Granted, when Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you would think it was the model that would replace the existing 4K model. But no, what Amazon has done is expand its range of Sticks (even more).
Now there is Lite, Normal Stick, 4K, and 4K Max. Four “stick” models to choose from, before considering the Fire TV Cube, or one of the real televisions integrating the Fire TV interface.
If you don’t have in mind to buy a new TV because it is already a 4K (UHD) model, you are probably looking for a 4K streaming device. And Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is probably a contender for its relatively low price tag.
There are 4K alternatives to Roku (the Express 4K) and Google (the Chromecast with Google TV) at roughly similar price points, but with the Max sitting right in the middle of them, it’s normal to be wondering which one. model suits you best.
Simply put, it differs from the current Fire TV Stick 4K only in Wi-Fi 6 and an improved processor which Amazon claims is 40% faster.
There is also a picture-in-picture feature that shows the live feed of a supported doorbell (i.e. Ring models) when someone presses the doorbell. Previously, this was only available on the Fire TV Cube, which costs a lot more.
Features and design
- There is no change in the format
- New remote control
- Wi-Fi 6
Physically, the new streaming device is identical to the current Stick 4K. Amazon didn’t even swap the microUSB port for USB-C.
The only thing those familiar with the Fire TV Stick will notice is the updated remote. This third-generation controller is now included with all TV Sticks except the Lite, and includes shortcuts to Prime Video, Netflix, Disney +, and Amazon Music (Hulu in the US).
It also has TV controls, so you can use the remote to adjust and mute the volume and turn the screen on and off without having the TV remote handy. Since it uses IR, you can also configure it to control certain soundbars and A / V receivers.
As always, you can connect the Fire TV Stick 4K Max to an HDMI input on your TV (or soundbar) or use the included flex cable if you find it impossible or inconvenient to connect directly.
A power supply is included in the box (just like the batteries for the remote control), but if your TV, sound bar or other set-top box has a USB port that provides enough power, you can do without a power outlet. running.
Although the 4K Max will power up from virtually any USB port, it will display a message that there is not enough power and the AC adapter should be used.
Alexa is built in, and there’s a button on the remote that you must hold down while making your requests – it’s not hands-free on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
There’s also Bluetooth, which lets you pair Bluetooth speakers and headphones and not have to rely solely on your TV speakers.
As mentioned, updates are mostly invisible. Wi-Fi 6 should mean better performance when streaming 4K content, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi 6 router or mesh system (like Amazon’s Eero 6 or Eero 6 Pro) to get it. take advantage. Otherwise, it will use the Wi-Fi standard offered by your router.
In most cases, however, the performance will be exactly the same if you have a Wi-Fi 5 router.
The Max also has a bit more RAM – 2 GB in total – than the Fire TV Stick 4K. Along with the faster processor, a 1.8GHz quad-core Mediatek 8696, that means the Fire TV interface is more responsive – apps load faster and scrolling through content is smoother.
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 appears to be able to replace HEVC.
The Fire TV Stick 4K, released in 2018, does not have an AV1 decoder. The new format is even more efficient than HEVC and might be needed to use some apps in the future, like YouTube or, if you don’t use them, to get specific video resolutions or HDR formats.
Finally, the 4K Max runs Android 9 under all layers of FireOS. This is only relevant because it means that Netflix, for example, supports Dolby Atmos while the 2018 model does not.
There is another small change that is easy to overlook. Like other recent Fire TV Sticks (including Fire TV Stick Lite and 3rd Gen Stick), the new operating system means it supports Bluetooth speakers well, unlike the old Fire TV Stick 4K. .
This means that you can use the volume buttons on the remote control to adjust the volume of a connected bluetooth speaker or headset. Previously, if you didn’t have your own volume control, the feature was basically useless unless you could manage the maximum volume at all times.
Interface and content
- All major streaming services
- Many other applications
- Games (including Moon)
The content selection is the same as you’ll find on other Fire TV devices. Unsurprisingly, Amazon’s Prime Video service ranks well, with some areas of the home screen showing ads for different programs all the time.
These banners will annoy more than others, but it’s something all media streamers do, not just Fire TV Sticks.
About a year ago, Amazon updated the Fire TV interface to make it easier to use. It’s intuitive, but there’s still a lot of hype, and Amazon-owned Prime Video and IMDb TV tend to get the most exposure, unsurprisingly.
It’s not just the video content that’s being advertised – you’ll also see advertisements for Alexa-enabled hardware, apps, and services.
You can have six of your favorite apps on the home screen, but to access the rest you have to scroll to the All apps icon; it’s a shame that there is no button on the remote for this.
As mentioned, there are additional buttons on the third generation Alexa voice remote, giving you shortcuts to four other apps. It’s possible to reprogram them, but it’s not really easy and their labels don’t change, which makes it pretty confusing if you change the shortcuts.
In addition to remote-controlled streaming services, there are plenty more you can watch. These require you to download their apps from the built-in Appstore, and with 8GB of storage, there’s a limit to the number of apps – and games – you can install.
It is not a limit that you will reach, but it is there.
Another new button on the remote is for live TV. This button mimics the Live option from the main menu and makes more sense in the US, where there is more live content.
In the UK, where I tested, although I was connected to BBC iPlayer and All4, only Channel 5 and Paramount were available on the list, and there was no obvious way for BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to d ‘appear.
The new 1.8GHz quad-core chip is only 100MHz faster than the old one, but paired with 2GB of RAM – up from 1.5GB – it allows apps to load faster and navigate through it. The interface is smoother.
Netflix and Prime Video certainly launch without too much lag, and Fire OS is very smooth when scrolling through show and movie listings.
You can use Alexa, of course, to search for things to watch: genres like “action movies” or specific titles like “Fast & Furious” and it will give you the results of the various services you have installed and break them down. under the heading ‘From your subscriptions’, ‘Free for me’, ‘Free with ads’ and ‘Rent, buy or subscribe’ so that you know what you can watch without paying.
Sometimes the results aren’t what you expect, but it’s still a lot faster than using the controller to laboriously type letters.
Plus, it’s good for reading: you can say “Rewind 2 minutes” or “Next episode,” which may be faster than using the app commands.
Beyond video, Alexa can do anything you can on an Echo or Fire tablet. In other words, you can ask him general questions, have him set timers, alarms, reminders, or put cucumbers on your shopping list.
He can tell you about the news, the weather and, thanks to his skills, many other things. Skills allow you to integrate with smart home devices so you can turn smart lights and plugs on and off. If you have a Ring doorbell, the video signal will automatically appear in a picture window above what you are watching.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to the new Blink doorbell, but with any Alexa-enabled doorbell or camera, you can ask it to display the image at any time.
You can play games on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and even pair a Bluetooth gamepad for more serious titles than Crossy Road. In the US, you can access Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service, but a year after its launch, it’s still not available elsewhere and lacks options.
Pricing and availability
You can buy the Fire TV Stick 4K Max on Amazon. It costs 5 dollars more than the non-Max version, i.e. 64.99 $. However, right now, thanks to Black Friday deals, you can buy the Stick for a lot less than it costs: $ 38.99.
To see more alternatives, check out our roundup of the best TV sticks and boxes.
Verdict
You could argue that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is only worth buying if you need the specific features it offers compared to the previous 4K version. But you don’t really save a lot of money and the extra performance is worth it, although you don’t mind Wi-Fi 6, getting Dolby Atmos from Netflix, or AV1 support.
All in all, it’s a great streaming device that gives you access to all the streaming services you want at a decent price, and far less than a Fire TV Cube.
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