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Amazon unveils a new Fire TV Stick 4K and a remote you can navigate by feel
With the new launch, Amazon is simplifying its Fire TV Stick lineup to three distinct models.
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TL;DR
- Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick 4K that it claims is nearly 20-40% faster than a similarly priced 4K streaming stick from another leading brand.
- The company has also unveiled a redesigned Fire TV Remote with differently shaped, indented buttons, making it easier to find key controls by touch without looking down.
- Amazon is simplifying its Fire TV Stick lineup to three models, which now include the Fire TV Stick HD, the new Fire TV Stick 4K, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick 4K alongside a redesigned Fire TV Remote, promising a speed boost and a new way to navigate the interface. The company is also making its Fire TV Stick lineup easier to choose from by simplifying the model lineup.
Amazon says the new Fire TV Stick 4K is 20-40% faster from powering on to starting content than a similarly priced 4K streaming stick from another leading brand. Apps apparently launch more than 35% faster, while content starts playing nearly 20% faster.
Amazon also compared the stick’s built-in software with that of three 4K smart TVs from top-selling brands. According to the company, the Fire TV Stick 4K started playing content faster than any of the three TVs during testing.
A slimmer Fire TV Stick 4K
The new Fire TV Stick 4K has a slimmer design, similar to the Fire TV Stick HD that Amazon launched earlier this year. It also supports Direct Power, allowing users to power the stick from their TV’s USB port using the included cable. That means fewer cables to deal with behind the TV.
The new 4K stick runs Amazon’s Vega operating system and comes with Alexa Plus and the new Fire TV experience built in. Amazon says more than 2,000 apps have been added to Vega OS since its first Fire TV device using the platform launched last year. These include Spotify, Xbox, VLC, and several VPN apps, as well as popular services such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video, and more.
Under the hood, the Fire TV Stick 4K has 8GB of storage and a quad-core 1.7GHz processor. It supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and Bluetooth Low Energy. The stick also supports HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9, and AV1, with output resolutions up to 2160p at 60fps.
With the new model, Amazon is now reducing its main Fire TV Stick lineup to three tiers.
The Fire TV Stick HD will remain the entry-level option at $39.99. The new Fire TV Stick 4K sits in the middle as the main option for 4K streaming at $59.99, while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max remains aimed at gamers and home theater users at $84.99.
Amazon will also continue selling the Fire TV Cube for users who want its most powerful Fire TV streaming hardware and hands-free Alexa Plus controls. Existing models will remain available while supplies last.
The new Fire TV Remote
Amazon is also giving its Fire TV Remote a significant redesign. The company says the new remote has more tactile controls to make it easier to hold and find important buttons by feel.
Its new asymmetric design has a flat top and a curved, weighted bottom, making it easier to tell which way you’re holding it. The Home button also now has its own metal surface for easy identification, while other buttons have also been given indents or distinct shapes so they can be identified by touch.
The new remote also gets the customizable star button that was previously limited to Amazon’s more premium remote. Users can configure it to open a favorite app or perform actions such as toggling closed captions or Screen Magnifier.
As before, the remote includes dedicated controls for compatible TVs, soundbars, and receivers, including power, volume, and mute buttons. Amazon says it works with all Amazon Ember TVs and Fire TV streaming media players launched from 2019 onward.
Amazon is also planning to launch a Fire TV Remote Plus in early 2027. It will feature an aluminum body, backlit buttons, and a built-in Find My Remote feature that can make the remote play a sound when you ask Alexa to find it. It will replace the Alexa Voice Remote Pro.
Pricing and availability
The new $59.99 Fire TV Stick 4K starts shipping today in the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. Amazon says availability will be extended to additional countries in late October.
For a limited time, customers in the US can get the new stick for $29.99 during Prime Big Deal Days.
The new Fire TV Remote is available to pre-order separately for $14.99 in the US, with shipments starting in late October.
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