Deals on Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite (2020)
One minute review
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is a new entry in Amazon's line of Fire TV streamers, and it's the cheapest model Amazon has released so far; For that alone, this is a cheap streaming device that should be on your radar. With a retail price of just £29.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99, it's a good amount cheaper than the new Fire TV Stick (2020) or its premium cousin Fire TV Stick 4K. While you won't get all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, you'll still get the same Fire TV interface and Alexa voice assistant, plus Full HD streaming and even HDR support. Historically, Amazon has often been underappreciated in streaming devices, and the Roku Express has proven to be a cheaper and less capable alternative to the Fire TV lineup, but this latest model is sure to make the streaming space even more competitive. Changes are underway for the Fire TV UI, but our experience with the Fire TV Stick Lite so far gives us confidence that it's a smart choice for a budget HD streamer. That's not to say there aren't any issues, and the lack of volume controls is somewhat irritating, but corners had to be cut somewhere. Less forgivable is the sometimes overbearing presence of Amazon-owned or Amazon-affiliated content, including ads for Audible subscriptions on every menu panel, but if you're a Prime subscriber this should be fine for you.Come to the point
- What is it? An affordable HD streaming device in the Amazon Fire TV range
- When can I get it? Is out now
- How much is it? € 29.99 / € 29.99 / AU € 59.99
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite price
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite launched on September 30. You can buy it for $29.99 or £29.99 in the US and UK respectively, or for AU$59.99 in Australia (marking the first time a Fire TV model has landed in the territory). That price puts it well below the $39.99/$39.99 Fire TV Stick (2020) and the $4/$49.99 Fire TV Stick 49.99K. This matches the $29.99 Roku Express, making it clear that Amazon is looking to prevent Roku from going above and beyond in price.
Fire TV Stick Lite Design
When you open the box, you'll find a variety of neatly packaged accessories. There's the Fire TV Stick Lite streamer itself, as well as a short (but flexible) extension cable, which is useful for helping the device fit into tight spaces behind a TV. You'll also receive two Amazon Basics AAA batteries for the Alexa voice remote and a charger to connect the transmitter (via micro USB). The streaming device itself is pretty nondescript: a short black plate, about the size of a small candy bar, that connects to a TV via HDMI 2.0 and measures 86 x 30 x 13mm. It's basically the same design as the Fire TV Stick 2020 or Fire TV Stick 4K, so if you're juggling a pair, as we did in our review, it can be hard to tell the difference. There's a subtle Amazon logo, but that's okay, and the sleek black design and curved remote make everything feel premium, despite the low price. The main difference here is not in the transmitter, but in the remote control. Every Fire TV device comes with a version of the Alexa Voice Remote, and the Fire TV Stick Lite offers a stripped-down version without the TV or volume controls. This means that if you want to make the TV louder or quieter, or turn any connected AV equipment on and off, you won't be able to do it with this remote. If you're used to a fully compatible voice remote, it's a bit cumbersome having to manage a secondary TV remote to adjust the volume, though it might be worth saving those extra pennies.
Fire TV Stick Lite user interface
Setup is relatively straightforward, though we did find that the Lite had rebooted multiple times. You'll need to sign in or create an Amazon account before you'll be prompted to choose apps for the home screen. Netflix is automatically on your home screen, which is a nice gesture as Amazon Prime Video's biggest streaming service rival. However, much of the Fire TV interface is obstructed by Amazon Prime Video content, which can be a bit annoying if you're not a Prime member. There are different lines of content to browse horizontally, like your apps, recent apps and channels, and Prime Originals and exclusives. Main content doesn't always have a 'main' location as such, and you can request apps however you like, unlike the Netflix app on Hisense Vidaa U TVs, which crashes first. However, most content is Prime or Prime adjacent, and we often found that we would select a content title that required an Amazon TV channel subscription. Amazon loves "dark patterns" like this, which try to get you interested in a title before telling you how to pay for it, and there are no on-screen prompts to "cancel" once you've selected a movie or show. We found we had to use the back button on the voice remote, which required some guesswork and isn't very user friendly.
Features and performance
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite supports Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, though if you're watching it on a 4K TV, your computer's processor needs to upscale it to 4K resolution. However, there are streaming sticks with native 4K support, like the Fire TV Stick 4K, which should deliver a better picture on a 4K TV. It's worth noting that the Fire TV Stick 2020 also supports Dolby Atmos pass-through, while the Lite gets by with regular Dolby Digital audio, so there are a few key features the Lite lacks. The Fire TV Stick Lite also adds HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, increasing color and contrast with a greater range of tones possible to use. Most 4K video these days is shot in HDR10, the basic HDR format, so it's a smart option to upgrade to Lite if you're currently happy with an SDR streamer.
Should I buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite?
Buy it if...
You want the cheapest Fire TV streamer on the marketAt just $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99, it's a steal, though the Roku Express does cut it down in some territories. You want hands-free voice commands
Using Alexa is pretty nifty, even if the voice assistant can't handle everything you throw at it. However, for simple commands, it's an interesting way to explore the operating system. You have subscribed to Amazon Prime
Amazon intends to showcase Amazon Prime and other movies on its Fire TV platform, along with associated Prime channels, so you can see more content that is relevant to you if you have already joined the Amazon ecosystem.
Don't buy it if...
You want volume controlsThe main problem with the Fire TV Stick Lite is the lack of volume or TV controls. For convenience, it may be easier to get the Fire TV Stick 2020 or the Fire TV Stick 4K. You want 4K HDR playback
You have to sacrifice 4K resolution at this price, so a 4K streamer may be preferable for viewing high-quality sources. You are not an Amazon Prime subscriber
Amazon is openly trying to sell you its own content where it can, and if you're not in the ecosystem, it can get a bit boring.