Built-in Fire TV OS for basic smart TV needs.The Fire TV Cube is a premium streaming box designed to compete with devices like the Apple TV 4K and the Roku Ultra, so it's best suited for home theater enthusiasts who want the absolute best quality and fastest technology. 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. In other words, the Cube can act like an Echo device.

One of the Fire TV Cube's biggest benefits is its support for hands-free Alexa voice control without using a remote. 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. It incorporates all the features of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max but has a beefier CPU and is meant to be a more traditional home theater device. The Fire TV Cube is the best Fire TV device for pure processing power.

4K upscaling can make lower quality sources look better.

Powerful hardware with 4K and Dolby Vision support.

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. And 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. It also has a revised design with rounded edges. This makes navigation a little snappier and lets you save more apps and games.Īmazon released the latest version of its Fire TV Stick 4K Max in September 2023, and compared to the previous-generation edition, this new model has an upgraded processor, double the amount of storage, and new support for WiFi 6E routers. It carries over everything you'll get on the regular Fire TV Stick 4K while offering a faster processor and GPU, as well as more storage. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of our picks for the best streaming devices you can buy.

The fastest streaming stick we’ve tested.

Robust storage space to hold more apps and games.

4K playback with Dolby Vision for top video quality.

However, if you're willing to spend $10 more, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers slightly better performance. This model is a good fit if you have a 4K TV.

It also now supports WiFi 6 when used with a compatible router. The latest version of the Fire TV Stick 4K was released in September 2023, and it has a slightly tweaked design with rounded edges, more memory, and an improved processor that Amazon says is around 25% faster than the first-gen model. Dolby Vision can give your TV more detailed guidance on how to display HDR images, but only when watching Dolby Vision content on a compatible display. This model also carries over HDR playback but adds support for the more advanced Dolby Vision format, which is missing on the Lite and standard Fire TV Stick. With 4K support, you'll get a sharper, more detailed image when watching 4K videos on a 4K TV. HDR Support:Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLGĪs the name suggests, the Fire TV Stick 4K streams at a higher resolution than the Fire TV Stick or Stick Lite.Dolby Vision capabilities for the best HDR performance.Full 4K streaming support for more detail than HD.When that happens, there's no reason to consider this model. Keep in mind, however, that the standard Fire TV Stick occasionally goes on sale for even less than the Lite. If your TV doesn't support 4K, the Fire TV Stick Lite will suit your streaming needs just fine. 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. This feature delivers enhanced colors and contrast when streaming HDR videos through apps like Disney Plus. The device also supports high dynamic range ( HDR) using the HDR10 and HDR10+ formats. The Fire TV Stick Lite can stream videos at up to 1080p resolution, which makes it ideal for an HDTV. Other than that, both models are basically the same.

The Lite includes an Alexa Voice Remote Lite, which is missing TV controls, like power and volume buttons. The only notable difference between this model and the regular Stick is its remote. Regarding general performance, the Fire TV Stick Lite matches the quality of the more expensive standard Fire TV Stick. Once powered on, you can navigate through the stick's interface to access many of the best streaming services. Like the company's other stick models, this compact dongle plugs right into your TV's HDMI port. The Fire TV Stick Lite is the best Fire TV you can snag on a budget.

Same performance as a standard Fire TV Stick for less money.

Affordable option for basic HD streaming needs.

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