- 4K Max, 4K, HD and Lite versions available
- Alexa voice searching
- Dolby Vision and Atmos, HDR10+ streaming on top devices
Amazon has several different streaming sticks, so I’ll start by explaining the options. The £70 Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the top model, the most powerful and offering the fastest Wi-Fi connection. The £60 Fire TV Stick 4K is a little slower but the overall experience is much the same, which is why it’s my top choice.
Next is the £45 Fire TV Stick, which only offers Full HD (1080p) resolution, with Dolby Atmos audio. Lastly you have the Fire TV Stick Lite. This is very cheap at £35, but again only offers Full HD resolution and loses Dolby Atmos audio.
Connecting the Fire TV Stick 4K is as easy as plugging it into a vacant HDMI port on the back of your TV and connecting it to the power. Once physically connected, you’ll be invited to connect the Stick to your Wi-Fi network and then sign into your Amazon account.
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you’ll already have access to Prime Video as that’s included in the subscription. There is some on-screen advertising for channels or movies on the Fire TV Stick, mostly on the home page, which some might find irritating.
Accessing other free services – BBC iPlayer, ITV X, 4 and My5 – is just a case of downloading and signing in. Then you have subscription services like Netflix, Disney+ or Apple TV+ which you’ll again have to sign in to. Beyond that, Fire TV Stick 4K also offers access to services like YouTube, Twitch and Spotify.
I’m impressed with the quality and the speed of navigation around the menus and it’s easy to find and pick something new to watch. It’s also easy to select a streaming service from the icons and watch without delay.
One of the most compelling options is voice searching using Alexa. If you already have an Echo device you’ll know all about Alexa – here you just press the button, say what you want to watch, and the options for viewing that programme will appear – it’s really easy.
Alexa on the Fire TV Stick will do more – you can ask it to give you information, control smart home devices you have and on the top 4K models you can also preview home security cameras or your video doorbell, as long they’re connected to Alexa.
I think that the Fire TV Stick 4K offers the best streaming device experience overall – all the services, all the quality, a smooth and fast streaming experience, wide range of additional features, good value for money and an easy-to-use remote. If you want a simpler interface, then the Roku Streaming Stick 4K would be a great alternative.
