Streaming has become an integral part of the modern home entertainment experience. While most televisions these days offer access to popular streaming services, older TVs have to rely on streaming devices to get access to the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, or Disney+. Standalone media streamers are also a good option if you aren’t satisfied with your TV’s built-in smart TV operating system.
There are quite a few media streamers on the market, but Amazon’s Fire TV devices have managed to carve a place for themselves by providing ease of use, a vast selection of apps and games, and built-in support for Alexa voice assistant. So if you are looking for a streaming device, Amazon Fire TV devices are an excellent option.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the best Fire TV streamer for most people. It has got you covered on all the important fronts. It supports 4K streaming and comes with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. So you can enjoy movies and TV shows in the highest resolution and high dynamic range (HDR). Dolby Atmos support is also present for an immersive audio experience. However, it doesn’t work in the Netflix app.
You can use the bundled voice remote to find, launch, or control content on your TV. More importantly, the remote allows you to control the power and volume of your TV, soundbar, or AV receiver. The Fire TV Stick 4K is also responsive and fast to navigate. All in all, it’s the best Fire TV stick you can buy for under $50.
- Operating System: Fire OS 6
- Ports: HDMI output, micro USB for power only
- RAM/storage: 1.5GB/8GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz dual band), Bluetooth 5.0
- Price: $50
- Display: 1080p, 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+
- Audio: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Amazon’s latest and greatest streaming stick. It has everything you get on the Fire TV Stick 4K, such as 4K streaming, Dolby Vision support, and the Alexa Voice Remote with TV controls. Plus, the device packs a faster processor, more RAM, and Wi-Fi 6 support. So apps load quicker, the interface feels snappier, and you can enjoy speedier connectivity if your router supports Wi-Fi 6.
It’s also the only Fire TV streaming device, apart from Fire TV Cube, to support Dolby Atmos on Netflix titles. Another highlight of the device is live view picture-in-picture support that you can utilize to watch the live camera feeds without stopping your movie or TV show. Moreover, if you are an Amazon Luna subscriber, you will be happy to know the Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which will automatically switch your TV to game mode whenever you play a game.
- Brand: Amazon
- Operating System: Fire OS
- Downloadable Apps: Yes
- Resolution: 4K
- Ports: HDMI, Micro-USB
- RAM/storage: 2GB / 8GB
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 6
- Price: $55
- Display: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR 10+
- Audio: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
- Integrations: Amazon Alexa
- CPU: Quad-core 1.8GHz
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
If you don’t care about 4K and prefer a low-cost streaming device, you can’t go wrong with the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite. It has got all the essentials, including full-HD streaming and HDR10+. Plus, you get the Alexa Voice Remote Lite. While the remote cannot control your TV’s power or volume, you can use it to launch apps, find content, or find weather forecasts using Alexa voice assistant.
While the Fire TV Stick Lite isn’t as fast as the Fire TV 4K or 4K Max in launching apps or navigating the interface, you get a decent overall experience. That said, there are occasional slow-downs while navigating the Fire OS interface, but this is expected from a device that costs as little as the Fire TV Stick Lite. Lastly, although there is no built-in Dolby Atmos support, the device can pass through Atmos and other Dolby audio data to a connected device.
- Operating System: Fire OS 7
- Downloadable Apps: Yes
- Resolution: 1080p, 720p
- Ports: HDMI output, micro USB for power only
- Supported Audio Codecs: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (pass-through)
- RAM/storage: 1GB/ 8GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), Bluetooth 5.0
- Price: $30
- CPU: Quad-core 1.7 GHz
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is an interesting option in Amazon’s Fire TV streamer lineup. Sure, it does everything the other Fire TV streamers do, but it can also work as a smart speaker. So if you are planning to get a Fire TV stick and an Echo smart speaker, maybe get this, and you’ll have the functionality of both. You’ll also be happy to know that the Fire TV Cube is the most powerful media streamer in Amazon’s portfolio, making it fast and responsive. You won’t have to wait for the apps to open, and the interface doesn’t feel sluggish.
As it’s the third generation of the Cube, it’s a pretty refined and well-featured device. You get support for 4K streaming, all HDR formats, and Dolby Atmos. Amazon has also included an HDMI 2.1 input on the device, so if you fall short of HDMI 2.1 ports on your TV, you can use this one. You can also connect your cable box to this HDMI port and control the box directly from within the Fire TV interface.
In addition, a far-field microphone array in the Cube means you don’t have to use the bundled voice remote to ask Alexa to do stuff. Instead, you can ask from across the room. Lastly, there is Wi-Fi 6E support for fast wireless connectivity and a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired connectivity.
- Operating System: Fire OS
- Downloadable Apps: Yes
- Resolution: 4K, 1080p and 720p
- Ports: USB-A, Ethernet, 2x HDMI 2.1
- Supported Audio Codecs: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
- RAM/storage: 2GB/ 16GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0
- Price: $140
- CPU: Octa-core (4x 2.2GHz, 4x 2.0GHz)
Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Although the Amazon Fire TV Stick has almost the same feature set as the Fire TV Stick Lite, it’s a good choice for people who want TV controls on the Alexa Voice Remote and the built-in support for Dolby Atmos.
The Fire TV Stick comes with the same voice remote as its more expensive cousins, so you can use it to control the power and volume of your TV, soundbar, or AV receiver. Like the Fire TV Stick Lite, it also supports full-HD streaming and HDR10+. Lastly, in terms of performance, the device is responsive, and apps open quickly.
- Operating System: Fire OS 7
- Ports: HDMI output, micro USB for power only
- RAM/storage: 1GB/8GB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz dual band), Bluetooth 5.0
- Price: $40
- Display: 1080p, HDR10, HDR10+
- Audio: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos
Comparing Amazon’s Fire TV streamers
If you are still trying to decide which Amazon Fire TV media streamer to buy. Here’s a quick comparison of the media streamers to help identify similarities and differences:
|
Fire TV Stick Lite |
Fire TV Stick |
Fire TV Stick 4K |
Fire TV Stick 4K Max |
Fire TV Cube |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Supported video resolutions |
720p, 1080p |
720p, 1080p |
720p, 1080p, 4K |
720p, 1080p, 4K |
720p, 1080p, 4K |
|
HDR support |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
|
Audio support |
Can pass through Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, Dolby Atmos data |
Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+ |
Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo |
Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo |
Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2-channel stereo |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet via external dongle |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet via external dongle |
Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet via external dongle |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet via external dongle |
Wi-Fi 6E, Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
RAM, storage |
1GB, 8GB |
1GB, 8GB |
1.5GB, 8GB |
2GB, 8GB |
2GB, 16GB |
|
Processor |
Quad-core, 1.7GHz |
Quad-core, 1.7GHz |
Quad-core, 1.7GHz |
Quad-core, 1.8GHz |
Octa-core, 4x 2.2GHz, 4x 2.0GHz |
|
Alexa support |
Via voice remote |
Via voice remote |
Via voice remote |
Via voice remote |
Via voice remote, hands-free |
|
Miscellaneous |
Alexa Voice Remote Lite (2nd Gen) |
Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen) |
Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen) |
Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen) |
Alexa Voice Remote, HDMI 2.1 input, USB Type-A port |
|
Price |
$30 |
$40 |
$50 |
$55 |
$140 |
The best of Amazon’s streaming devices
Although Amazon’s lineup of Fire TV streaming devices isn’t very complicated, you still need to pick from five different devices. Each device has the same software, a wide selection of apps, and Alexa voice assistant; however, the streaming resolution, HDR support, and audio capabilities differ across devices.
Our editor’s choice — the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — is a no-brainer for most people. It has 4K streaming, supports all common HDR formats, and delivers a solid performance. But if you want faster Wi-Fi connectivity, a slightly more powerful processor, and more RAM, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is worth the extra money. If you spot the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max around the same price during a sale, we recommend going for the 4K Max as it’s more future-proof with its upgraded internals.
Finally, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Lite will best serve budget-conscious buyers with a full HD or HDTV. It has got all the basics for a decent streaming experience.
