I have Sky TV, so I probably don’t need an Amazon Fire TV Stick just yet, but when I saw the newest generation on sale for £32.99 at launch, I thought I’d best pick one up.
Why I bought it
The price was one of the main reasons I picked it up. Amazon were running a better-than-half-price sale at launch, which has since finished. The Fire TV Stick 4K will set you back £69.99 right now while it’s not on sale. If you’re considering buying it, bear in mind that there are other sale events coming up soon, so the price could drop again. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t pay full price for this because it’s pricey for what you’re getting.
Previous Fire Sticks that I’ve owned have always needed a plug. I’m aware the Fire Stick HD had direct power support before this, but this is the first Fire TV Stick 4K to have it. This means you don’t need to plug it into a mains connection. The stick can be powered from a USB port on the back of your TV, which is extremely convenient and the best selling point of this device.
From a technical standpoint, this new generation device features a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. In plain English, that means quicker loading, a stronger Wi-Fi connection and better support for wireless accessories.
This model also runs on Amazon’s new operating system, Vega OS. It’s streamlined, fresh and said to be the fastest yet, while also supporting all the big apps you know and love.
It also comes with a redesigned remote control, shaped to fit your hand better. The buttons have been upgraded too, with a start button that launches your favourite app.
The device also has deep integration with Alexa+, Amazon’s new conversational assistant, with lots of voice commands for controlling your new Fire TV Stick’s features.
Out of the box
I’m a sucker for packaging, so I like that it was neatly packaged in a way that protected the device but still used little cardboard. The first thing I was impressed with was the remote. The curved design really does feel comfortable to hold, much better than the previous flat design.
I then investigated the Fire TV Stick itself, just to understand how it connects to the TV. Amazon also sell an accessory because some TVs aren’t designed to take a Fire TV Stick without needing an HDMI extender. Luckily, it was fine on my Samsung TV. It’s good that they offer the accessory though. In fact, when I bought mine there was a promotion to get the accessory for free, so look out to see if that’s still running.
When setting it up, it had to run an update, which I wasn’t too surprised by as most devices that have been in production prior to launch need the latest software update. This took about 10 minutes and then I was in. The setup process was smooth. It installed the apps I wanted as part of the guided start screens, and I was ready to go quickly. I’ve tried all the main apps and they all work as expected, and they’re pretty fast as well.
What I like
Compact design – Without the plug there really isn’t much to it, and I’m still impressed that a stick can bring so much content without a set-top box.
Remote – It’s comfortable, modern and simple to use.
Software – It’s nice to use and also integrates well with the Fire TV mobile app.
No plug – Having no plug is a game changer.
What annoys me
Cost – Had it not been on offer when I bought it, I’d have held off. I think £69.99 is a lot for this device.
Extender – This doesn’t annoy me as such, but I hope they offer this for free if needed instead of as an additional cost.
Who it’s for (and who should skip it)
Switching from a digital provider – If you’re leaving a digital TV provider, consider this one-off cost as something you could replace it with.
Prefer a better interface – Yes, most TVs have smart apps now, but are they as good as this? Do you find them easy to navigate? Are there a lot of apps supported? It might be worth considering the Fire TV Stick if any of these answers are no.
Verdict: Keeper
Overall, I think this is a brilliant device and definitely worth considering if you’re looking for something fresh for your TV. I still have to use it more, so I’ll come back after a while and write about it in the Second Thoughts section.
What do you think of the new Fire TV Stick 4K? Have you bought it? Do you think it’s worth the price tag when it’s not on sale? Let me know in the comments.