Amazon's line of streaming sticks (and a cube, for good measure) have become some of the most popular options on the market, and for good reason too. The Fire TV lineup allows you to imbue any "dumb" TV with the power of Fire OS by simply plugging one into the HDMI socket on the back of your set, opening up a world of streaming.
If you're looking to dabble in the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV, then a Fire TV Stick is an affordable and easy-to-use solution. They're also a solid option for upgrading a TV with an ageing smart system, especially if you're looking to squeeze a few more years out of your set before you upgrade to a newer model.
Below you'll find a quick rundown on each of the available Fire TV devices including the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube, as well as where to find them at the best price possible.
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (3rd Generation)
Launch price: £40 / $35 / not available in Australia
Likely the best streamer for most people, Amazon has refined its Fire TV Stick lineup by merging the Fire TV Stick Lite (below) and previous generation Fire TV Stick into this: the 2024 Fire TV Stick HD. It now includes the latest Alexa Voice Remote in the box, allowing you to interact with the voice assistant to find movies and TV shows easily. As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick HD streams in 1080p, though HDR is supported in the HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG formats. You also have Dolby Audio on board, though not the Atmos immersive variety, unfortunately. This streamer should suffice for most, though, and it supports all of the major streaming apps on Fire OS>
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
Launch price: £35 / $30 / AU$59
The Fire TV Stick Lite is a more affordable way to bring Alexa to your TV. It's 50 per cent faster than the previous Fire TV Stick, and shows content in HD quality with HDR support. Alexa Voice Remote Lite lets you speak to find, launch, and control content, while the user interface puts the main menu at the centre of your screen, making it easier to find what you're looking for. The difference is it doesn't have the TV button controls, so there are no dedicated power, volume and mute buttons – it's all about the voice. There's also no Dolby Atmos here. While this model has officially been discontinued in favour of the Fire TV Stick HD (above), Amazon still has stock for now, making this an ideal affordable option for those looking for a streaming stick bargain.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Generation)
Launch price: £60 / $50 / AU$79
If you have a 4K TV, then 2023’s second generation of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device could be worth a look. We haven’t tested this latest generation of Fire TV Stick 4K out, but we gave the previous 2021 model an Award and a five-star review, calling it the benchmark for streaming sticks at the time. The Alexa Voice Remote has a range of convenient voice control capabilities, plus the device comes with support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)
Launch price: £70 / $60 / AU$119
The latest second generation of Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the most powerful Fire TV Stick to date, featuring and support for Wi-Fi 6E for faster 4K streaming than other Fire TV Sticks. With 16Gb, it also offers the most storage of any Fire TV Stick and there’s also a new faster 850MHz GPU. Packed with the stick comes the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, for convenient control over your TV, soundbar, and receiver. The remote features a dedicated channel and preset buttons for hassle-free surfing and shortcuts. Alongside all of this, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ capabilities.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation)
Launch price: £140 / $140 / AU$219
Moving on from Sticks to the Cube. Amazon labels this as its “fastest-ever streaming media player”. Featuring an octa-core processor, it is said to be twice as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (above). We reviewed the second generation of Fire TV Cube and praised its crisp image, excellent app compatibility, and useful smart features though overall, it was a bit of a disappointment compared to the previous model in terms of picture and sound. It supports a range of HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster, smoother streaming, should your router allow for it.
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