Amazon has finally figured out how to make a $39 Chromecast killer

Amazon’s $99 Fire TV was the company’s first streaming media player meant to compete against the Apple TV, Roku or Chromecast, but the company has finally figured out how to make an actual Chromecast-like device that might be more popular with consumers. Announced on Monday, the Fire TV Stick costs just $39, $4 more than Google’s popular streaming dongle, though Amazon Prime subscribers can preorder it for just $19 over the next two days.

It’s more than clear the Fire TV Stick is meant to compete directly against the Chromecast, a product Amazon mentions a few times in its press release, but also on the product’s page. Amazon also compares it to the Roku Streaming Stick, which is Roku’s own Chromecast killer.

“Fire TV Stick has 50% more processing power and 2x the memory of Chromecast; it has 6x the processing power, 2x the memory, and 32x the storage of Roku Streaming Stick—this results in faster and more fluid navigation, plus more storage for apps and games,” Amazon says.

“Fire TV Stick features dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi with MIMO for fast and reliable streaming. Chromecast only has single-band, single-antenna Wi-Fi,” the press release later says, again taking a hit at Google’s hit product.

Meanwhile, Google is going to release its second-generation Chromecast at some point in the future.

Amazon’s stick should be shipped to your door starting on November 19th. The voice-enabled remote is available as a $29.99 optional upgrade for the Fire TV Stick, and buyers who aren’t Amazon Prime subscribers yet will get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime with their purchase.

More details about the Fire TV Stick are available at the source links, with a Fire TV Stick vs. Chromecast vs. Roku Streaming Stick comparison chart following below (via Amazon).