If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “What is the Amazon Fire Stick? How does it work? and what is the best Fire TV Stick?” then you’re in the right place, you can rest easy, because we’ve got all the answers. The Amazon Fire Stick is a compact streaming device that plugs directly into your TV, giving you access to apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more, all in one convenient place.
With a range of models available, each tailored to different needs, there’s a Fire Stick for everyone – from budget-friendly options to premium, 4K-ready powerhouses.
Black Friday 2024 is almost here, and we’re busy covering the best deals across the web. Whether you’re looking for a new phone, laptop, or stick vac, we’ll be highlighting the biggest savings around.
Check out the early Amazon Black Friday deals (US) and the early Amazon Black Friday deals (UK)
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the different types of Amazon Fire Sticks, their key features, and why you might want one in your home. Looking to explore more? Don’t forget to check out our curated list of the best streaming sticks if you’re curious about other top alternatives on the market. Let’s dive in!
Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products.
Quick list: what’s the best Fire TV Stick?
1. Fire TV Stick 4K
| Fire TV Stick 4K specs | |
|---|---|
| Supported picture quality | 4K Ultra HD |
| Supported video | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB |
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K delivers excellent value, merging top-notch streaming and smart home control. It’s the best Fire TV Stick for most people, offering stunning 4K Ultra HD resolution, enhanced by Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio-visual experiences.
It’s Wi-Fi 6-ready, so you can stream smoothly even in busy households. With Alexa, the voice remote lets you search for shows, control playback, and even manage smart home devices hands-free.
Gamers will enjoy Xbox Game Pass integration, bringing cloud gaming without the need for a console. Compact yet powerful, it turns any screen into a high-performance streaming hub for not very much money.
2. Fire TV Stick Lite
| Fire TV Stick Lite specs | |
|---|---|
| Supported picture quality | 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps. |
| Supported video | HDR 10, HDR10+ |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Memory | 1 GB |
The Fire TV Stick Lite offers affordable, user-friendly access to HD streaming with Alexa’s voice capabilities built-in, making it ideal for those seeking straightforward streaming on a budget. With Full HD quality and an Alexa Voice Remote Lite, it’s easy to launch apps, browse channels, and navigate content hands-free, though it lacks TV power and volume control found in pricier models.
Effortless plug-and-play setup lets users enjoy popular services like Freevee, ITVX, and Pluto TV for free. Sustainable materials in the device’s design also contribute to Amazon’s eco-commitment, making this an affordable, accessible, and eco-conscious choice.
3. Fire TV Stick HD
| Fire TV Stick specs | |
|---|---|
| Supported picture quality | 1080p Full HD |
| Supported video | HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Memory | 1 GB |
The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is a great choice for those seeking affordable Full HD streaming with simple setup and access to a vast library of free content, including live TV channels and ad-supported platforms like Freevee and Pluto TV.
The Alexa Voice Remote makes browsing and playback easy—just ask to search shows or adjust smart home devices without lifting a finger.
With reliable dual-band Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos audio support, it offers smooth streaming and immersive sound quality, transforming any compatible HDTV into a versatile, Alexa-powered entertainment hub.
4. Fire TV Stick 4K Max
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max specs | |
|---|---|
| Supported picture quality | 4K Ultra HD |
| Supported video | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB |
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a high-performance streaming device offering 4K Ultra HD streaming with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos support for stunning visuals and immersive audio. It features the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology for smooth, lag-free streaming even in homes with multiple devices, alongside 16 GB of storage for apps and games.
The device introduces the Fire TV Ambient Experience, allowing users to display over 2,000 artworks and access smart home controls. It also supports Xbox cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making it a versatile entertainment hub.
With an enhanced Alexa Voice Remote, it simplifies navigation and voice control, making it an ideal option for a seamless streaming and gaming experience.
5. Fire TV Cube
| Fire TV Cube specs | |
|---|---|
| Supported picture quality | 4K Ultra HD |
| Supported video | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB |
The Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd gen) offers the ultimate hands-free 4K streaming experience with an octa-core processor and Wi-Fi 6E support, providing smoother and faster streaming. It features built-in Alexa voice control, allowing users to control their TV, soundbars, and more without touching a remote.
The Cube supports cinematic 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos audio, making it ideal for immersive entertainment. It also includes a built-in HDMI input for connecting set-top boxes, game consoles, and other devices.
Additionally, it supports Alexa smart home features, video calling, and live security camera views.
What is an Amazon Fire TV Stick?
At its core, the Fire Stick is best thought of as a mini computer that you can plug into your TV. It offers a huge number of streaming apps, including all the heavy hitters like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and more. It also features other extras like games, including access to Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service.
As for why you’d want one? Well, it’s a quick and easy way to breathe life into an ageing TV or monitor, and is far cheaper than buying a new TV altogether. Or maybe you find yourself preferring the Fire Stick’s UI and app experience, and would rather use it as your main source of entertainment for your TV. Whatever the reason, its compact form factor and range of affordable price tags make it a very appealing option for those looking to inject their screens with a modern media experience.
The fact that it simply plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port makes installation an absolute breeze, and it can be powered via a simple USB cable for added convenience. Each Fire Stick also comes bundled with a remote, some of which also have Alexa Voice capability, thanks to a built-in microphone. In other words, a Fire Stick is also a handy way of adding Alexa smarts to other rooms around your house.
Better yet, thanks to its miniature size, there’s nothing stopping you from chucking your Fire Stick in a bag while travelling, taking your entertainment portal with you wherever you are. Throw in apps like Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more, and you’ve got access to all your tunes too.
Amazon Fire TV Sticks comparison table
At the time of writing, there are four different models of the Amazon Fire Stick available. The right one for you depends on your needs and budget. The table below summarises their differences:
 Fire TV Stick Lite |
 Fire TV Stick |
 Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd gen.) |
 Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen.) |
 Fire TV Cube (3rd gen.) |
|
| Price | From: £34.99 | From: £44.99 | From: £59.99 | From: £69.99 | From: £139.99 |
| Ratings | 4.7 out of 5 stars (33,680) | 4.7 out of 5 stars (103,004) | 4.7 out of 5 stars (5,851) | 4.6 out of 5 stars (3,926) | 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,188) |
| Best for | Essential HD streaming | HD streaming with convenient device controls | Cinematic 4K streaming | Powerful 4K streaming | The ultimate hands-free 4K streaming experience |
| Supported picture quality | 1080p Full HD (high definition) | 1080p Full HD (high definition) | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD |
| Supported video | HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Supported audio | Dolby encoded audio | Dolby Atmos audio | Dolby Atmos audio | Dolby Atmos audio | Dolby Atmos audio |
| Included remote | Alexa Voice Remote Lite | Alexa Voice Remote | Alexa Voice Remote | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory | 1 GB | 1 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Wi-Fi support & connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E + Ethernet port |
| Live View Picture-in-Picture | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Fire TV Ambient Experience | Yes | ||||
| Hands-free with Alexa | Yes | ||||
| Connect and control your devices (set-top box, game console, webcam, etc.) | Yes | ||||
| Release year | 2021 | 2021 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 |