To help us give you free impartial recommendation, we may earn a fee if you buy by means of links on our site. Five years is a very long time within the tech world, so the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K - first launched in 2018 - was actually due an update. There wasn’t much fallacious with the 2018 model, which earned our praise by offering 4K HDR help on a budget. The second-era mannequin strengthens the Fire TV Stick 4K’s standing as one of the best 4K streaming sticks with improved internals for barely speedier efficiency along with the addition of Wi-Fi 6 help. Amazon faces some stiff competitors in 2023, nevertheless, meaning the Fire TV Stick 4K isn’t fairly the slam dunk choice it as soon as was. Given how a lot time has passed since the release of the primary Fire TV Stick 4K, you'd anticipate some updates and you’d be proper - even if there are no wholesale modifications.

Another notable change is Wi-Fi help being enhanced to incorporate Wi-Fi 6, promising speedier loading when paired with a Wi-Fi 6 router. Elsewhere, it’s business as normal. HLG) whereas adding the AV1 codec, an more and more used digital video codec, to existing help for Flixy TV Stick HEVC/H.265, H.264 and VP9. You also get all the same equipment as the primary-generation Fire Stick 4K, including an HDMI extender and two AAA batteries for the included 5.6in Alexa Voice (third gen) remote. The latter may be very much like the distant included previously but provides devoted buttons for Prime Video, Amazon Music, Netflix and "Apps", which takes you to the complete app listing. The new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K prices £60. That’s the identical because the Google Chromecast with Google Tv (4K) and a little dearer than Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K (£50). When the unique Fire TV Stick 4K launched, Amazon was forward of the competitors in terms of its HDR help, with all four predominant HDR codecs current and proper.

However, both the Google and Roku streamers have now caught up and supply an identical HDR support. There are slight differences in audio provision, however. While the Fire Stick 4K (2nd gen) offers Dolby Atmos natively, the Google Chromecast 4K and Roku Streaming Stick 4K can only deliver it through HDMI passthrough. Besides that and the fact that Roku’s 4K stick also helps DTS, the remaining audio help is an identical with Dolby Digital 5.1 and Digital Plus 7.1 each lined.Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K provides Wi-Fi 6 connectivity together with an enormous vary of streaming providers accessible by way of a easier and fewer advert-heavy UI, making it a fierce competitor. Google’s Chromecast 4K lacks Wi-Fi 6 at present, so is a barely much less attractive choice unless a Google-centric interface with Google Assistant assist appeals to you. A cheaper possibility is the Roku Express 4K (£40). It’s a module box somewhat than a stick and connects to your Tv via HDMI. The box must be seen for its infrared remote to work, and there’s no choice for voice controls.

HLG and is a low-value method of bringing smart features to an outdated Tv. There’s additional competition inside Amazon’s personal product vary, too. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen) was released alongside the brand new Fire TV Stick 4K and is £10 more expensive than its stablemate at £70. Design-smart, there’s not much change from the unique Fire TV Stick 4K. The 2023 mannequin brings larger curvature to the equation through some rounded corners and sloping sides, however its dimensions are an identical at 90 x 30 x 144mm (WDH). It weighs 43.5g, 10g lighter than the 2018 machine, however still connects to your Tv by way of a HDMI connector. The power supply connects to a micro-USB port at the opposite finish. Once plugged in, setting the Fire Flixy TV Stick Stick 4K up is a straightforward enough activity and takes around 10 minutes. You’ll need to connect the stick with your Wi-Fi network and then sign into your Amazon account using the equipped distant or via the Fire Tv app in your smartphone.

If you’ve beforehand paired a hearth Stick together with your Amazon account, you’ll have the option to restore a backup and routinely obtain your favourite apps. You can too semi-automate the setup process by using the Fire Tv app, which can save you fishing out login details for every portable streaming device service. Otherwise, you’ll start afresh and receive recommendations about which applications to install. You’ve not got an enormous quantity of storage to play with, however there’s enough to download all the main apps: portable streaming device I installed 12 and had 2.48GB remaining. You’ll also be instructed to check out the volume controls on the distant to make sure the Tv and controller are synced, set parental controls if mandatory and download the latest software program updates earlier than reaching the house display. The Fire OS interface is as intuitive as ever

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Pub: 14 Sep 2025 20:48 UTC

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