Firestick vs Android TV Box for IPTV: Which Is Better?

When choosing a streaming device for IPTV, you’ll likely face the classic showdown: Firestick or Android TV Box. Both can run IPTV apps like Tivimate, IPTV Smarters, and more — but which one gives you the better experience?

Let’s compare the two options and help you choose the best IPTV setup for your needs.

Firestick: The Popular Choice

The Amazon Firestick is the most widely used streaming device for IPTV. It’s affordable, compact, and supports most major IPTV apps with a bit of tweaking.

Pros:

• Budget-friendly (often under £40)

• Supports sideloading apps like Tivimate

• Portable and easy to set up

• Works well with UltimateFIRE IPTV

Cons:

• Limited internal storage (can affect app performance)

• Slower than high-end Android TV boxes

• Heavily Amazon-focused UI and ads

💡 Best For: Casual users, budget setups, and portable streaming.

Android TV Box: More Power, More Control

Android TV boxes come in various shapes and sizes, from budget boxes to high-end devices like the NVIDIA Shield TV.

Pros:

• More RAM and storage (better for heavy IPTV users)

• Full Android experience (no Amazon restrictions)

• Easier customization and advanced settings

Cons:

• More expensive

• Setup can be more complex

• Cheap models often have buggy firmware

💡 Best For: Advanced users, multi-playlist setups, or households streaming on multiple screens.

Feature Comparison

What’s Better for Tivimate?

Tivimate works on both Firestick and Android TV boxes, but performs best on devices with more RAM and storage. That gives Android TV boxes the edge — if you’re using a well-supported one (like the NVIDIA Shield or Mecool KM7 Plus).

But if you’re just streaming on one device and want a simple, reliable setup, Firestick still gets the job done — and it’s the easiest way to get started with UltimateFIRE IPTV.