You're upgrading from an older 1080p Fire TV Stick. You have existing Amazon hardware products, and you like the ecosystem integration. Roku's entry-level Streaming Stick is also still a compelling option, though it trades advanced functionality (like a voice assistant and Bluetooth listening) for a super-simple interface. It's slightly more expensive, but it comes with a cleaner interface and 4K support. The new Chromecast with Google TV is giving Amazon a run for its money this year. Alexa works well, the remote is simple to use, and you'll likely never run into a media service that doesn't have a Fire TV app. The entire interface is a billboard for Amazon's services and third-party advertisements, but if you're knee-deep in the Amazon ecosystem, it is at least functional.
The new Fire TV stick is a substantial improvement from its laggy predecessor, and the MSRP of $39.99 is a great price (it's $12 off right now), but it still has the same clunky software experience. If you really need Alexa and other exclusive Amazon features, yes. Should you buy it? Rating 8/10 Amazon Fire TV (3rd Gen) I'm no longer left waiting for the interface to catch up after clicking on a new page or opening an application, and there's only a short delay when using Alexa commands (just like with Echo smart speakers).
I hated using the earlier 1080p-only sticks, because they were among the slowest devices I've ever used with a TV, but this updated model is a significant improvement. Performance is also a high point for the new Fire TV Stick.
We have a guide on how to install APKs on Fire TV, if you're interested.
I was also happy to see the Fire TV Stick allows you to connect Bluetooth headphones for private listening, just like the Google TV dongle.įire OS is still based on Android, so as with previous Fire sticks, you can sideload select Android and Android TV apps that aren't available through Amazon's own app store. Amazon supports child profiles, too, so parents can restrict kids to age-appropriate content. The included Alexa assistant can do everything a dedicated Echo smart speaker can do, and there are some TV-specific commands to open apps and search for content. Amazon is an established presence in the smart TV market, so just about every media service already has a Fire TV app. That said, there are some positive aspects to the Fire OS software. Unlike with Amazon's Fire tablets, you can't turn off the ads. Roku and Google TV devices also show various ads, but they aren't as intrusive as on Fire products - for example, Roku's advertising is mostly limited to a single banner on the side of the home screen.
shows on Prime Video or IMDB TV), but I don't like staring at ads every second I'm scrolling through menus.
Most of the ones I've seen are for Amazon-owned content (e.g.
Amazon allows advertisers to show giant banners, advertising rows, sponsored screensavers, and sponsored tiles. HDMI, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi (2.4 & 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ( adapter required), microUSB for powerīesides the incomplete content pages, Fire TV also has a lot of advertising. However, the software is still frustrating to use, even if it does offer some features not offered by the Fire TV Stick's competitors. The cheapest 1080p-only Sticks have used bottom-of-the-barrel processors, making them unbearably-slow compared to a Chromecast or Roku, though the upgraded hardware in the Fire TV 4K isn't nearly as bad.For the first time in four years, Amazon has updated the internal hardware for the cheapest 1080p Fire TV Stick, finally giving it the performance boost it so badly needed. That’s what you’d expect for the bargain-basement price Amazon is charging. Amazon has been producing Fire TV streaming sticks for several years now, but most of them have been mediocre at best.