Apple TV vs. Roku: Which media streamer should you buy?
by Lisa Caplan, Viewpoints Online Shopping and Streaming Services Contributor
As more and more people turn to the Internet instead of traditional cable, satellite and DVD rental companies for their media, there is a growing need for media streamers, which serve as a bridge between your TV and web content. New HDTV’s are often web-enabled, but most consumers hang onto televisions for eight years or more, making the need for devices like Roku and Apple TV necessary for many.
But which one is the right digital media streamer for you? It really depends most upon what type of computer, smartphone and tablet you use. If you are tied into Apple’s ecosystem, Apple TV is a no brainer, but Roku offers a lot that Apple doesn’t, even for brand loyalists
TV shows and movies aren’t free
Apple TV and Roku are both set-top boxes that don’t take up much room. They both act as a hub for different subscription (and a few free) media-streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBOGo to play on your regular TV.
That’s really important to understand. Neither box provides you with much to watch for free. Apple TV provides YouTube access, and Roku teams with smaller companies like Crackle, which offer some free movies, but for the best content with either box, you need to subscribe to premium services. Netflix and Hulu Plus are the dominant flat-fee video services and are available for around $8/month. HBO Go is limited to HBO cable subscribers whose provider works with HBO. For major league sports like MLB.tv you can either subscribe via Roku’s website, or right on your Apple TV, and both companies honor existing subscriptions.
Media Streamer Pricing
There are two big differences between Roku and Apple TV. The first is pricing and model selection. Roku offers a base model at $49, which doesn’t support HD, and three Roku HD models, including two that play in full 1080p resolution. The HD models run from $79.99-$99.99 depending on whether you want full HD or not, and whether you want a game-controller/remote.
Apple TV is a smaller box, and there is only one model sold at a time by Apple. You can get older models on Amazon.com and through other third party resellers. The latest Apple TV retails for $99.99. The box runs on a special version of iOS—Apple’s mobile operating system—and updates periodically. A remote control is included.
Which services do you want to use?
The other major difference is which services provide the on-demand, pay-per-view, and purchased video content. Roku supports Amazon Instant Video, while Apple TV, of course, is tied to iTunes. As I’ve discussed in previous articles, iTunes has a leg up when it comes to content right now, but it is very exclusive about where you can view it. Amazon Instant Video is still catching up in terms of first run and hard-to-license TV and movies, but their apps are available cross-platform. Roku in general offers a much more open experience with some 750 channels, while Apple TV is much more exclusive. Vevo, Vudu, Crackle and more just aren’t available on Apple TV.
Apple TV or Roku?
That said, Apple TV can do something Roku just can’t. AirPlay enables Apple iPhones, iPods and iPads to send signals directly to Apple TV. That means supported apps and games can be played or viewed on an HDTV, and Apple mobile devices can serve as controllers. Roku is making moves in this direction with the Roku 3, which comes with Angry Birds Space pre-installed and a special controller, but it has no where near the depth or breadth of Apple’s AirPlay supported apps.
In the end, since I’m fully tied into Apple’s product lines, I’m an Apple TV user. But, I am bothered by Apple’s restrictive policies when it comes to letting competitors, well, compete.
If you use either of the products we want to know what you think. Let us know which one you like better in the comment and then head over and write your preferred media streamer a review.
Lisa Caplan writes extensively about streaming services, apps, games and how to use technology to improve lives. She’s editor-in-chief of AppTudes and also regularly contributes to the app review website, Appolicious. Lisa is based in Montreal.
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