Amazon introduced its first Fire TV Stick in India in 2017. Back then, smart TVs were expensive, fewer brands made them, and the proliferation of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms was relatively low. In such a market, a streaming device that can be connected to any TV with an HDMI port to access not only streaming apps but also games was a lucrative proposition.
Things, however, have changed significantly in 2024. On the one hand, OTT platforms have grown massively in number and offer a wide range of exclusive content. On the other hand, smart TVs have become relatively cheaper, and many new brands have entered the market, making them more accessible to the masses. According to a report By Internet in India Report 2023, conducted by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and KANTAR, about 707 million massive users in India engage with OTT platforms. The total number of streaming platforms has also grown to 57, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
In conditions like these, where it would seem that the usefulness of a third-party streaming device could be reduced, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K made its debut. Priced at Rs. 5,999, the device supports 4K (2160p) resolution content along with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and more. It also offers the entire Amazon AppStore library with over 12,000 apps.
For the past fortnight, I’ve been using the streaming device to find out if what it offers is enough to make it relevant at a time when it faces competition not only from other streaming devices but also from the growing number of smart TVs offered by the La same experience integrated within television. So let’s get down to the brass tacks.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Design and Remote Control
The basic design of the first generation Fire TV Stick hasn’t seen many updates over the years yet, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K continues the tradition. You get the same matte black rectangular device (which now has curved edges) with the Fire TV logo on top and an HDMI port on the front. If the HDMI port doesn’t connect easily, an HDMI extender gives you that extra flexibility.
The new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K remote control
On the side, there is a micro-USB port for power. Some TVs could power the device using the USB port if it provides enough power. Mine couldn’t, so the charger in the box came in handy, and I was able to power it by plugging it into a power source.
The remote has also seen minor improvements compared to the previous Fire Stick 4K that came out in 2019. It now features dedicated app buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, and Amazon Music. A fourth button takes you directly to installed apps. A live TV button and a dedicated Alexa button replace the older voice control button. The functionality remains the same; However, I found Alexa much more capable.
In the previous review, Gadgets 360 found that if the content searched for was not from Prime Video, the virtual assistant would only show up the app at best. However, now, you can mention the title card of Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema and YouTube (these were the apps I used frequently). Other than that, the rest of the remote is pretty standard.
In terms of installation and use, Fire TV is very easy to use. The installation process, including all OS-based updates, took me about 15 minutes. All you have to do is plug it into your TV, connect the power supply, and follow the instructions on the screen. It is a device that should be plugged in and forgotten.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K interface
Running on Fire OS, the user interface is not drastically different from the standard Android TV experience. You get the same tile-based layout and horizontal scrolling interface that shows off shows, movies, and apps. There are Home, Find and Live TV sections and an easy-to-access app library. The settings icon is also conveniently placed on top, and since the remote doesn’t have a settings button, its placement helps with switching things around.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K interface
Amazon also has a good recommendation algorithm that suggests content from different OTT platforms, even if you haven’t installed them. You’ll see recently watched shows, Netflix recommendations, free movie and TV shows, and genre categories. However, being an Amazon product, there is a bias for its content. For example, only Prime video content is labeled 4K on the home screen. For everything else, you will have to click on the content tile and check the details.
You can also jump directly to Prime Video Content from the recommendation section on the home screen, but for any other app, you’ll first find a description screen. Additionally, Prime Video dominates the above-the-fold where featured content is displayed.
However, I didn’t find any of that a drawback since I watch quite a bit of shows and movies on Prime Video. The integration helped me discover newer content to watch and allowed me to play it quickly. Those who aren’t fans of the Prime video library might be better served by the Mi TV Stick or the default Android TV/Google TV.
Overall, the interface is snappy, responsive, and quite reliable upon extended use. I rarely encountered any glitches or problems.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Performance
Now, let’s get to the performance. On paper, this is Amazon’s most powerful streaming device available in India. Supports up to Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz and 5.0Ghz bands) and Bluetooth 5.0. It also comes close to HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos Audio Support to pair with 4K Ultra-HD video quality support. The device offers a built-in storage of 8 GB.
IPL 2024 Final using Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
I have been using this device for over two weeks on my Redmi Fire TV and have been pleased with its consistent performance. Whether I was catching up on episodes of Shogun, enjoying the ladies of the sitcom Laapataa, or Spy They could distinguish very easily. Even the darkest scenes were well lit and made for lovely viewing. Surprisingly, the Fire TV Stick 4K’s OS performance was snappier than my Fire Inbuilt OS.
However, keep in mind that 4K video support will require faster Internet connectivity, and video streaming may struggle if the connection is unstable or slow. Additionally, the overall video quality depends on the TV you are using. It goes without saying that a premium TV with 4K support will present better images than a TV without it.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Verdict
As stated above, my goal with this review was to understand whether the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K really offers enough to make the device a relevant and necessary purchase. After using it extensively, my answer is a yes, yes.
Even in a world where smart TVs can be found for less than Rs. 15,000, not all are built equally. Some have low memory, while others are affected by the subpar Os experience. With many people still using older smart and non-smart TVs, Amazon’s streaming device fills the gap of needing to replace reliable TV hardware due to software deficiencies.
Fire TV Stick 4K offers solid performance with its operating system interface, performance, and image quality. But even more than that, what it really offers is reliability. While I have experienced technical issues with my Redmi smart TV and even my parents’ Sony Bravia, I never faced even a small problem with it. From browsing different apps to watching shows and movies, the experience was seamless. A good streaming device, in my opinion, should be impossible to see when watching TV, and the Fire TV Stick 4K did exactly that.
If you don’t own a smart TV or are struggling with a few-year-old smart TV that has started to decline, the Fire TV Stick could be a good way to extend the life of the TV without compromising the viewing experience.
By
