Amazon Fire TV vs Apple TV – Price Comparison between Media Streaming Devices

If you were contemplating purchasing a media streaming device, odds are, you are likely to choose between Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

These two media streaming devices are among the popular set top boxes available in the market at comparable prices.

Let us compare the two set top boxes with respect to their cost and how these two stack up against each other.

Cost stack up between Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV

The third-generation Apple TV A1427 set top box was launched in March 2012. However, the cost of the product was brought down immediately, when a BOM (Bill of Materials) was produced, which brought the cost to $70.30. After a span of approximately two years, Amazon launched the Fire TV, which was also torn down by the BOM, bringing the estimate price to $92.99. However, the BOM would have further dropped for Apple TV, considering the product was launched two years back.

Comparing the two devices in terms of their cost at the time of their launch, Apple TV appears to have gained a profit of $30, as compared to the $6 profit of the Amazon Fire TV. However, both the devices are available at a retail price of $99.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, Apple TV has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and HDMI, which bears a higher initial price, as compared to the Fire TV. In comparison, the Fire TV comprises of a quicker and expensive Wi-FI solution – Qualcomm Atheros QCA6234 MIMO. However, the Fire TV manages to keep the connectivity cost lower than the Apple TV.

NAND (Non-Volatile Memory)

Both devices come equipped with 8GB of MLC Non-Volatile Memory. However, the Apple TV comes with a higher cost than the Fire TV.

SDRAM (Volatile Memory)

Fire TV comes with 2GB DDR2 volatile memory, as compared to the 512MB DDR2 volatile memory of the Apple TV. At the time of teardown, Apple TV’s cost was a tad higher than the Fire TV. However, in the present year, Apple TV is paying less than the Fire TV, in terms of memory.

Processor

In terms of applications processor, Apple TV encompasses 2nd-generation dual core 1GHz A5 processor. In comparison, Fire TV incorporates Qualcomm dual core 1.7GHz Krait 300 CPU along with Adreno 320 GPU, providing the device with more horsepower.

Power Management and Audio

A single die 338S1040 power management along with audio IC is provided in the Apple TV, which is priced at $1.47. In comparison, the Fire TV incorporates a two die part Qualcomm PMM8920 IC, priced at $4.20.

Non-Electric Parts

The Apple TV device incorporates a cost-effective design, but the non-electric parts costs around $8.29. In comparison, the Fire TV costs around $9.70.

Additional Parts

When released, Apple’s additional parts were priced at $10, which is expected to drop at $9.50 range. In comparison, the other parts of Fire TV are presently priced at $13.29.

Supporting Materials

Apple TV incorporates supporting materials priced at $2.80; whereas, for similar materials, Fire TV cost around $3.12. However, the price is determined excluding their respective remote control devices. Apple’s remote control cost around $4.15; whereas, Fire TV offers Bluetooth remote control at a price of $13.19.

Assembling and Final Test

The Amazon Fire TV comes with higher assembling and test costs. The Fire TV requires an additional $0.65 due to its MIMO Wi-Fi, Bluetooth remote control and additional features.

Verdict

In July 2012, BOM for Apple TV cost approximately $70, which would have been reduced significantly due to cost reduction and supply sequence efficiencies. When the retail price of $99 is added to it, the user would own a business box, which improves significantly with time.

 

 

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