Features and performance
Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is absolutely seamless, thanks to the simple user interface and responsive remote control. During setup, the Fire TV Stick needs to be plugged into the mains as well as the HDMI port on your TV — all the cables and adaptors you’ll need come in the box.
Once you’ve plugged the Fire TV Stick into your TV, you’re then prompted to set up the remote – you’ll be walked through the entire process by your TV so you don’t need to worry about leafing through manuals.
Like its predecessor, the Fire TV Stick 4K user interface is extremely easy to navigate, even for those who haven’t even used a streaming device before. Recently accessed shows and apps can be found on the home screen, or you can scroll up and across to find different content and apps.
US Fire TV customers will also find a recently added tab on their device’s interface; called ‘Live TV’, it collates all your live channels into one place.
As well as being easy to use, the UI is very responsive and quick to load, and there’s a fantastic selection of streaming apps to choose from. To test how easy it is to sign up to a new service, we tried setting up an account with Disney Life through the Fire TV Stick 4K.
The whole process was extremely simple, with the option to link your new account to an existing social media account like Facebook – although the experience will vary between different apps, it’s encouraging that we didn’t run into any issues while setting up accounts with the platforms we don’t already subscribe to.
Image credit: Amazon
Using the remote to control the Fire TV Stick 4K is similarly effortless, and the Alexa-powered voice search functionality is quick and accurate when you’re using apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
However, voice search doesn’t work with every app on the service – UK viewers will notice that you can’t use it with BBC iPlayer, which means you have to manually type search terms within the app. Furthermore, you won’t be able to use your voice to skip to the next episode on many apps that otherwise support voice control, which is slightly annoying.
Another issue we found with voice search is that when you make a request that the Fire TV Stick 4K is unable to support, whatever content you are playing disappears, and you have to then select it again from within the app or Fire TV homepage to start it up.
That being said, the voice search is generally very good, and you can even use voice commands to turn your TV on, control your smart devices, and view live camera feeds from compatible smart security cameras on your TV, which is really useful.
In general, the search functionality is better than the previous model, as you can now search for shows by actor and specifically for 4K content, as well as searching for show titles directly. Amazon’s own content is predictably prioritized above other results from platforms, which could be irritating if you’re primarily a Netflix user, for example.
Overall, the selection of apps available is extremely good, and you should be able to find most streaming platforms you can think of – although UK viewers won’t be able to find Now TV, and US viewers won’t be able to stream on Walmart’s Vudu, which is currently a large source of Dolby Vision content. Still, there’s such a huge variety of content, so you probably won’t miss the odd niche app unless you are a diehard fan.
If you want to take your Fire TV Stick 4K abroad – and its portability makes it a great traveling companion – you may want to install a VPN to unlock content from your home country.
Navigating the fiery seas
The Fire TV interface has always been best-described as chaotic, and that hasn’t changed with the major update Amazon introduced last winter. While Amazon has streamlined some of the top-level menus that made the old interface even more cumbersome, the system still feels burdened by unclear organization and excessive advertising.
The basic act of launching apps is too difficult on Fire TV, because you can pin only six of your favorites to the top of the home screen. The rest live in a secondary menu that takes a lot of scrolling and clicking to access. Meanwhile, a separate list of recent apps lives further down the home screen, inaccessible without first scrolling past a row of sponsored content.
To its credit, Amazon’s home screen is more than just an app launcher. It also puts a heavy emphasis on helping you decide what to watch, with row upon row of movie and TV show recommendations that come from an array of streaming services. It even supports multiple user profiles, so everyone in the home can get personalized suggestions. But because Amazon provides no control over this recommendation system, it quickly becomes overwhelming.
Consider, for instance, the “Next Up For You” row that appears near the top of the home screen. For most of these recommendations, you can’t see which streaming service they come from without clicking on each one, and some of them come from services you might not be paying for. Being able to filter the home screen based on your actual subscriptions—like you can on the Chromecast with Google TV—would be a major improvement, but Amazon won’t allow it. (A “free to me” filter does exist in Amazon’s movie and TV show menus, but it’s needlessly hidden behind several menu layers.)
When it’s not trying to upsell you on new subscription services, the Fire TV interface aggressively pushes Amazon content above all else. The “Recently Watched’ row, for instance, only integrates with Prime Video and channels from Amazon’s live TV section. Scrolling down the home screen reveals rows for suggested Prime movies, popular Prime shows, genre-based Prime picks, add-on Prime Video Channels subscriptions, and suggestions from Amazon’s free IMDb TV service. You’ll find some recommendation rows from other services in here, but Amazon reserves so much real estate for itself that everything else feels buried.
Design
If you’ve used the previous Amazon Fire TV Stick before, you’ll notice that the new version hasn’t changed very much in terms of design.
Measuring 99mm x 30mm x 14mm, the Fire TV Stick 4K is as unobtrusive and compact as ever, designed to plug directly into the HDMI 2.2 port on your TV. The stick itself is a little bit wider than a standard HDMI cable, so Amazon has included a male-to-female HDMI extender cable in case you have trouble fitting it in.
Amazon says the extender cable can also be used to improve the WiFi connection and remote control performance.
The outside of the Fire TV Stick 4K is largely the same as the previous model, only now it features the Amazon arrow logo without any text. On the inside, you have an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor like before, but now of course, the Fire TV Stick has support for 4K, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
On the side of the Fire TV Stick 4K you’ll find a micro-USB port to connect the power adaptor.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Now on to the remote; the biggest change here is that it now includes volume buttons and a power button. The inability to change the volume using the the previous model’s remote was a particular sticking point for many users, who found it annoying to constantly switch between it and their TV’s remote, or asking Alexa to change the volume.
The remote therefore can now be used to change the volume on your TV, AV receiver, or soundbar, which is far more convenient.
Like it’s predecessor, you’ll still find a microphone button at the top of the remote, which can be used to summon Alexa without having to say “Alexa” before every command you make.
The best Alexa skills and commands
Alexa with the save
On most streaming platforms, voice control is a nice-to-have feature, but on Fire TV, it feels essential for cutting through the menu clutter. Hold the blue Alexa button on the remote, and you can ask to launch apps, load specific videos, and tune directly to live TV channels in supported streaming services. All those controls work quite well, and they feel more efficient than scrolling around Amazon’s interface.
Voice control also comes in handy when you’re not sure what to watch. Ask for a genre, like “comedy movies” or “sci-fi shows,” and the first row of results will come just from your subscription services. You can even add shows to your Fire TV watchlist as you search, then jump directly to your watchlist with a voice command. (Getting to this list otherwise requires digging through a couple of menus, a recurring theme of Amazon’s interface.) Meanwhile, a neat new integration with Netflix lets you say “Play something on Netflix” to get a random recommendation from the catalog based on your viewing habits.
Alexa has other skills outside the TV realm as well. You can ask for music from services like Spotify and Apple Music, control smart home devices, check on Alexa-enabled security cameras, and ask for the weather or other information. Fire TV devices can also form speaker groups with other Alexa devices around the house, letting you play music in multiple rooms at once.
Those voice controls help redeem what is otherwise an exercise in interface frustration. By comparison, Roku devices offer a much simpler way to navigate your apps, while both Apple TV and Android TV devices (including the Chromecast with Google TV and Walmart Onn) do a better job focusing on content.
It’s a shame, because the Fire TV 4K Max hardware is an excellent value, and it gives Alexa a platform on which to shine. You shouldn’t have to contend with a bloated interface just to enjoy those benefits.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max review: Remote
The remote of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is light and looks ordinary. A circular directional pad with a select button in the middle, menu buttons for Home, Back, and Options, TV power, and volume buttons, and navigation via fast forward, rewind and play/pause buttons. The blue Alexa button stands out and allowed me to open and control different apps by clicking down and speaking the name of an app or asking Alexa to rewind or fast forward.
There are separate buttons dedicated for Prime Video, Netflix, Amazon Music, and a button to open the apps menu. These dedicated buttons could be helpful to those who stream these apps more than the others. For me too, these were like shortcuts as I use Netflix and Prime Video the most.
The size of the remote is appropriate for your palm and the feel is nice too. The smart features don’t require much long usage of the remote, which is very nice.
Design
- Bigger than before
- Still anonymous looking
- Updated 2021 Alexa remote
At first blush the Fire TV Stick 4K Max resembles every other Fire TV Stick of recent times. It’s black, rectangular in shape, with the Amazon logo on it and a HDMI port attached at one of its ends. There’s no need for any visual appeal when it’s going to spend the majority of its life hiding behind the TV.
It’s chunkier than previous Fire TV Sticks, but the added girth isn’t an issue since the included HDMI extender extricates it from any cabling issues. I’d also say keep an extension cable close by for power unless you want to use a USB port as most don’t have the juice to power the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
The Alexa remote comes with more buttons and a dash of colour. There’s the standard circular D-pad for navigation, volume and playback buttons, and the Alexa voice button sports more obvious branding. There’s also the addition of Prime Video (of course), Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Music hot keys. The 4K Max also supports the Alexa Voice Remote Pro that’s available separately for £34.99.
With the standard Alexa remote, it’s possible to control a TV’s power and volume or any connected sound system. There is the option of using your TV’s own remote to control the Fire TV Stick 4K Max instead, but then you’d lose out on some of the Alexa-specific functionality.
The addition of a button for accessing live TV does make for a busier layout than before, but I do like how the remote feels in the hand. It’s lightweight, and the snappy button presses and layout makes for a simplistic experience.
Faster than ever
As of now, Amazon is selling the new Fire TV Stick 4K Max alongside the existing Fire TV 4K, which lists for $50 but is often discounted. While both streaming players support 4K HDR video, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio, the Max has a faster processor, 2GB RAM (versus of 1.5GB on the older stick), Wi-Fi 6 support, and a new remote with more buttons.
The new processor and added memory make a big difference compared to cheaper Fire TV models, which are prone to stuttering and lagging in Amazon’s recently-revamped menu system. The Max never stumbles this way or takes too long to load apps, and holding the remote’s Alexa button produces an instant response. (Compared to the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, performance is roughly comparable.)
The effects of Wi-Fi 6 will be harder to notice. While it’s better than Wi-Fi 5 at handling lots of simultaneous connections, its theoretically faster speeds won’t matter for streaming video, where even a 25Mbps connection is sufficient for 4K HDR. (Even Wi-Fi 5 can reach speeds well in excess of that number.) You’ll also need a Wi-Fi 6 router to take full advantage of the new tech.
Что такое Fire TV? Обзор устройств Fire TV
Fire TV — это линейка недорогих потоковых устройств Amazon. Fire TV — это традиционное потоковое устройство, которое позволяет вам получить доступ к операционной системе и управлять своим смарт-телевизором с помощью традиционного пульта дистанционного управления.
Обратите внимание, что некоторые люди используют термины «Fire TV» и «Firestick» как синонимы. Однако термин «Firestick» относится к определенному стандарту дизайна, то есть к устройствам Fire TV в форме USB
До недавнего времени большинство устройств Fire TV соответствовали этому стандарту, поэтому Fire TV можно было использовать как взаимозаменяемые с Firestick. Однако с выпуском нового Fire TV Cube использование термина «Firestick» может сбивать с толку. Поэтому я буду называть всю экосистему потоковых устройств Amazon Amazon Fire TV.
Amazon выпустила несколько поколений устройств Fire TV, и в настоящее время в ассортименте есть три устройства — Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K и Fire TV Cube.
Fire TV Stick
Fire TV Stick — это самый простой Amazon Firestick, небольшое устройство в стиле USB с максимальным разрешением видео 1080p и без дополнительных функций Smart TV.
Fire TV Stick 4K
Fire TV Stick 4K — это усовершенствованное устройство Amazon Firestick. У него нет расширенных функций Smart TV, но есть улучшенный видеовыход, совместимый с контентом 4K Ultra HD и HDR.
Fire TV Cube
Fire TV Cube — новейшее и наиболее совершенное устройство для потоковой передачи Fire TV. Это Firecube вместо Firestick, он совместим с контентом 4K Ultra HD и HDR и имеет встроенный Alexa.
Плюсы
- Простота установки и использования.
- Чрезвычайно доступный.
- Fire TV Cube поставляется со встроенной функцией Alexa.
- Поставляется с пультом дистанционного управления Alexa.
- Имеет пользовательский интерфейс и операционную систему.
- Поддерживает Dolby Vision HDR.
Build
(Image credit: Future)
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is virtually indistinguishable from its brethren and predecessors. It’s still a plastic oblong shape that’s reminiscent of a USB thumb drive, with an HDMI connector sticking out of one end and a micro-USB port on the side for power.
It would have been nice to see a slimmed-down design this year, as although the Stick 4K Max can still be easily tucked in a pocket to take on the go, with many TVs it will block the HDMI port next to it. Certainly, that’s the case with the Sony A80K that we’re using to test the Fire TV Stick with. It can be avoided with the included HDMI extender adapter, but it’s still a mild annoyance. On the subject of things we wish had been updated this year, a move from micro-USB in favour of USB-C would have been nice, as the detachable cable supplied uses the older, non-reversible cable that has mostly been phased out in favour of the new standard.
Amazon includes its Alexa voice remote with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and it does a serviceable job of letting us navigate through the Fire OS software. It feels fairly light in the hand and includes the necessary buttons to traverse apps, play, pause, fast-forward and rewind content, and control volume. There are also some handy shortcut buttons on the bottom for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Music. Something that seems to plague many Fire TV remotes is a loose battery compartment, and this model is no exception as the rear sliding door slips off the remote far too easily.
Remote and accessory support
As for the remote, it’s the same one that now ships with Amazon’s standard Fire TV Stick, with a blue Alexa button, four preset app shortcut buttons, and a live TV button that takes you straight to the Fire TV grid guide. Its rubberized keys give off a satisfying click, and a little bump on the Home button helps your thumb land in the right place. Like most other Fire TV devices, the remote’s infrared emitter can control TVs or A/V gear, so you never need to keep a separate remote handy for volume or power. (Only the $30 Fire TV Stick Lite lacks this feature.)
The live TV button is especially useful if you subscribe to YouTube TV, Sling TV, or Philo, as Amazon’s guide can show you what’s on any of those services without your needing to jump into the app first. It also integrates free channels from Pluto TV, Plex, Tubi, and Amazon’s IMDb TV service, and you can customize the guide by filtering sources and setting up favorite channels.
As with Amazon’s other Fire TV Sticks, the Max has only a single microUSB port for power, but you can add more ports for ethernet or USB accessories by hooking up a powered USB-OTG cable. Also, the Fire TV software finally supports volume control over Bluetooth headphones, so you can pair them to the TV for private listening.
Features & design
- Unchanged form factor
- New remote control
- Wi-Fi 6
Physically, the new streaming device is identical to the existing Stick 4K. Amazon hasn’t even changed the microUSB port to USB-C.
The only thing those familiar with the Fire TV Stick will spot is the updated remote control. This third-gen remote is now bundled with all TV Sticks except the Lite and includes shortcuts to Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Music (Hulu in the US).
There are also TV controls, so you can use the remote to adjust and mute volume and turn the screen on and off without having to have your TV’s remote to hand. As it uses IR, you can also configure it to control certain soundbars and A/V receivers.
As ever, you can plug the Fire TV Stick 4K Max into an HDMI input on your TV (or soundbar) or use the included flexible cable if it’s impossible or inconvenient to attach it directly.
A power supply is included in the box (as are batteries for the remote) but if your TV, soundbar or another set-top box has a USB port that will deliver enough power, you might get away without using a power socket.
Though the 4K Max will power up from virtually any USB port, it will display a message telling you if there’s insufficient power and to use the mains adapter.
Alexa is built in, and there’s a button on the remote which you hold down while making your requests: she’s not hands-free on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
There’s also Bluetooth, which allows you to pair Bluetooth speakers and headphones and not have to rely solely on your TV’s speakers.
As mentioned, the upgrades are mainly things you can’t see. Wi-Fi 6 should mean better performance when streaming 4K content, but you will need a Wi-Fi 6 router or mesh system (such as
Amazon’s Eero 6 or Eero 6 Pro) to take advantage. Otherwise it will use whatever Wi-Fi standard your router offers.
In most cases, though, performance will be exactly the same if you have a Wi-Fi 5 router.
The Max also has a bit more RAM – 2GB in total – than the Fire TV Stick 4K. Along with the faster processor, a quad-core 1.8GHz Mediatek 8696, this means the Fire TV interface is more responsive: apps load quicker and it’s smoother when scrolling through content.
Like the Fire TV Stick 4K, the Max will output 4K resolution at 60Hz and supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR 10, HDR10+ and HLG. There is one significant difference: support for the new AV1 codec which looks like it might replace HEVC.
The Fire TV Stick 4K, which launched in 2018, has no AV1 decoder. The new format is even more efficient than HEVC and could be required to use certain apps in future, such as YouTube or if not to use them, to get specific video resolutions or HDR formats.
Finally, the 4K Max runs Android 9 underneath all the layers of FireOS. That’s only relevant because it means Netflix, for example, supports Dolby Atmos whereas it doesn’t on the 2018 model.
There’s another tiny change which is easy to miss. Like other recent Fire TV Sticks (including the Fire TV Stick Lite and 3rd gen Stick), the newer operating system means it properly supports Bluetooth speakers unlike the old Fire TV Stick 4K. That means you can use the volume buttons on the remote control to adjust the volume of a connected Bluetooth speaker, or headphones. Previously, if they didn’t have their own volume control the function was basically useless unless you could endure maximum volume all the time.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max review: Interface
Just like its previous models, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max features an interface that revolves around the Amazon ecosystem. The new redesigned Fire TV interface is better than the previous one. It is divided into 3 main tabs. Home has recommended apps and content, Find is where you search, and Live is a home to the best cable TV alternate apps live Voot, Sony Liv, and Zee 5.
What bothers me is the ads that Amazon is pushing through the Fire Stick interface. There is a Banner ad, then every 3rd or 4th row of sponsored content that shows up every 4-8 rows on the home screen and keeps popping up between videos. Although ads are present in every streaming device, this one has just too many. Chromecast with Google TV also suggests content everywhere but it doesn’t deliver third-party ads in FireStick’s fashion.
This is one of the major strong points of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, as it is flawless when it comes to having every app available in the India region. Apps like Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Netflix, Zee5, Voot, Sony Liv, Jio Cinema, YouTube, Discovery +, Lionsgate, and many others are all available for seamless functioning.
Another unique feature is that there’s a new Live View Picture-In-Picture mode so one can check what is going on with your video doorbell or home security camera without stopping the movie or show. I tested this feature with Yi Life Camera that I have at my home. I was able to check my camera feed by simply giving asking Alexa. Thanks to PiP mode I was able to watch CNN News 18 Live TV while keeping an eye on food cooking in my kitchen.
The search feature of Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is seamless most of the time, apart from when it gets too pushy. When I typed Shahid Kapoor, it gave me rows of titles that made sense, starting with Shahid Kapoor movies from my subscriptions (like Haider, Kabir Singh, Jab We Met from Netflix). The next row “Movies and TV” displayed titles from other services like YouTube videos/ songs. The only time it created a problem is when it started showing titles that were very vaguely connected to Shahid Kapoor.
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One silly issue is that Alexa detects 4k movies to mean four k movies, something that gives funny results when searched. This should be rectified as the word 4K exists in the device’s name itself.
Price and availability
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is available to buy for $49.99 / £49.99, which works out at around AU$68 based on current conversion rates – however, it’s not yet available to buy in Australia and there’s so far no word on when Amazon will begin selling it in this territory.
Compared to the non-4K version of the Fire TV Stick, you’re looking at a price increase of around $10 / £10, which we think 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’s Chromecast Ultra, retail for around $69, so the Fire TV Stick 4K is a good option if you’re looking to spend under $50 — still, it’s worth bearing in mind that you will need to buy subscriptions to use many of the apps like Netflix and Prime Video, which can soon add up.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Fire TV Stick 4K Max review: Performance
Let’s now talk about performance. The Max in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is about its performance and speed, which I felt got better, but not much to be invested in again if you already have a 4K stick. Wi-Fi 6 support has been added, that’s a plus along with a new quad-core 1.8GHz MT 896 Processor and a 750MHz GPU.
Apps, movies, and shows all launch quickly during my testing phase, especially when I was moving from app to app, back and forth. Slight differences could be seen when I rebooted this one and other sticks in comparison. Apps like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar take seconds to load and work seamlessly if your internet connection is working well.
Features
(Image credit: Amazon)
As the name of the product suggests, this Fire TV streams in 4K, providing you have the TV, apps and relevant subscriptions to do so. It’s possible to stream content from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and even BBC iPlayer in glorious 4K resolution. You may already have these apps downloaded natively to your 4K TV and are probably wondering why an additional device is necessary; the short answer is that in many cases it won’t be – streamers such as this are most useful for making an older, dumb TV smart, or for filling the occasional app gaps that even the latest and greatest TVs can have. LG’s TVs lack the UK’s BT Sport app, for example, and this is a fairly inexpensive way to add it. In some cases, the picture and sound quality can be better, too, particularly if your TV is an older one, and regular updates to apps are likely to be more forthcoming for longer.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max also streams in HDR, and it supports a smorgasbord of standards here, including HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG. This means that compatibility shouldn’t be an issue for varying TV models that only include limited HDR formats, such as Samsung’s preference for HDR10+ or LG’s Dolby Vision bias.
Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max tech specs
(Image credit: Amazon)
Resolution Up to 4K, 60fps
Bluetooth version 5.0 + LE
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6
HDR formats HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos Yes
Remote control Yes
Dimensions (hwd) 9.9 x 3 x 1.4cm
Weight 48g
There’s also an abundance of support for audio formats, including 7.1 surround, two-channel stereo and Dolby Atmos which, of course, requires the appropriate hardware and content. In short, Atmos works seamlessly and content is marked clearly in apps such as Netflix and Disney Plus.
Fire OS, Amazon’s TV operating system, is easy to navigate and app compatibility is widespread. As well as the aforementioned apps, in the UK you’ll find the likes of ITV X, All 4, My 5, Rakuten and Now for movie and TV streaming, and Tidal, Spotify, Deezer and TuneIn for music and radio. There’s also a host of games and gaming-oriented apps such as Twitch and ports of popular Android mobile games.
The Fire OS system benefits from the bump in power found on the 4K Max, with performance remaining smooth and glitch-free in our testing. There is one quirk to Apple TV, however, which operates as an Apple TV+ app and content library for iTunes only. You cannot purchase or rent content via this app and instead must use another device to load content into your library.
The final headline feature of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Wi-Fi 6 compatibility. If you have a compatible router, you can expect enhanced stability when it comes to streaming content, as well as a smoother online gaming experience.
Price
(Image credit: Amazon)
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the most expensive offering in Amazon’s streamer line-up if you don’t count the non-stick-shaped Fire TV Cube. Coming in at £65 / $55 / AU$99, the top-of-the-range streaming stick still comes in at a fairly wallet-friendly price, especially when you consider it’s only a fraction more expensive than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K.
The obvious non-Amazon alternative is the Google Chromecast with Google TV which, at £60 / $50 / AU$99, is essentially the same price.
Opt for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and you’ll get 8GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM (up from the 1.5GB of the standard Fire TV Stick 4K), and a quad-core CPU running at 1.8GHz with a 750MHz GPU. Amazon says that this is the fastest Fire TV Stick on the market, quoting a 40 per cent performance gain over the regular 4K model. We have no reason to question this as we zip through the menus with ease and aren’t left waiting around for apps to launch. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max also gets an exclusive feature in the way of Wi-Fi 6, more on that later.
Amazon does also offer an extra accessory in the form of the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, which costs £35 / $35 / AU$59. It’s an optional addition that’s slightly bigger and more comfortable to hold, adds backlighting to the buttons, includes a “find my remote” function (a godsend for those who often lose their Fire TV remote between the sofa cushions) and a few new shortcut buttons including settings, Bluetooth audio, up and down channel and even two customisable shortcut buttons that you can program yourself. It’s by no means an essential accessory, but it easily trumps the included remote.
Sound
(Image credit: Future)
To cut straight to the point, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max’s sound presentation is suitable for watching movies and TV, but it’s lacklustre when it comes to music.
Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive To Survive sounds convincingly spacious and there’s a definite directionality to sounds travelling around us, providing an exciting audio experience. The crunching and slashing of Thor’s axe through the shadowy monsters in Love And Thunder is also crisp and satisfying, but the Fire is mostly concerned with enhancing bolder sounds rather than focusing on the subtler tones.
This is apparent when we switch to Tidal to play James Blake’s Limit To Your Love in stereo using our reference system. There is a lack of warmth and richness to Blake’s voice and the piano. Overall, the presentation lacks texture and sounds flat when compared with the Chromecast, which offers a more revealing and rich spin on the track with enhanced dynamics and drive. Put simply, the Fire Stick lacks energy, and flattens out the drama of the track, resulting in a mediocre listening experience.
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Should you buy it?
If you’re a Prime customer: This is an obvious choice for Prime customers, bringing plenty of entertainment options to the tip of your fingers, or at the beck and call of your voice with Alexa integration.
If you’re not a Prime customer: Unless you’re interested in becoming a Prime customer to get the most out of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, similar level of performance on offer from Roku – as well as fewer ads.
Final Thoughts
The best Fire TV Stick yet? Absolutely, the difference between it and the Fire TV Stick 4K is not huge, but for an extra £5 there’s Wi-Fi 6, a slightly faster processor, more storage and the Live Picture-in-Picture feature, which may be enough for some to plump the premium stick.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a slick, well-featured streamer with excellent search capabilities in Alexa. If we’re talking performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max edges the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, especially with audio. In terms of the interface, the Roku is more platform agnostic whereas Amazon is, well, about Amazon – and quite a few ads, too. Its interface is not the most easily digestible either.
If you’re a Prime customer then there’s no other streaming stick worth considering. If you’re not a Prime customer, you’ll want to have a think about the competition before you dive in.
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every video streamer we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Tested over two months
Tested with video and audio content
FAQs
Do I need a Wi-Fi 6 router for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max?
No, you don’t need a Wi-Fi 6 router for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max; but if you do have a Wi-Fi 6 router then you’ll get faster streaming performance.
What’s the difference between the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max?
It’s a £5 price difference and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports Wi-Fi 6.
Full specs
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Operating System
Release Date
Resolution
HDR
Ports
Connectivity
Colours
Remote Control
Smart assistants
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
£54.99
$54.99
€64.99
CA$74.99
AU$99.00
Amazon
30 x 108 x 14 MM
43.4 G
B08MQZYSVC
Fire TV
2021
3840 x 2160
Yes
HDMI ARC, micro USB (power)
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Black
Yes
Yes
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Specs
Size– 99x30x14mm| Weight– 48.4 grams| Processor– Quad core 1.8GHz MT 8696| GPU-IMG GE8300, 750MHz| Storage– 8GB| Wi-Fi– 6 supported| Bluetooth– 5.0| Voice Support– with Alexa Voice Remote| Ports– HDMI ARC output, micro USB for power only| Audio– Dolby Atmos 7.1 surround sound| 4K support– 4K Ultra HD| Output resolution– 2160p, 1080p and720p up to 60 fps| Color-Black
System Requirements
- HD TV with available high-speed HDMI input
- High-speed internet connection via Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 routed will be required for Wi-Fi 6 support
Setting up Fire TV Stick 4k Max
As is the case with all Fire TV Sticks, setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is very simple.
- As you plug in the dongle and power it on, you’ll be asked to connect to your Wi-Fi. Once you connect, you’ll be asked to sign in to your Amazon India account directly on the TV itself or via your phone with the latter being easier.
- Once you have logged in to your Amazon account and updated the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you’ll need to pair the Amazon Alexa remote to your TV. For this, you’ll be prompted to adjust the volume using the remote buttons and confirm if you find it working as usual.
- I had no trouble setting up the device and syncing it as a universal remote. However, in some cases, it may fail to do so and in that case, you’ll need to manually select the appropriate IR profile from a list.
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