The Fire TV Stick 2020 may seem like a useless device when Amazon released an updated version in 2019.
But, while the company (as with almost all new devices) advertises this TV Stick as “new,” it looks a lot like the old one. It looks the same and works basically the same.
Some aspects are new: There’s an updated remote with some really useful TV controls you don’t get with the Fire TV Stick Lite, plus an updated processor that makes it 50% more powerful than the model. 2019.
Plus, alongside the Lite, it’s the first Fire TV model to get the new interface that won’t hit other Fire TV devices until 2021.
Features and design
Like all Fire TV Sticks, this one was designed to be hidden behind your TV and connected directly to an HDMI port. If this is not possible, there is a short extension cord in the box.
You will need to use the included AC adapter unless your TV has a free USB port that provides enough power and there are no other ports: if you cannot connect the Stick to the Wi -Fi, you will need to purchase an additional Ethernet adapter from Amazon.
For those of you new to Fire TVs, these are some of the most diffusion that give you access to the Amazon Prime Video service (and the ads on the main screen constantly remind you of this), as well as Netflix, YouTube, Disney +, local services, and, at a minimum in the US, live television.
The App Store has a wide range of apps and games, and it’s hard to think of anything you want that isn’t there. That’s why buying a Fire TV Stick is an inexpensive way to turn your TV into a Smart TV.
In Europe, you can find Disney +, Netflix, YouTube, RTVE alacarta, Mitele, ATRESplayer, Pluto TV, DAZN, Filmin, Movistar +, and much more.
Remember that Alexa is built in, so you can press the microphone button on the remote control and ask it to play a series, find what you want to see, play music, give you a weather forecast. , turn on the lights (if you have smart bulbs) and whatever else you can do.
In fact, if you want to bother using voice commands instead of pressing buttons to navigate the interface, you can start watching a series much faster.
The remote itself uses infrared to control the power and volume of your TV, and it’s a straightforward setup process. It also works with sound bars if you use with your TV.
The Fire TV Stick 2020 has 8GB of space for apps and games, and it supports HDR, HDR10 +, and HLG. So if your TV supports HDR and the shows you’re watching were recorded in HDR, the Fire TV Stick will let you play them that way.
It’s possible, however, that if your TV isn’t 4K, it isn’t HDR compatible, so you’ll surely bet on the Fire TV Stick 4K (the 2018 model) if you have a 4K TV.
New interface
Amazon redesigned the main menu and placed it in the middle of the screen, not at the top. It’s also easier with the Home, Search, and Library options.
On the right side you’ll find the six apps you use the most, and a settings shortcut on the right. Use the remote control to hover over these apps and you will see that the video service content is displayed below without having to launch the app, a faster way to find things to watch.
If you go below to select one of the thumbnails that appear, the entire menu moves to the top so you can see more of the platform content.
If you don’t know what to see, you can use the Find menu, which opens a full screen of titles.
These include movies, series, kids and family content, as well as recommended categories like comedy, drama, thrillers, and documentaries. Select one of them and you’ll see relevant content from a variety of services, even if you have to be a subscriber or logged in to see it.
The large search option seems somewhat redundant given the controller’s microphone button, which is much faster than using the onscreen keyboard to find something specific.
The extra power keeps the interface running and responding well, and videos start playing very quickly.
The only one but it’s the one we’ve always found with the Fire TV (and the tablets Fire). There is still a lot of promotion of Amazon’s own content on Prime Video. It’s obvious why, but it’s annoying if you’re not a Prime member and don’t want to see anything on this platform.
User profiles
While profiles have been around for a few months on Fire TV, they’re much more prominent in the new interface, located on the left side of the main menu. You can click here to switch to another profile, and it is possible to have up to six profiles (which should be enough for the same house).
Profiles are very useful, as they are on Netflix, because it means you can see more relevant recommendations than if the whole family is using the same account. It doesn’t work in some apps like YouTube, where your kids might not have their own account.
In fact, if you already have child profiles in your tablets Fire, it’s pretty annoying that you can’t use them on Fire TV. Even if they appear in the list when you add a new profile, you will receive an error message stating that the children’s profiles are not yet compatible with Fire TV.
So this function is not as useful as it could be. Hopefully Amazon will change it soon.
Alexa responses
Another change is that Alexa will not take up the entire screen in some responses, meaning you can continue to watch a video or search the interface even if you ask for information, such as sports scores or weather. .
The answers are displayed in the lower half of the screen, leaving the rest free.
Price and availability
Priced at $ 39.99, the Fire TV Stick costs the same as usual, just $ 20 for the 4K version and $ 10 for the Lite edition. You can buy the 3rd Generation Fire TV Stick from Amazon.
To see all the options, you will be interested in reading our selection of the best TV boxes.
Verdict
The Fire TV Stick 2020 is a very good option if you are planning to upgrade capabilities diffusion from your TV and also add Alexa.
Not worth the savings: If you have a 4K TV, buy the Fire TV Stick 4K. But if yours is only 1080p, there are plenty of reasons to spend a little more than with the Fire TV Stick Lite.
Specification List
- Processor: 1.7 GHz quad-core processor
- RAM memory: 1 GB
- Storage: 8 GB
- Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
- Audio: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital +
- Video: 720p or 1080p at 60 fps
- Accessories: voice control, HDMI cable
- Dimensions: 86 x 30 x 13 mm
- 1 year warranty
Original article published in Tech Advisor UK.
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