Amazon has announced two new Fire TV Sticks as part of its recent product showcase, along with a new user interface for the Fire TV platform.
The company’s 4K Fire TV products—the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube—remain unchanged from 2019, but the 1080p Fire TV Stick is seeing a refresh, along with a new, even less expensive model, the Fire TV Stick Lite.
Both the new Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite, both out now, feature a 1.7GHz quad-core processor that Amazon says makes the devices 50 percent faster than the previous Fire TV Stick model. They can stream content at up to 1080p at 60fps, and support high dynamic range (HDR), which is usually paired with 4K content but technically is a separate feature entirely. The $39.99 Fire TV Stick also supports Dolby Atmos audio, features dual-band Wi-Fi, and comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that can also control your TV’s power and volume.
New Fire TV Stick (Image: Amazon)
The $29.99 Fire TV Stick Lite offers the same performance benefits as the Fire TV Stick, and supports 1080p60 streaming with HDR. It foregoes Dolby Atmos and 5GHz Wi-Fi, though, and its Alexa Voice Remote Lite lacks control buttons for your TV (though it does feature a built-in microphone for using Alexa, just like the Fire TV Stick’s remote).
Because the two new Fire TV Sticks are 1080p, they’re still a step behind the $49.99 Fire TV Stick 4K, which can stream 4K content to your TV. That extra $10 is certainly worth it if you have a 4K TV, but if you have an older 1080p TV with no smart features, either of the new sticks could be a compelling addition to it. Both begin shipping next week.
Redesigned Fire TV Platform
The Fire TV platform is also getting a completely new user experience. The redesigned interface will place a main menu directly at the center of the screen, paired with a list of your most-used apps so they’re always available as you browse. Searching for content is also being revamped with a new Find feature that provides categorical suggestions.
(Image: Amazon)
The new interface will also support multiple profiles, so up to six different people can enjoy their own preferences on one Fire TV device. The profile support includes voice recognition, so users can simply say “Alexa, switch to my profile” into their Fire TV Stick remote (or at their Fire TV Cube) and it will automatically switch.
Video calls will also be added to the Fire TV Cube, with support for Logitech webcams connected to the device over USB. The new feature will work with Alexa video calling (like through the Alexa app and Echo Show devices) at first, and Zoom support is planned for the future.
Amazon plans to release the new Fire TV interface later this year, and will start with the new Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite.
