Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle

by

chromecast-stickDespite an earlier report suggesting a March launch, a new report from the Wall Street Journal now claims Amazon will start selling its video-streaming device in April through its own website and retailers like Best Buy.

The device will run a version of Android akin to the company's Kindle Fire readers and will support common media streaming services like Netflix.

The Amazon device will carry a variety of apps available on Roku Inc. and Apple set-top boxes and run on a version of Google's Android software, like Amazon's tablet computers, these people said. Roku's most popular apps include video services Netflix and Hulu Plus and music service Pandora, as well as Amazon's own video-streaming service.

An earlier report from TechCrunch claims the Amazon device will have a stick form factor similar to Google's Chromecast and will plug into the HDMI port of any HDTV. These same sources believe the device will support online gaming, streaming top-tier titles to the device at 30 frames per second from Amazon's servers in a manner similar to remote gaming service OnLive.

Pricing for the Amazon device is not yet known, but it is expected to be consistent with competing devices which are priced under $100. Google's Chromecast is the cheapest option at $35, while Roku's new Streaming Stick is priced at $49. Sources claim Amazon Prime customers will receive extra incentives for purchasing the device.

Top Rated Comments

161 months ago
Amazon- a company that tries everything and is good at very few things.

In other words, Amazon, just sell what people give you to sell and stop trying to make your own junk.

What have they made that hasn't been good or successful? The only true flop they've had would be the original Kindle DX.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
161 months ago
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.

It's amazing how often AirPlay or Apple TV just fail to work, yet switching to Chromecast I get no issues.

What am I doing wrong? My ATV just always seems to work. I Airplay movies from every device in my house. I stream music from iTunes Radio from ATV, my iOS devices, my Macs using the Remote App. I watch movies and TV shows. I Netflix all the livelong day. Did I somehow get the only Apple TV that was built correctly? :rolleyes:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
taptic Avatar
161 months ago
How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.

Did you even read my comment?

I was saying the e-ink ones are OK, it's the kindle fire and stuff that I can't stand.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
161 months ago
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
161 months ago
In my opinion all kindles suck. bad. except the e-ink display ones.
How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
161 months ago
I hope they do better than Google in allowing the dongle to get the power through the HDMI port versus having a power cord connected to it -- that is ugly and kind of defeats the point of a dongle IMO.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple 2026 Back to School Graphic

Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer Just Went Live in Select Countries

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:48 am PDT by
Apple's annual Back to School promotion is now live in select countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The offer provides college students and educational staff with a free item with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad model. The exact offer varies by country, with options including a pack of four AirTags, AirPods 4,...
iphone 17 cyber

Apple Closes Unlocked iPhone Loophole for T-Mobile and Verizon Financing

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
Carrier-financed iPhones purchased from Apple will soon be locked to the carrier, ending a workaround customers used to purchase an unlocked iPhone on a payment plan. Until the rule change, buying an iPhone from Apple and opting for financing through Verizon or T-Mobile meant you would get an iPhone not locked to either carrier's network. That's no longer the case, and now iPhones financed...
apple back to school sans airpods 2

Apple's 2026 Back to School Offer is Coming Soon

Sunday July 12, 2026 7:29 am PDT by
Apple's stores will be rolling out Back to School marketing materials this week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This suggests that the offer will begin in the U.S. in the next few days. Last year, college students and educational staff could receive a free accessory like AirPods 4 or an Apple Pencil Pro with the purchase of a qualifying Mac or iPad model. The Back to School offer is in...