This media streamer is catching up to Roku in popularity!
Roku has been dominating the streaming wars for some time now. But its luster may fade in time as another media streamer has recently been gaining in popularity.
Just for fun we did a Google Trends search to see which media streamers were popular today in the U.S.A. We ran an expanded search that covered the last 5 years of the most searched for media streamers on Google.
We pitted 4 popular media streamers against each other: Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Chromecast. And the results were quite interesting. While Roku still dominates the other three, the Apple TV has been catching up lately in the number of searches. Apple TV has been gaining in popularity and now firmly holds the second place position behind Roku.
One explanation for this is all the recent publicity of popular channels like YouTube and Amazon Prime leaving the Roku platform because of disputes between the companies.
Another reason could be because the Apple TV has a very nice and easy-to-use media streamer that has no advertising. Roku and Amazon's streaming platform has more advertising. Apple has remained ad-free. Their hardware is also more powerful, so their interface is snappier and less cluttered than both Roku and Fire TV.
Other Reveling Information
Another big surprise is how poorly the Amazon Fire TV ranked compared to Apple TV and Roku. It even ranked below the Chromecast. We included Android TV and Nvidia SHIELD in another comparison. Neither were searched for nearly as much as Apple TV and Roku. They even ranked lower than Fire TV and Google Chromecast.
From this latest Google Trends report, we can clearly see Roku still leads the pack. But Apple TV is clearly catching on with consumers. Maybe it's their excellent AirPlay ability. Which lets you cast internet streaming content directly from a phone or PC browser right to your Apple TV.
The Apple TV+ streaming service may also be a contributing factor. At only $5/month, it now has a lot of fantastic content.
Which Media Streamer Should You Buy
The streaming wars are heating up, and if you own a newer Roku model, that's great. But since their hardware has not really improved all that much recently, you may be better off just keeping it. Today, it makes a lot of sense to buy a different brand media streamer to enjoy channels and content that may no longer be available on Roku now or in the future.
The Apple TV 4K is an excellent alternative if you want a media streamer that is just as easy to use, and has minimal advertising on its platform. And even if the Nvidia SHIELD is not listed here. It's also another great choice because of the ongoing support from Nvidia and its excellent hardware performance.
Only time will tell, if another media streamer can beat Roku, which is continuing to innovate. And Roku is coming out with new ways to keep their users glued to their platform. Especially with their announcement of their new IDK for the Internet of Things for developers. This will let content creators build an entirely new class of apps. This has the potential to change the way Roku functions and can make it do so much more than streaming media. You can learn more about this here...
But there is nothing wrong with diversity for media streamers. Owning other brands is an excellent strategy for cord cutters. Especially if content you once enjoyed on one platform is no longer is available. Having another media streamer hooked to a spare HDMI port means you won't miss your favorite shows or content, even if it is on another platform. >
If you are thinking about buying an Apple TV or SHIELD TV box, you may be in for some sticker shock. But these devices both have a history of long term software support. And both are built exceptionally well to last many years. So five years from now when you may have replaced three less expensive Roku Sticks, your SHIELD or 4K Apple TV could still be going strong.
You can save money on an Apple TV 4K or Nvidia SHIELD by watching eBay listings. And be sure to use these eBay buying tips to score a deal!
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Use of third-party trademarks on this site is not intended to imply endorsement nor affiliation with respective trademark owners.
We are Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by Roku®, Apple, Google or Other Companies we may write about.
