Roku 3 vs Chromecast vs Apple TV

When you are looking forward a new streaming box, Roku 3, Google

Chromecast and Apple TV would remain your favorites among a bunch

of streamers, which are most popular for the low prices that are all under

$100 but let you get a good value for money. Each of the three most

popular streaming boxes has its own pros and cons. Which one is the

best? Which one can access to the most apps? This following article will

help you to choose a right media streamer.

Roku 3

Pros: Roku 3 platform is an overwhelming winner when it comes to

choices of channel source, providing more than 1,000 channels including

Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Spotify,

MLB.TV, Amazon Cloud Player and YouTube. No other device here

offers the cross-platform search to find content for a title or keyword.

Roku 3’s perfect excellent interface and fast chip make it feel more

quick and responsive than any other streaming box. And built-in

headphone jack is able to mute your TV automatically when you are

listening.

Cons: Roku 3 does not let you use the native apps on your smartphones,

tablets or computers to stream personal digital collection as widely as

Google Chromecaste and Apple TV. What’s more, the streamer can’t

access to iTunes 12 rented and purchased M4V videos directly.

Outline: Roku 3 is the best streaming box with the most content

sources, the most responsive performance and most quiet headphone

jack. (Price: $99)

Google Chromecast

Pros: Google Chromecast becomes an instant hit with its hard to beat

price $35, working with a growing number of apps, such as Netflix,

HBO GO, YouTube, WatchESPN & Pandora. Unlike Roku 3, Apple TV

or other media streamer that is compact, Chromecast is a sticker as small

as thumb, which neatly hides into the HDMI port on your TV and is

convenient to carry during traveling.

Cons: Google Chromecast’s beta feature of screen mirroring does not

always work as well as it boasts that Chromecast has the ability of

projecting all contents from Chrome tab to TV perfectly. Its tiny size

also brings a serious drawback— the need for excellent wi-fi. The lack

of standard remote means everything would be controlled on your

smartphone or tablet. So you need to keep your device at time and to

unlock it once you want to pause or restart streaming. And less channel

choices than Roku 3’s and less tranditional onscreen user interface than

Apple TV’s are another two Achilles heels. Chromecast can only stream

iTunes M4V videos under the help of a M4V to MP4 converter.

Outline: Google Chromecast is a cheap media sticker and a good travel

companion to mirror content on small screen to bigger one. However, it

is not fully featured as the third generation of Roku box. (Price: $35)

Apple TV

Pros: Apple TV is the only streaming box working perfectly with

iTunes store, which lets you stream all purchased iTunes movies, TV

shows and other M4V videos to your TV. It is available to accessing to

Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, MLB.TV and other online media services.

You can push music, video and photo from any other iOS devices and

Mac with AirPlay, which also lets you access to some apps that don’t

supported natively by Apple TV box, like Pandora.

Cons: Apple TV seems to be designed for Mac users so that if you

don’t own other Apple device, it would not be cost-efficient to buy one.

However, Apple TV still can’t let you enjoy iTunes movies rented on

other Apple devices, like iPad Air 2 or iPhone 6 Plus. And useful

features of numerous apps, cross-platform search and remote headphone

jack are so far from Apple TV.

Outline: Apple TV is an excellent iOS companion that works well with

Apple ecosystem. And there are various rumors of new Apple TV would

be released in the near future. Let us see what happens. (Price: $99)

Roku 3, Google Chromecast and Apple TV all received popular

acclaim since they was landed on stores. Fully-featured Roku 3, tiny and

cheap Chromecast or iOS-designed Apple TV, it is completely up to you

to choose a right streamer. And if you are an iTunes movie fans,

Tune4mac iTunes M4V Converter Platinum would be an indispensable

helper for you to stream iTunes M4V movies, rentals and purchases, to

Roku 3/Chromecast, and to transfer rented iTunes M4V to Apple TV

from other Apple devices with no limitation.