I didn't realise how bad it was until I tried a friend's apple TV

The Apple TV is an Apple product, with all the pros and cons that carries, but the Fire stick honestly feels like a low quality knockoff of a knockoff.

Reading this I'm glad having chosen Chromecast w Google TV last week for my new "dumb tv". I didn't have the opportunity to try Fire stick but slowness and an unpolished UI what I was fearing. Google TV otoh has a polished interface, supports all streaming services and the remote can control your TV as well. Can recommend. Despite being an Apple user who bought into the ecosystem, I don't like any of their offerings in the media streaming space. Too expensive, too much lock-in, catalogues too small.

I bought a FireTV stick for the lesser-used TV, having been accustomed to the Apple TV in the main room. It was cheap, and seemed to do all the stuff The software was horrible: * Highlight a search field, think you can use Alexa to dictate text? No, it'll just do a regular Alexa query. AppleTV gets this right: if you're on a text field, the mic button will just activate dictation to enter text * Screensaver comes on, exit screensaver, also exits currently playing show back to the screen where you have to hit resume * Slow, janky UI built with zero love I felt bad when I eventually gave it away to my mum, who had a very early gen AppleTV that could not run Disney+. I felt so bad about inflicting the FireTV experience on her that I soon bought her a new AppleTV to replace it

I don't have complaints about my FireTV Cube - honestly think it's a very good device. Way way faster than FireTV stick. Runs jellyfin well too.

Just get a Roku and move on. Clean UI, the best remotes. I have Fire TVs and Chromecast with Google TV and Roku is just better. No nonsense. Apple TV is overpriced and does nothing I need.