Should I buy a used XBOX One S or a new Fire TV Stick for cloud gaming?

For most people starting from scratch, a new Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max is the better and more cost-effective choice for cloud gaming — but only the 4K models that officially support the Xbox app / Xbox Cloud Gaming. Older or non-4K Fire TV sticks are not a safe pick for this use case.

A used Xbox One S makes more sense if you also want to play games locally from discs or digital downloads, or if you want a built-in 4K Blu-ray player.

Key considerations

• Cloud gaming support: Make sure the Fire TV model you buy officially supports the Xbox app for cloud streaming. If it doesn’t, it’s not the right choice.
• Subscription & controller: Cloud gaming on either setup needs Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and a compatible controller, such as a standard wireless Xbox controller.
• Internet: The Fire TV Stick is best if you have a fast, stable connection. The Xbox One S is more flexible if you want offline play or your internet is spotty.

Bottom line: If your goal is mainly cloud gaming, buy a supported Fire TV Stick 4K / 4K Max model. If you want a cheap all-in-one console for cloud gaming plus local play, go with the used Xbox One S.