Fire Tv Stick 4k Sky Ticket

TechRadar Verdict

The inclusion of 4K support makes the new Amazon Fire Television set Stick 4K a brilliant option for all your streaming needs – although a lack of equity across different platforms means that Amazon hasn't quite achieved perfection nonetheless.

Pros

+
Supports 4K streaming
+
Speedy user interface
+
Fantastic variety of content
+
Amazon Alexa voice assistance

Cons

-
UI biased towards Amazon
-
Performance varies between apps

The Amazon Fire Idiot box Stick 4K is the third version of Amazon's pop streaming device. The biggest difference between this stick and the ones that came before it is that this one includes 4K and HDR video support.

Having said that, this version of the Fire Television set Stick is like to the 2nd-gen Fire Tv set Stick in many many means. It boasts an 802.11ac Wi-Fi bit and a i.7GHz quad-core processor – but ownership ane of the 4K-enabled streamers we're reviewing here still won't intermission the bank at under $l

It's worth noting that Amazon has at present launched the Amazon Fire Television Stick 4K Max, which is not only a mouthful to say, but also offers some upgraded specs compared to this model, but for a higher price. The reward of the Max is that you get slicker operation in the interface, and faster wireless connectivity.

The Amazon Burn Television receiver Stick 4K also comes with Amazon's Alexa built-in voice assistant. At that place's a huge range of content to select from the many apps on offer, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and many more. With lots of streaming options on offer, we can't help but ask: who actually needs a smart Idiot box?

This version of the Burn TV Stick addresses issues we had with the previous Burn down Television set Stick. Yet, a couple of pocket-size, niggling problems remain that made our feel with this streamer less-than-perfect – although it wasn't far off.

Since the Burn Idiot box Stick 4K was released, Amazon has pushed further into TVs later on information technology unveiled a number of new Fire Idiot box Edition sets, also as a 2nd-generation Amazon Fire Tv Cube, which is an updated version of its Alexa-enabled hands-complimentary streaming media player, adding Dolby Vision and a few other new features to the mix. We've also seen an update to the basic HD Fire TV Stick (2020) with HDR, and a the highly affordable Fire TV Stick Light.

What's more, you lot tin can now even hook up your Amazon Echo speakers with Fire TV devices, to create an immersive dwelling house theater arrangement – totally wireless, and all controllable with vox assistant Alexa.

Toll and availability

The Amazon Burn down Television set Stick 4K is available to purchase for $49.99 / £49.99, which works out at effectually AU$68 based on current conversion rates – nonetheless, information technology'southward non withal bachelor to buy in Australia and at that place's so far no discussion on when Amazon will brainstorm selling it in this territory.

Compared to the not-4K version of the Burn down TV Stick, you're looking at a cost increment of around $x / £x, which we remember is very reasonable considering the increased quality of content you'll be getting with support for 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos.

Similar products, including Google'south Chromecast Ultra, retail for around $69, and so the Burn down TV Stick 4K is a good selection if you're looking to spend under $fifty - still, it's worth bearing in mind that you volition need to buy subscriptions to use many of the apps like Netflix and Prime Video, which can soon add upward.

amazon fire tv stick 4k — Image Credit: TechRadar

Design

If you've used the previous Amazon Fire TV Stick before, you'll notice that the new version hasn't inverse very much in terms of design.

Measuring 99mm ten 30mm ten 14mm, the Fire TV Stick 4K is as unobtrusive and compact equally ever, designed to plug directly into the HDMI ii.2 port on your Goggle box. The stick itself is a little chip wider than a standard HDMI cable, so Amazon has included a male-to-female person HDMI extender cable in case you have trouble plumbing equipment it in.

Amazon says the extender cable tin as well be used to better the WiFi connexion and remote control operation.

The exterior of the Burn down TV Stick 4K is largely the same as the previous model, only now information technology features the Amazon arrow logo without any text. On the inside, you accept an 802.11ac Wi-Fi fleck and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor similar before, but now of form, the Fire Tv Stick has support for 4K, too as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

On the side of the Burn Boob tube Stick 4K y'all'll find a micro-USB port to connect the power adaptor.

Now on to the remote; the biggest change here is that information technology now includes book buttons and a power button. The inability to change the volume using the the previous model'southward remote was a particular sticking bespeak for many users, who found it annoying to constantly switch between it and their Tv set'due south remote, or request Alexa to change the volume.

The remote therefore can at present be used to modify the volume on your Idiot box, AV receiver, or soundbar, which is far more convenient.

Like it'southward predecessor, y'all'll still find a microphone button at the superlative of the remote, which tin be used to summon Alexa without having to say "Alexa" before every command you make.

The best Alexa skills and commands

Features and performance

Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is absolutely seamless, thank you to the simple user interface and responsive remote command. During setup, the Burn down TV Stick needs to exist plugged into the mains also every bit the HDMI port on your Tv set - all the cables and adaptors you'll demand come in the box.

Once you've plugged the Fire TV Stick into your Tv, yous're then prompted to set up the remote – y'all'll be walked through the entire process by your TV and then you don't need to worry about leafing through manuals.

Like its predecessor, the Fire Telly Stick 4K user interface is extremely easy to navigate, fifty-fifty for those who haven't even used a streaming device before. Recently accessed shows and apps can be constitute on the home screen, or yous can coil up and across to find different content and apps.

US Burn down TV customers will likewise find a recently added tab on their device'southward interface; called 'Live TV', it collates all your live channels into ane place.

Every bit well as being easy to apply, the UI is very responsive and quick to load, and there's a fantastic selection of streaming apps to cull from. To test how easy it is to sign up to a new service, we tried setting up an business relationship with Disney Life through the Fire TV Stick 4K.

The whole process was extremely elementary, with the option to link your new account to an existing social media business relationship like Facebook – although the feel will vary between dissimilar apps, it'due south encouraging that nosotros didn't run into any issues while setting upward accounts with the platforms nosotros don't already subscribe to.

amazon prime video — Epitome credit: Amazon

Using the remote to control the Burn down Goggle box Stick 4K is similarly effortless, and the Alexa-powered voice search functionality is quick and accurate when you lot're using apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

However, voice search doesn't work with every app on the service – UK viewers volition notice that you can't use it with BBC iPlayer, which means yous have to manually type search terms within the app. Furthermore, you won't be able to utilise your vox to skip to the next episode on many apps that otherwise support vocalization control, which is slightly abrasive.

Another issue we found with vox search is that when yous brand a request that the Burn TV Stick 4K is unable to support, whatsoever content you are playing disappears, and y'all have to then select it again from within the app or Burn Television receiver homepage to first information technology up.

That existence said, the vocalism search is by and large very expert, and y'all can even use vox commands to turn your TV on, control your smart devices, and view live camera feeds from compatible smart security cameras on your Goggle box, which is actually useful.

In general, the search functionality is ameliorate than the previous model, every bit yous can at present search for shows by role player and specifically for 4K content, too every bit searching for show titles direct. Amazon'due south own content is predictably prioritized in a higher place other results from platforms, which could be irritating if yous're primarily a Netflix user, for instance.

Overall, the selection of apps available is extremely good, and you should be able to find most streaming platforms you tin can call back of – although UK viewers won't be able to observe At present Tv, and US viewers won't exist able to stream on Walmart's Vudu, which is currently a large source of Dolby Vision content. However, there's such a huge variety of content, so you probably won't miss the odd niche app unless you lot are a diehard fan.

If you lot want to accept your Fire TV Stick 4K abroad – and its portability makes it a keen traveling companion – you may want to install a VPN to unlock content from your dwelling country.

Terminal verdict

Overall, we're impressed with the Amazon Fire Television receiver Stick 4K. The interface is super responsive, quick to load, and it'southward set out in an intuitive mode.

Navigating through the different apps, shows, and movies is simple, with recently accessed content displayed on the domicile screen, however, y'all may find search results overly skewed towards Amazon'due south own content if you're used to using different streaming platforms.

Speaking of, the lack of consistency across different streaming platforms is an consequence that affected the previous model of the Amazon Burn down TV Stick. Hopefully future updates volition provide more parity across the different platforms and so that the experience is as streamlined as possible no affair where you lot watch your content but, for at present, it's something we recall most folks tin can look by.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Cube review

You might likewise want to check out Roku vs Fire Stick (opens in new tab): which streaming video devices are better?

Olivia was previously TechRadar's Senior Editor - Dwelling house Amusement, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she's a pop music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She'south previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Alive on the discipline of multi-room sound, chaired panel discussions on diverseness in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia at present has a career in PR.