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The best Amazon Fire TV devices deliver a reliable streaming experience with access to popular video apps and Alexa voice search. Top Fire TV players are known for their speedy performance and excellent sale prices. Right now, you can choose between stick, cube, and full-fledged smart TV models.
Entry-level Fire TV options, like the Fire TV Stick HD, offer high-definition playback, while the best Fire TV devices, like the second-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max, support Ultra HD video and Dolby Vision for enhanced color and contrast. Amazon also sells smart TVs with the Fire TV operating system (OS) built in. Though these sets don't rank among the top TVs you can buy, they're decent budget options for fans of Amazon's ecosystem.
However, with so many different Fire TV models to consider, it can be tricky to determine which is right for your needs. To help you pick the best Fire Stick or display for your setup, we've detailed all the ins and outs of each model.
How to get a great deal on the best Fire TV devices
The best Fire Sticks and smart TVs get big deals during major sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, though smaller deals pop up throughout the year. Right now, you can get the Fire TV Stick HD for $18 off with the coupon code FTVHDADD and the Fire TV Stick 4K for $25 off with the coupon code 4KFTVADD.
Fire TV Stick HD
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick HD is its entry-level streaming device with Full HD (1080p) streaming and HDR support. This model also has an Alexa voice remote that includes TV controls.
The Fire TV Stick HD is the most affordable option in Amazon's current lineup of streaming devices. Like the company's other stick models, this compact dongle plugs into your TV's HDMI port. Once powered on, you can use the included Alexa Voice Remote to navigate the stick's interface and access all the best streaming services.
The Fire TV Stick HD can stream videos at up to 1080p resolution, which makes it ideal for an HDTV. The device also supports high dynamic range (HDR) using the HDR10 and HDR10+ formats. This feature delivers enhanced colors and contrast when streaming HDR videos through apps like Disney Plus. That said, most TVs that support HDR are 4K models, and if you have a 4K TV, we highly recommend you pay a bit more for one of Amazon's 4K sticks.
If your TV doesn't support 4K, the Fire TV Stick HD will suit your streaming needs just fine. This model replaces the now-discontinuedFire TV Stick Liteand standardFire TV Stick, whichoffer nearly identical features.
Fire TV Stick 4K
The Fire TV Stick 4K is a good fit for 4K TV owners looking to spend less. It supports a higher resolution than the cheaper Fire TV streaming sticks but lacks the faster processor and extra storage of the 4K Max.
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As the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams at a higher resolution than the Fire TV Stick HD. With 4K (Ultra HD) support, you'll get a sharper, more detailed image when watching 4K videos on a 4K TV. You can learn more about Ultra HD resolution in our 4K guide.
This model also carries over HDR playback but adds support for the more advanced Dolby Vision format, which is missing on the Fire TV Stick HD. Dolby Vision can give your TV more detailed guidance for displaying HDR images, but only when watching Dolby Vision content on a compatible display. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details about different HDR formats.
The latest version of the Fire TV Stick 4K was released in September 2023. It has a slightly tweaked design with rounded edges, more memory, and an improved processor. Amazon says it's around 25% faster than the first-gen model. It also now supports WiFi 6 when used with a compatible router.
The Fire TV Stick 4K is also one of three Fire TV models with access to the Xbox app. With the Xbox app, a Game Pass Ultimate membership, and a Bluetooth controller, you can stream Xbox games to your Fire TV Stick 4K. This means you can play high-end games without a console.
This model is a good fit for those with a 4K TV. However, if you're willing to spend a bit more, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers slightly better performance.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
This is Amazon's top streaming stick. With its powerful processor and GPU, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the fastest streaming device in its price range and now supports console-free Xbox gaming via Game Pass.
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The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of our picks for the best streaming devices you can buy. It carries over everything you get with the regular Fire TV Stick 4K while offering a faster processor and GPU, as well as more storage. This makes navigation a little snappier and lets you save more apps and games.
Amazon released the latest version of its Fire TV Stick 4K Max in September 2023. Compared to the previous-generation edition, this new model has an upgraded processor, double the amount of storage, and support for WiFi 6E routers. It also has a revised design with rounded edges.
Unlike other Fire TV Sticks, the 4K Max supports Amazon's Fire TV Ambient Experience, which lets you display art, photos, and widgets for things like the weather and your calendar. And like the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, it also supports the Xbox app for Game Pass streaming.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is typically just $10 more than the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, so we think it's the best Fire TV option for people with 4K TVs.
Fire TV Cube
Amazon's latest Fire TV Cube offers 4K streaming support, hands-free Alexa, an HDMI input, and video upscaling.
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The Fire TV Cube is the best Fire TV for pure processing power. It incorporates all of the key features of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max but has a beefier CPU and is meant to be a more traditional home theater device. Instead of a dongle that hangs out of your TV's HDMI port, the Cube is a compact box that sits on your TV stand and plugs into your display with an HDMI cable.
One of the Fire TV Cube's biggest benefits is its support for hands-free Alexa voice control without a remote. In other words, the Cube can act like an Echo device. The newest model also has an HDMI passthrough port to control cable boxes, twice as much storage space as the stick models, 4K upscaling to make HD videos look better, and overall faster performance.
The Fire TV Cube is a premium streaming box designed to compete with devices like the Apple TV 4K, Roku Ultra, and Google TV Streamer. It's best suited for home theater enthusiasts who want the brand's absolute best quality and fastest technology.
Fire TV 2-Series
The 2-Series uses Amazon's Fire TV interface for easy streaming access. With an HD screen rather than 4K panel, this display is meant for casual viewers who want a basic smart TV in a smaller size.
Amazon also sells its own lineup of full-fledged smart TVs, which all use a built-in version of the Fire TV OS. This means you can stream your favorite apps without an extra device. Though Amazon's displays don't make our guide to the best TVs, they're still worthwhile budget options if you're a fan of the Fire TV ecosystem. The 2-Series is Amazon's entry-level HDTV model designed for people who just want a basic smart TV for casual viewing.
The 2-Series is available in a 32-inch 720p screen or 40-inch 1080p screen. Both models support HDR processing using the standard HDR10 format, but the 2-Series can't deliver the brightness or color needed to really take advantage of high-dynamic-range playback. For this reason, we only recommend this model for people who want a cheap TV that doesn't take up too much space.
Fire TV 4-Series
The budget-minded Amazon Fire TV 4-series supports 4K UHD resolution and HDR10. It also has Amazon's Fire TV operating system built-in.
The 4-Series steps things up from HD to Ultra HD with a 4K resolution screen. Models are available in 43-, 50-, and 55-inch sizes.
Though it supports 4K playback, the 4-Series has subpar HDR performance and lacks advanced features like wide color support and Dolby Vision. It's a decent TV for buyers who want a smaller, affordable 4K display for a bedroom, but it's not suited for home theater use.
Fire TV Omni Series
Amazon's Omni Series offers convenient hands-free Alexa control but its picture quality can't match similarly priced competitors. It's a decent option when on sale, but its list price is too expensive for what you get.
The Omni Series Fire TV adds support for hands-free Alexa voice control without using the remote. You can control power, volume, navigation, and search with spoken commands through the TV's built-in microphones. And the TV can also serve as an Alexa smart home hub even when the display is off.
The models range in size from 43 to 75 inches. Every model supports 4K resolution and HDR10, and the 65- and 75-inch models add support for Dolby Vision.
Unfortunately, the TV's picture quality and navigation speed are underwhelming for its price. There are simply better-looking displays from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Roku that cost around the same. That said, the Omni is a decent buy when it's on sale during deal events like Black Friday and Prime Day. We only recommend picking up the 65-inch model when you can snag it for under $500.
Check out our Amazon Fire TV Omni review.
Fire TV Omni QLED Series
Amazon’s Omni QLED has advanced features like local dimming, quantum dots, and hands-free Alexa. There are better-looking TVs in this price range, but the Omni QLED is a solid pick for buyers who want convenient Alexa integration.
Amazon's Omni QLED offers a big step up from the regular Omni Series. It carries over hands-free Alexa support while adding advanced picture features like quantum dots and local dimming. These features enable it to deliver much better color and contrast performance.
The TV also has an ambient mode that can display art and widgets when it senses someone has walked into the room. Sizes range from 43 to 75 inches, but the 43-inch model does not include local dimming.
The 65-inch model's list price of $800 is high for what you get, and the set doesn't match the overall performance of the very best 4K TVs in this class. However, we've seen it drop to $600 during big sales events, offering much better value at that price.
Check out our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review and our guide to all of the best smart TVs.
Fire TV Omni Mini LED Series
The Omni Mini LED is Amazon's flagship smart TV model. It uses a Mini LED backlight to provide a bright, high-contrast image. The display also has a fast 144Hz refresh rate for smoother gaming performance.
The Omni Mini LED Series is Amazon's latest Fire TV display. It's the most advanced smart TV the brand has released so far, carrying over all the features of the Omni QLED while offering improved image quality. As its name implies, this model uses a Mini LED backlight, which enables more precise contrast control and a brighter image.
While the Omni QLED maxes out at around 500 nits of brightness, our reviewer measured a peak of around 1,400 nits on the Omni Mini LED. This increased brightness helps the Omni Mini LED deliver more impactful HDR performance and overcome glare in rooms with lots of windows. The Omni Mini LED also boasts up to a 144Hz refresh rate for smoother gaming, compared to the 60Hz rate you get on other Fire TV displays.
These features make the Omni Mini LED a worthy competitor to similar midrange Mini LED models from brands like TCL and Hisense. However, those competing TVs, like the TCL QM7, have come down in price a lot over the last few months. As it stands, the Omni Mini LED is a little overpriced for what you get. It's still a great smart TV option for buyers who want an Alexa-enabled TV, but we think most shoppers should wait until it's discounted during one of Amazon's sales.
Fire TV Omni Mini LED displays are available in 55, 65, 75, and 85 inches.
Check out our full Amazon Omni Mini LED TV review.
Fire TV Soundbar
The Fire TV Soundbar is a compact and affordable way to upgrade your TV's speakers.
The Fire TV soundbar is a compact 2.0-channel speaker designed to rest in front of your TV. It features an HDMI eARC and optical port for easy connection to most modern displays, and it also supports Bluetooth for wireless music playback from a mobile device.
At 24 inches wide, the soundbar is relatively small, which should make it easy to set up on most TV stands. Though it doesn't include a subwoofer or offer advanced features like up-firing audio drivers with Dolby Atmos support, the Fire TV Soundbar does support DTS Virtual:X to simulate surround sound. That said, at this price range and performance class, buyers shouldn't expect too much from this feature.
And despite the Fire TV branding, this is a soundbar only. It does not feature built-in support for streaming video apps. The base model only includes a standard remote, but you can pay more for a package with an Alexa Voice Remote Pro.
Based on the specs and affordable $120 price tag, Amazon is positioning this as an entry-level soundbar for people who just want a simple, compact, and inexpensive upgrade for their TV's speakers.
But if you're looking for something with more oomph, check out our soundbar and speaker buying guides to see our top recommendations:
- Best soundbars
- Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
- Best budget soundbars
- Best soundbars with subwoofers
- Best Sonos soundbars
- Best Bose soundbars
- Best surround sound systems
Former Video Game Reporter
Kevin Webb was a former gaming reporter at Business Insider. He graduated from Morehouse College in 2013 and worked as an Assistant Editor with Darien Times and as a member of the Shoryuken content team before joining BI in 2018.Kevin has been a competitive Street Fighter player since 2007 and will still take on all challengers.
Senior Tech Editor
Steven is a home entertainment product expert with over a decade worth of service journalism experience. He oversees coverage around home entertainment products, including TVs, streaming devices, headphones, and soundbars.ExperienceSteven is a Senior Tech Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. He is responsible for developing buying guides, reviews, and deals coverage for all of the latest TV, video, and audio products. Steven works with a team of experienced freelancers to establish testing methodologies, test products, and select the best of the best for our buying guides.He also has a background in film criticism, having reviewed over 400 movies and TV shows. Steven studied filmmaking and uses his knowledge of video and audio production workflows to help inform his testing parameters when reviewing home entertainment devices.Before joining Business Insider in 2019, he was High-Def Digest's Gear Editor. His work has appeared on Ben's Bargains, Steve's Digicams, Big Picture Big Sound, and Consequence.Why you can trust StevenSteven is not only passionate about TVs, he is also one of the industry’s foremost experts in display quality. In 2019, he was one of a select number of journalists invited to get a hands-on first look at LG's debut 8K OLED TV. He was also among the earliest journalists to demo Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies for home theaters in 2014 and 2015, respectively.In 2018, Steven served as a judge for TV Shootout, the premier annual display competition that crowns the best TVs of the year. He also attends yearly industry launches and reviewer workshops for new TVs and audio products from top brands, like LG, Samsung, Sony, and Sonos.Steven knows that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by tech jargon and premium prices on high-end gear, which is why he is passionate about recommending quality options for all price ranges and explaining which features are really worth the money.ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
- Televisions
- Soundbars
- Speakers
- Streaming devices
- Headphones
- HDR video formats
- Spatial audio technologies
EducationSteven holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Central Florida.Outside of workSteven lives in Orlando, Florida, with his girlfriend, their dog, and cats. When he’s not covering tech products, Steven loves to explore the theme parks of Orlando and watch movies on his dream home theater setup, complete with the biggest Dolby Atmos speaker system he could fit in an apartment.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.
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