Comparison of the 2022 Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Cube 3rd-gen, 2019 Shield TV Pro, and more

Apple just announced the new 2022 Apple TV 4K earlier today. With Amazon announcing the new 3rd-gen Fire TV Cube last month, the market for flagship streaming devices is going to change quite a bit when these two new contenders are released in a few weeks. Here is a comparison chart of all the specs for the 2019 2nd Fire TV Cube, 2022 3rd-gen Fire TV Cube, 2019 Nvidia Shield TV (Cylinder), 2019 Nvidia Shield TV Pro, 2022 Apple TV 64GB, and 2022 Apple TV 128GB to help you compare the differences and similarities side-by-side.

Comparison Chart

Bold = Better
 2019
Fire TV
Cube 2
2022
Fire TV
Cube 3
2019
Shield TV
(Cylinder)
2019
Shield TV
Pro
2022
Apple TV
64GB
2022
Apple TV
128GB
List Price$119.99$139.99$149.99$199.99$129.00$149.00
Historical Low Price$59.99$99.99$124.99$169.99$129.00$149.00
Original ReleaseOct 10, 2019Oct 25, 2022Oct 28, 2019Oct 28, 2019Nov 4, 2022Nov 4, 2022
CPU ModelAmlogic
S922Z-2
Amlogic
POP1-G (A311D2?)
Nvidia
Tegra
X1+
Nvidia
Tegra
X1+
Apple
A15
Bionic
Apple
A15
Bionic
CPU Cores6-Core8-core4-core4-core6-Core6-Core
CPU Speed2.2GHz (4x)
&
1.9GHz (2x)
2.2GHz (4x)
&
2.0GHz (4x)
2.1GHz (4x)2.1GHz (4x)3.2GHz (2x)
&
2.0GHz (4x)
3.2GHz (2x)
&
2.0GHz (4x)
GPUMali G52 MP2Mali G52 MP8Maxwell GM20xMaxwell GM20xA15
Bionic
A15
Bionic
GPU Cores2-Core8-core256-core256-core4/5-Core4/5-Core
GPU Speed800 MHz800 MHz1267 MHz1267 MHz1200 MHz1200 MHz
RAM2 GB2 GB2 GB3 GBUnknownUnknown
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5
802.11ac
Wi-Fi 6E
802.11ax
Wi-Fi 5
802.11ac
Wi-Fi 5
802.11ac
Wi-Fi 6
802.11ax
Wi-Fi 6
802.11ax
Ethernet10/100
External
10/100
Internal
Gigabit
Internal
Gigabit
Internal
NoneGigabit
Internal
Internal Storage16GB16GB8GB16GB64GB128GB
Operating SystemFire OS 7
(Android 9)
Fire OS 7
(Android 9)
Android 11Android 11tvOS 16tvOS 16
Architecture32-bit32-bit32-bit64-bit64-bit64-bit
Video Resolution4K @ 60fps4K @ 60fps4K @ 60fps4K @ 60fps4K @ 60fps4K @ 60fps
HDR TypesHDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision,
HDR10+
HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision,
HDR10+
HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision
HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision
HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision,
HDR10+
HDR10,
HLG,
Dolby Vision,
HDR10+
Video DecodingH.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC)
H.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC),
AV1
H.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC)
H.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC)
H.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC)
H.264 (AVC),
H.265 (HEVC)
Audio DecodingDolby AtmosDolby AtmosDolby AtmosDolby AtmosDolby AtmosDolby Atmos
Voice ControlRemote Mic,
Hands-Free
Remote Mic,
Hands-Free
Remote MicRemote MicRemote MicRemote Mic
USB PortUSB 2.0
(Micro)
USB 2.0
(Full)
NoneUSB 3.0
(Full)
NoneNone
Card PortNoneNoneMicro SDNoneNoneNone
Video UpscalingStandardAdvancedAdvancedAdvancedStandardStandard
Other ExtrasApp Sideloading,
IR Blaster
App Sideloading,
IR Blaster,
HDMI-IN
App SideloadingApp SideloadingNoneThread Radio
RemoteAlexa Voice Remote (3)Alexa Voice Remote (TV)Shield Voice Remote (Triangle)Shield Voice Remote (Triangle)Siri Voice Remote (USB-C)Siri Voice Remote (USB-C)
Remote FinderOptional
w/ Pro
Remote
($34.99)
Optional
w/ Pro
Remote
($34.99)
IncludedIncludedNoneNone
Remote BacklightOptional
w/ Pro
Remote
($34.99)
Optional
w/ Pro
Remote
($34.99)
IncludedIncludedNoneNone
Remote Batteries2x AAA
(Included)
2x AAA
(Included)
2x AAA
(Included)
2x AAA
(Included)
RechargableRechargable
Remote TV ControlPower
Volume
Mute
Power
Volume
Mute
Power
Volume
Power
Volume
Power
Volume
Mute
Power
Volume
Mute
Remote App ButtonsNetflix,
Prime Video,
Disney+,
Hulu
Netflix,
Prime Video,
Disney+,
Hulu
NetflixNetflixNoneNone
Remote Extra ButtonsFast-Forward,
Rewind,
TV Guide
Fast-Forward,
Rewind,
TV Guide,
Channel Up/Down,
Settings,
Recents
Fast-Forward,
Rewind
Fast-Forward,
Rewind
NoneNone
37 comments
  1. Let me know if you think I missed anything!

    Thanks, Robert, for reminding me to add Thread support to the top Apple TV!

  2. clocks says:

    I’m hoping as these boxes become more powerful, they can act as a Plex server, similar to how the Shield can.

  3. Miguel Torres says:

    Muy buen trabajo Elias, yo tengo dos firestick y son excelentes dispositivos, estos cubos deben ser unas bestias, igual los otros deben ser grandes aparatos.

  4. Jon says:

    Some categories I’m interested in are AC-4 decoding for ATSC3 and the option to output video in native format (specifically 24fps).

    Also native YouTube decoding (which is presumably what the AV1 entry represents), do we no longer need VP9?

    And ultimately since these are streaming devices: which of the major premium platforms are supported and is that with full 4K and HDR or DV?

    The rest of the info is very useful.

  5. Harry says:

    Great chart, Elias!

    Is it possible to find out and compare:

    1. Which boxes display least amount of ads for paid content.
    FireTV has gotten out of hand using FireTV hardware.
    Prime Video on AppleTV is much more watchable since not assaulted by ads.

    2. Which boxes make good mediacenter hubs? Media center software Kodi, Plex, etc) available? Expandable storage? Restrictions? Have a decent library of shows and movies.

  6. clark says:

    Awesome post – thank you Elias!

  7. Rik Emmett says:

    What is the HDMI IN port on the 3rd gen Cube for?

    • Robert says:

      For connection of cable box

      • Rik Emmett says:

        Seems late in the game to support input of a cable box. Cable is dying. Does the 3rd gen cube integrate the cable content into the guide data? Or is this just a passthrough or upsaclaer?

        • clocks says:

          That’s what I am thinking. Is there that many folks that have both a cable box and a high end FTV hooked up to the same tv? I was surprised to see the addition of the HDMI in. Not sure how much cost it added, but there probably would have been better places to use that part of the budget.

          • jon says:

            Absolutely, just because tons of people are cutting the cord doesn’t mean there aren’t still tons of people using cable boxes and dvrs.

            A few years ago, I bought some auto-HDMI switches to try to add some Fire TV sticks to some of my TV’s but discovered the Fire TV never completely cut off the video so the auto-switch didn’t switch. So, making a streaming stick easy to use can be difficult without going to a universal remote or a device with passthrough when you have to switch inputs back and forth.

      • badbob says:

        How about another FireTV to watch two shows at the same time? Or a security camera feed (need a button to instantly toggle on the input feed)?

        I wonder if it can handle hdmi 2.1 4:4:4 4k input and output.

  8. Hownow says:

    can anyone please do a comparison of the upscaling 4k capability of the cube 3 vs Nvidia Shield Pro?

    • I upgraded all my HDMI video capture gear to 4K as soon as the new Cube was announced just for this very reason. Stay tuned for a head-to-head upscaling comparison article and video.

      • clocks says:

        Awesome. I also am very interested in this. Not only how it does versus the Shield, but against TVs inbuilt upscaling. My understanding is some TVs do it better than others.

        • I won’t be comparing it to TVs because the small selection of TVs I have won’t be a good representation of what all the different TVs in the market can do. My plan is to record various different content on the Cube 2 (as “standard” upscaling), Cube 3, and Shield TV. I’ll probably also do some limited testing with a few other devices (like the Chromecast 4K, Apple TV, and Firestick 4K Max) but if they aren’t noticeably different than the Cube 2, which I don’t expect them to be, I won’t be including them in the video/article.

  9. Phillip Jones says:

    Thanks Adam, I have had a shield since 2016 and never knew about this mute function.

    • Adam says:

      Early 2020 for me, and I’m irritated I didn’t figure it out until a couple months ago. ;-)
      Although TBH, never had any need for it until I recently started using an service with commercials.

  10. Mike says:

    Maybe something about the gameplaying capabilities? I’ve been interested in something that might have motion sensing remotes for interactive games like bowling or tennis and that sort.

  11. John Crane says:

    The shield remote ,can mute and other functions if you install the button mapper app,you can disable Netflix button also

    • Adam says:

      As I said, you can do it simply by setting the Menu button to mute on a long press, short press or double press in the Shield’s settings.
      No need to install anything.

  12. Anthony Rossetti says:

    Sorry if I missed it but this chart is great do you have something similar that lists the specs on all the fire TV models as well?
    I am xuri as to what specs the 50″ 4 series and the 55″ Omni have since I just bought them both
    Or is it still unknown.

  13. Run says:

    Will we be able to add storage to the cube through the USB?? Also, will the cube have gigabyte Internet support? Thanks

    • Lewis Rosenboom says:

      The Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen does not support gigabit internet. It comes with a 10/100 internet wired port. It also supports wireless wifi 6E connections.

  14. Nehemoth says:

    Hi @Elias I wonder if you can talk more about the exact meaning of “advanced upscaling” in the case of the Nvidia Shield TV against others, what it’s considered advance?

    Regards

    • All devices can do basic upscaling, which is to simply duplicate pixels to fill the needed resolution. So if you have a 1080p video playing on a 4K device/TV, then every pixel just gets quadrupled. Advanced upscaling goes beyond that by using algorithms or AI to guess the best pixels that should be used to fill the missing spaces. The result is usually a sharper image than with regular upscaling.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Get AFTVnews articles in your inbox!

Get an email anytime a new article is published.
No Spam EVER and Cancel Anytime.

FOLLOW