AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K REVIEW
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is a powerful streaming device, but you’ll want Prime Video for the full experience.
Is Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K good?
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K, like most streaming sticks and dongles on the market, is good for those who want the benefits of a set-top streaming box without, well, the box. The Fire TV Stick 4K is particularly good for Amazon Prime subscribers, as it’s optimized to work with Prime Video and features Alexa voice remote integration.
If you’re in a tight space like a dorm room, or just want to free up more counter space for pictures of your dog (he’s a very good boy), a space-saving streaming device like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the way to go. It supports most apps and services, but you’ll want access to Amazon’s Prime Video to take full advantage of the Fire TV Stick 4K.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K pros and cons
PROS
CONS
- 4K UHD capability
- Alexa integration
- No Ethernet internet connectivity
- Frequent Prime Video promotion
Amazon Fire TV Stick deals and promotions
As of the time of writing, there are no deals on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, but you can get $5 off the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite. Also, check Amazon’s deals page for other current offers.
Amazon Fire TV Stick vs. the competition
| Product |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K |
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K |
| Chromecast with Google TV |
| TiVo Stream 4K |
| Price | Video | Audio | |
| $33.99 | 1080p, 4K | 2.0 stereo, Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1 surround sound | |
| $44.99 | 1080p, 4K | 2.0 stereo, Dolby 5.1 surround sound | |
| $49.99 | 1080p, 4K | 2.0 stereo, Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1 surround sound | |
| $39.00 |
1080p, 4K | 2.0 stereo, Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1 surround sound |
If your streaming relationship with Prime Video is a casual one—maybe you see each other only on weekends or holidays—Roku Streaming Stick 4K or Chromecast with Google TV are both solid mini-device options for about the same price. But only the Fire TV Stick 4K has Alexa voice integration; that’s another plus for Prime people.
Amazon Fire TV Stick specs and features
Besides Alexa, another feature that sets the Fire TV Stick 4K apart from the crowd is its 8 GB of internal storage space and 1 GB of memory. That’s double the capacity of Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K and makes for faster app loading.
Amazon Fire TV Stick specs
- Price: $33.99
- Size: 3.9”
- Video: 1080p, 4K UHD, HDR10, HDR10+
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, Dolby 5.1 surround sound, standard 2.0 stereo
- Storage: 8 GB
- Memory: 1 GB
- Wi-Fi: Dual-band/dual-antenna 802.11
- Remote: Alexa Voice Control Remote (included), Fire TV app (download)
Included equipment
- Fire TV Stick 4K
- Alexa Voice Remote
- USB power cable
- AC power adapter
- 2 AAA batteries
- HDMI extender
Equipment you’ll need
- HDTV or 4K TV with HDMI port
- Wi-Fi network
Device setup
Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is easy, at home or on the go—sticks are great for traveling, btw. Why let a vacation or business trip interfere with your Marvelous Mrs. Maisel binge?
Simply plug the Fire TV Stick 4K into an HDMI port, connect to your Wi-Fi network, sign in to (or create) your Amazon account, and start watching. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K is a bit fatter than a cable that would usually be plugged into an HDMI input, the included HDMI extender can alleviate port crowding.
Fortunately, the Fire TV Stick is powered with an AC adapter, not a TV USB port like older streaming stick models—this is preferable because it remains “on” all the time. USB port power shuts off when the TV does, so you used to have to wait for the stick itself to power up again with the television the next time you turned it on. Time is TV, people.
Once you’re in, you’ll be greeted with a screen filled with TV shows, movies, and app recommendations, headlined along the top with Search, Home, Movies, TV Shows, Apps, and Settings. Navigate via buttons the old-fashioned way or press the microphone icon and tell Alexa what you’re looking for.
Unlike Roku or Chromecast with Google TV, the Fire TV Stick 4K isn’t neutral in its search functionality and program recommendations. Amazon content is always front-and-center—kind of like how “Amazon’s Choice” for socks is always above the pair you really want.
But, if you’re buying a Fire TV Stick 4K, you’re probably already an Amazon fan and its brand-heavy interface won’t be all that obnoxiously off-putting.
Remote control
The Fire TV Stick’s controller is sleek and dead-simple, concentrated on the most basic functions. Amazon probably assumes you’ll be using Alexa Voice Control, indicated by the microphone button.
Speaking—get it?—of that Alexa Voice Control, it’s the best way to use the Fire TV Stick 4K (and any other Amazon Fire TV products). It grasps voice commands with impressive accuracy, as you’d expect from Alexa.
If you want to go the manual button-mashing route, the Fire TV Stick 4K remote—which looks slightly Apple-like—also gets the job done. The area inside the navigation wheel acts as the Select command. Back, Home Menu, Fast-Forward, Play/Pause, Rewind, and Mute round out the buttons, along with a volume up/down rocker.
Available apps and channels
As with shopping on Amazon, Fire TV has pretty much any channel or app you might be looking for—including, of course, Prime Video. Both live TV (like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV) and on-demand (like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max) streaming apps are supported on Fire TV Stick 4K.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K TV and video apps (partial list)
- Prime Video
- Netflix
- Hulu/Hulu + Live TV
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Paramount+
- Peacock
- YouTube TV
- fuboTV
- DIRECTV STREAM
- SHOWTIME
- STARZ
- CINEMAX
- EPIX
- ESPN+
- Philo
- Pluto TV
- Tubi
- Plex
- NFL SUNDAY TICKET
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K entertainment and games apps (partial list)
- Amazon Music
- Spotify
- Pandora
- Tidal
- Sirius XM
- NPR One
- TikTok
- Twitch
- YouTube
- Jackbox Party Pack
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- SEGA Classics
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Quiplash
- Crossy Road
- Hill Climb Racing
Final take: Is Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K worth it?
The Fire TV Stick 4K is an excellent 4K device with Alexa voice command that’s optimized to work with Prime Video. If you’re a Prime Video power user, you’ll want this stick in your streaming live, even more so if you’re a 4K lover—the picture quality is stunning.
But, if you’re just not that into Alexa, or you’d rather not have Prime Video promoted in your face constantly, a Roku or Chromecast device might be a better match.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K FAQ
Will Fire TV Stick 4K work without an Amazon Prime Membership?
You don’t need an Amazon Prime membership to use the Fire Stick 4K because it functions as an independent streaming device, just like a Roku Stick or Chromecast does. But, since Fire devices are optimized for Prime Video, you’ll probably want a Prime membership or standalone Prime Video subscription to get the full experience.
Is there a monthly fee to use Fire TV Stick 4K?
There’s no monthly fee to use the Fire TV Stick 4K, just a one-time purchase of $33.99. Amazon Prime membership, which includes access to Prime Video, costs $12.99 a month or $119.00 a year. A Prime Video subscription by itself costs $8.99 a month.
What free channels can you get on Fire TV Stick 4K?
Free movie and TV apps available on Fire TV Stick 4K include Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Plex, The CW, CW Seed, Xumo, Crackle, FilmRise, IMDb TV, and Red Bull TV.