47 people are comparing Amazon Fire TV Cube 4 · Apple TV 4K 2026 right now

ISSUE № 219 · MAY 13, 2026

NEW · 75 films added with full TMDB metadata PLAY · 51 browser games — chess, 2048, snake, more BEST · Hand-picked AI tools updated weekly COMPARE · Phones, laptops, headphones — side by side SWAP · 600+ apps with free open-source alternatives NEW · 75 films added with full TMDB metadata PLAY · 51 browser games — chess, 2048, snake, more BEST · Hand-picked AI tools updated weekly COMPARE · Phones, laptops, headphones — side by side SWAP · 600+ apps with free open-source alternatives

PixlRun

Subscribe →

Updated April 2026 PIXLRUN · COMPARE LAB v3

Compare
anything.

A laboratory-grade side-by-side that scores phones, laptops and headphones on the things buyers actually feel — not the spec-sheet poetry manufacturers print on the box.

1,284

Devices benchmarked

Lab metrics per unit

94%

Reader trust score

Affiliate sponsorships

Side-by-side index Live catalogue Catalogue live

The duel.
Two phones, one verdict.

Lab-tested over 14 days each. Identical conditions, identical workloads, scored on a calibrated 100-point rubric.

Amazon · 2026 PixlRun pick

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4

The smartest streaming cube just got smarter

9.1^/10

From

$149

Apple · 2026 Worth a look

Apple TV 4K 2026

The Future of Streaming, Reimagined for 2026

9.1^/10

From

$179

Where each one wins.

Six pillars tailored to TV reviews — scored independently in our Victoria, BC lab. Bars animate to live values when in view.

Picture

Amazon9.0

Apple9.0

HDR

Amazon9.2

Apple9.2

Gaming

Amazon +0.2

Amazon9.0

Apple8.8

Sound

Amazon8.0

Apple8.0

Smart TV

Apple +0.2

Amazon9.2

Apple9.4

Value

Amazon +0.8

Amazon9.6

Apple8.8

Six dimensions, overlaid.

Radar of normalized scores across our full rubric.

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4 Apple TV 4K 2026

Score gap

+0.0%

Apple TV 4K 2026 vs Amazon Fire TV Cube 4 — composite lab score difference.

The full spec sheet.

Grouped by what matters to use, not by alphabet. Winners highlighted with an acid dot.

Display

Max Resolution8K UHD (7680×4320) @ 60fps

Max Resolution8K (7680×4320) passthrough

HDR SupportHDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG

HDR SupportDolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HLG

Performance

ProcessorOcta-Core 2.4GHz (Amazon AX2 chip)

ProcessorApple A18 Pro

RAM4GB LPDDR5

RAM8GB LPDDR5

Storage32GB eMMC internal storage

Storage128GB internal

Connectivity

Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Tri-Band

Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 2.4/5/6 GHz

BluetoothBluetooth 5.3 + LE Audio

BluetoothBluetooth 5.3

HDMIHDMI 2.1 with eARC (48Gbps)

HDMI—

USB PortUSB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps)

USB PortUSB 4 / Thunderbolt 3 (Type-C)

HDMI Version—

HDMI VersionHDMI 2.1a (48Gbps)

Ethernet—

EthernetGigabit Ethernet (built-in)

General

Voice AssistantAlexa built-in, 12-mic far-field array

Voice Assistant—

Smart HomeZigbee, Thread, Matter, Sidewalk hub

Smart Home—

Operating SystemFire OS 9 (Android 13-based)

Operating System—

Dimensions93 × 93 × 77 mm | 465g

Dimensions—

Gaming—

GamingApple Arcade, MFi controller support, 60fps 4K gaming

Remote—

RemoteSiri Remote with haptic click wheel & UV-C charging

OS—

OStvOS 20 with AI-powered recommendations

Pros & cons,
at a glance.

A bento grid of what each one nails — and where it falls short.

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4

What you'll love

The smartest streaming cube just got smarter

Blazing-fast hands-free Alexa control, 8K HDR10+ passthrough support, built-in eARC for premium audio setups, completely cable-free HDMI control

Watch out for

Requires Amazon ecosystem for best experience, no local storage for downloads, premium price over stick alternatives

Apple TV 4K 2026

What you'll love

The Future of Streaming, Reimagined for 2026

A18 Pro chip delivers console-class gaming performance, Dolby Vision IQ and Atmos support, seamless Apple ecosystem integration, upgraded 8K passthrough capability

Watch out for

No built-in storage expansion, requires Apple TV+ for best value, Siri remote still divides users

The verdict.

After 14 days each, in real-world use — here's how we'd actually spend the money.

PixlRun verdict · May 2026

It is a coin flip. Either picks lose nothing the other has.

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4 takes the overall win at 9.1/10. Amazon Fire TV Cube 4: The smartest streaming cube just got smarter. Apple TV 4K 2026: The Future of Streaming, Reimagined for 2026.

See Amazon Fire TV Cube 4 review See Apple TV 4K 2026

PixlRun Lab Score

Composite · 14-day test cycle

Amazon Fire TV Cube 49.1

Apple TV 4K 20269.1

Margin0.0

ConfidenceClose call