fact, they don’t even support any 3rd party web browser at all. Fire TV devices on the other hand have a built-in web browser called Silk which is based on Chromium. Silk is an incredibly powerful fully-fledged browser you can use to stream content or browse websites from your TV or Firestick.
Why Roku TV does not have an Internet browser and what you can do
Amazon Fire TV Silk browser: Using one of Fire TV’s unique features
Gaming support
8BitDo game console
Roku TV on the other hand completely lacks serious gaming support except for a few basic games you can play using your TV remote.
Content
Roku home screen Apps
When it comes to content, both Roku TV and Fire TV offer access to a wide range of popular streaming services. Almost all major streaming services are available on both platforms. You can find paid streaming services such as Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, HBOMax, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Spotify, Prime Video, and Disney+ on both Roku and Fire TV. You’ll also find Ad-supported services such as Youtube, Plex, Tubi, Peacock, Pluto TV, Crackle, and Crunchyroll on both Roku and Fire TV.
Installed Apps on my Fire TV Stick
If you’re a live TV fan, still you won’t miss out on either Platform. You can get premium Live TV streaming services such as Philo, Sling, FuboTV, ESPN+, and Youtube TV on both platforms.
Fire TV Live TV tab
Even if you choose to watch Live TV by connecting a terrestrial antenna , you can do that on both Roku Smart TVs and Fire Smart TVs. You of course can only do this with the Smart TVs and not the streaming players or sticks.
I would say that there’s nothing you would be missing by choosing either platform.
Pricing
Roku Streaming Stick+
When it comes to pricing, Roku TV is generally more affordable than Fire TV. Roku TV offers a variety of models at different price points, ranging from around $30 to $120. The lower-priced models such as the Roku Express offer basic features like HD streaming and voice control, while the higher-priced models such as the Roku Express 4K, 4K+, and Roku Ultra offer 4K streaming, HDR, and other advanced features.
Fire TV stick 3rd Gen
Fire TV also offers a variety of models at different price points, but the devices are generally more expensive than Roku TV. The cheapest Fire TV model (Fire TV Stick Lite) starts at around $30 and offers basic features like HD streaming and Alexa voice control, while the most expensive Fire TV model (Fire TV Cube) costs around $125 and offers 4K streaming, HDR, and other advanced features.
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ vs Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: Which streaming player is right for you?
- Budget HD streaming players 2021: Fire TV Stick Lite vs Roku Express HD vs Mi TV Stick
Here is a video we have done on Roku vs Fire TV. You can watch it below;
Availability and regional support
Our Top Picks for streaming devices
Google TV Streamer 4K – Fast Streaming Entertainment on Your TV with Voice Search Remote – Watch Movies, Shows, Live TV, and Netflix in 4K HDR – Smart Home Control – 32 GB of Storage – Porcelain
ONN Android TV 4K UHD Streaming Device with Voice Remote Control Google Assistant & High Speed HDMI Cable (100026240) Black
TiVo Stream 4K – Every Streaming App and Live TV on One Screen – 4K UHD, Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos Sound – Powered by Android TV – Plug-In Smart TV, One size
NVIDIA Shield Android TV | 4K HDR Streaming Media Player High Performance, Dolby Vision, Google Assistant Built-in, Works with Alexa (945-13430-2500-000)
NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro | 4K HDR Streaming Media Player High Performance, Dolby Vision, 3GB RAM, 2X USB, Works with Alexa, Model:945-12897-2500-101
Roku Streaming Stick 4K – HDR & Dolby Vision Roku Streaming Device for TV with Voice Remote & Long-Range Wi-Fi – Free & Live TV
Roku Ultra – Ultimate Streaming Player – 4K Streaming Device for TV with HDR10+, Dolby Vision & Atmos – Bluetooth & Wi-Fi 6- Rechargeable Voice Remote Pro with Backlit Buttons – Free & Live TV
H96 Max M9 TV Box Android 14.0 RK3576 8GB RAM 128GB ROM WiFi6 1000M LAN BT5.4 USB3.0 Support AV1 VP9 4K 60fps H.265 HDR Box
Conclusion
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he’s not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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