Reviews on Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Reviews on Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Deals

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the third version of Amazon's popular streaming stick. The biggest difference between this device and previous ones is that it has been updated to support 4K viewing. That being said, this version of the Fire TV Stick is similar to the second-generation Fire TV Stick in many ways. It's got an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, but buying one of the 4K-capable streamers we're looking at here still won't break the bank for under $50. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K also comes with Amazon's Alexa built-in voice assistant. There is a huge variety of content to choose from among the many apps on offer, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and many more. With so many streaming options on offer, we can't help but wonder: who really needs a smart TV? In this latest version, Amazon fixed the issues we had with the previous Fire TV Stick. However, there are still a few small trivial issues that made our experience with this transmitter less than perfect, even if it wasn't far off. Since the launch of the Fire TV Stick 4K, Amazon has taken TVs a step further after introducing a number of new Fire TV Edition sets, as well as a second-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube, which is an updated version of its compatible with Alexa. hands. - Free streaming media player, which adds Dolby Vision and a few other new features to the mix. We also saw an update to the Fire TV Stick (2020) basic HD mount with HDR and the very affordable Fire TV Stick Lite. Plus, you can now even connect your Amazon Echo speakers to Fire TV devices to create an immersive home theater system that's completely wireless and controllable with the Alexa voice assistant.

Prices and availability

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is available to buy for $49.99 / £49.99, which works out to around AU$68 based on current conversion rates. However, it's not yet available for purchase in Australia and it's not yet clear when Amazon will start. sell it in that territory. Compared to the non-4K version of the Fire TV Stick, you're seeing a price increase of around $10 / $10, which seems very reasonable to us considering the higher quality of content you'll get with 4K support. Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10 + and Dolby Atmos. Similar products, including Google's Chromecast Ultra, sell for around $69, so the Fire TV Stick 4K is a good option if you're looking to spend less than $50; however, it's worth keeping in mind that you'll need to purchase subscriptions. to use many of the soon-to-be-added apps like Netflix and Prime Video.

amazon fire tv stick 4k

Image credit: LaComparacion

Integrated

If you've used the older Amazon Fire TV Stick before, you'll notice that the new version hasn't changed much in terms of design. Measuring 99mm x 30mm x 14mm, the Fire TV Stick 4K is as discreet and compact as ever, designed to connect directly to your TV's HDMI 2.2 port. The dongle itself is slightly wider than a standard HDMI cable, so Amazon has included a male-to-female HDMI extension cable in case you have trouble installing it. Amazon says the extension cable can also be used to improve WiFi connection and remote control performance. The exterior of the Fire TV Stick 4K is largely the same as the previous model, but now features Amazon's arrow logo without any text. Inside it has an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1,7GHz quad-core processor as before, but now of course the Fire TV Stick supports 4K, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. On the side of the Fire TV Stick 4K, you'll find a micro-USB port to connect your power adapter.

amazon fire tv stick 4k

Image credit: TechRadar Now let's move on to the remote control; the biggest change here is that it now includes volume buttons and a power button. The inability to change the volume with the older model's remote was a particular sticking point for many users, who found it annoying to constantly switch between this and their TV remote, or asking Alexa to change the volume. The remote can now be used to change the volume on your TV, AV receiver, or sound bar, which is much more convenient. Like its predecessor, you'll still find a microphone button at the top of the remote, which can be used to summon Alexa without having to say "Alexa" before each command you make.

Features and performance

Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is absolutely seamless, thanks to the simple user interface and responsive remote control. During setup, the Fire TV Stick needs to be plugged into the mains as well as into your TV's HDMI port; All the cables and adapters you'll need come in the box. Once you've connected the Fire TV Stick to your TV, you'll be prompted to set up the remote. Your TV will guide you through the process so you don't have to worry about flipping through manuals. Like its predecessor, the Fire TV Stick 4K's user interface is extremely easy to navigate, even for those who have never used a streaming stick before. Recently viewed programs and apps can be found on the home screen, or you can scroll up and down to find different content and apps. US Fire TV customers will also find a recently added tab on their device's interface; Called 'Live TV', it brings together all your live channels in one place. As well as being easy to use, the user interface is very responsive and quick to load, and there's a fantastic selection of streaming apps to choose from. To test how easy it is to sign up for a new service, we tried creating an account with Disney Life via the Fire TV Stick 4K. The whole process was extremely easy, with the ability to link your new account to an existing social network account like Facebook; Although the experience varies across different apps, it's encouraging to see that we didn't encounter any issues setting up accounts with the platforms we're not yet subscribed to.

amazon prime video

Image Credit: Amazon Using the remote to control the Fire TV Stick 4K is also easy, and the Alexa-based voice search function is fast and accurate when using apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Voice search doesn't work with all of the service's apps, though: UK viewers will note that you can't use it with BBC iPlayer, which means you have to manually enter search terms into the app. Plus, you won't be able to use your voice to skip to the next episode in many apps that otherwise support voice control, which is a bit of a pain. Another issue we found with voice search is that when you make a request that the Fire TV Stick 4K can't support, the content you're playing disappears and you then have to select it again. From the app or the Fire TV home page to start upload.

amazon fire tv stick 4k That said, voice search is generally pretty good and you can even use voice commands to turn on your TV, control your smart devices, and view live camera feeds from compatible smart security cameras on your TV, which is really nice and useful. In general, the search function is better than on the previous model, as you can now search for shows by actor and, in particular, 4K content, as well as directly search for show titles. Unsurprisingly, Amazon's own content takes precedence over results from other platforms, which could be irritating if you're primarily a Netflix user, for example. Overall, the selection of apps available is extremely good and you should be able to find most any streaming platform you can think of, although UK viewers can't find Now TV and US viewers can't stream on Vudu. from Walmart, which is currently a huge source of Dolby Vision content. Still, there's such a variety of content out there that you probably won't miss the odd niche app unless you're a die-hard fan. If you want to take your Fire TV Stick 4K abroad, and its portability makes it a great travel companion, you may want to install a VPN to unblock content in your home country.

Final verdict

Overall, we're impressed with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. The interface is super responsive, fast to load, and intuitively designed. Navigating through the different apps, shows and movies is easy, with recently viewed content on the home screen; however, the search results may be too skewed towards Amazon's own content if you're used to using different streaming platforms. Speaking of which, the lack of consistency between different streaming platforms is an issue that plagued the older model of the Amazon Fire TV Stick. We hope that future updates will provide more parity across platforms to make the experience as smooth as possible no matter where you watch your content, but for now, that's just something we do. I think most people can see past that. Price - Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: ▼