Amazon Fire TV Stick Streaming devices have long been the go-to solution for viewers, especially those looking to convert their old TV into a smart TV or upgrade the viewing experience on their existing smart TV.
Latest 2nd generation Fire TV Stick 4K is the latest offering from Amazon and the company claims that it will offer better performance, features, and support.
This new phone was launched at a price of Rs 5,999 Fire TV stick to 4K Visually, it is a comprehensive package with support for modern codecs like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and more.
The question is, how does it perform in the real world? We’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and here’s what we think.
Design and remote
The second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) has a familiar stick design. It might not be the thinnest at 3.9 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches, but it’s small enough to easily fit behind most TVs, soundbars, etc. Amazon An HDMI extender is also included in the box that solves a common problem: crowded HDMI ports. This extender helped us fit the Fire Stick comfortably as the neighboring ports on our TV were busy.
While its shape and form remain unchanged from the previous generation, it has slightly curved edges and softer lines that give it a more modern look and feel.
However, it still has a micro USB port which is kind of a missed opportunity and not something we would expect from a device launching in 2024. This might not be a big deal.
Since micro-USB ports are slowly being phased out, if you lose or misplace the cable, finding a replacement can be a hassle compared to the readily available USB-C option. Micro-USB also limits compatibility with a wide range of accessories.
The setup process was easy and quick. We just needed the Alexa app to get it started. A few terms and conditions, account login and you are all set to use the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K.
The design of the remote control is unchanged from the previous Fire TV device but comes with several upgrades. It is an Alexa-enabled remote that comes with a dedicated Alexa button on the top and a built-in microphone. The remote also features shortcut buttons for popular streaming services like Prime Video and Netflix in addition to the familiar D-pad for navigation and more.
The central navigation pad allows for easy menu control, while the playback buttons and volume controls are conveniently located at the center.
The Bluetooth-enabled remote works seamlessly and doesn’t require direct line-of-sight to work. Additionally, the remote includes an infrared (IR) blaster that allows you to directly control your TV’s power and volume, eliminating the need for a separate remote.
Display
The second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K features a 1.7GHz octa-core chipset that delivers faster performance. This was especially noticeable when opening and navigating large apps. One of the great features of this streaming device is that it includes the following Wi-Fi 6,
Despite this, the Wi-Fi 6 support makes the Fire Stick 4K (2024) future-ready for a seamless streaming experience, especially for homes where multiple devices compete against each other for bandwidth. Wi-Fi 6 is excellent at handling congested networks, ensuring you get consistent speeds and fewer buffering hiccups.
However, here’s the thing: to properly utilize the potential of Wi-Fi 6, you’ll need a compatible router. Most users will still enjoy excellent performance with Wi-Fi 5, as long as their internet connection meets the recommended minimums for optimal 4K streaming. That being said, if you have multiple smart devices in your home and multiple simultaneous 4K streams, Wi-Fi 6 becomes a game-changer.
The Fire TV supports Miracast which allows users to mirror their phone or laptop display wirelessly to the device. It also comes with Bluetooth connectivity which allows for private listening with headphones. We thought this was a welcome feature for late-night movie marathons.
Alexa Voice Assistant This feature on the Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) remote could be useful for those who have an Amazon smart home ecosystem. We could speak our commands by pressing the button on the remote and ask Alexa to search for content, control compatible smart home devices, or answer general questions.
3The overall performance of the Fire TV Stick 4K is smooth and fluid. Apps loaded without any delays and we didn’t notice any issues while streaming content at the highest possible resolution.
Be it browsing Prime Video or Netflix, everything played in a matter of seconds and content that supported HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision displayed brilliant visuals and content that also had Dolby Atmos support delivered a great experience during our testing.
Apps typically load within 5-10 seconds from the home screen, ensuring a seamless workflow. Switching between apps was also easy, with minimal wait times; the Fire TV Stick did occasionally resort to closing less-used apps to free up memory, which is fine since you’ll mostly be using one app at a time.
Fire TV OS is also one of the most refined operating systems that powers Amazon’s Fire Stick and tablets. Built on the foundation of Android, its interface is familiar but it doesn’t include the Play Store for downloading apps. Instead, it provides access to Amazon’s App Store and the apps available there. For web browsing, Fire TV OS also uses the Silk browser instead of Chrome. The interface also prioritizes Amazon’s content and services, putting Prime Video front and center.
However, we were still able to access all the major streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar. The Fire TV OS also integrated well with Alexa for voice control and smart home connectivity and gave us a user-friendly experience with the Amazon ecosystem.
Decision
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) can be called a comprehensive streaming solution at Rs 5,999. It features an intuitive Fire TV OS that supports almost all OTT services, making it a versatile option for entertainment. With HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support, it caters to high-end viewing needs. The addition of Wi-Fi 6 ensures future-proofing and better streaming performance. For users looking for a high-performance streaming device, the Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) comes across as a robust and feature-packed option, offering excellent value and functionality for its price.
