One-minute review
The Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) is a stable selection if you happen to're in search of a brand new and reasonably priced. streaming possibility. This succesful HD streamer has an honest interface and a few substantial enhancements on its earlier 2019 iteration.
For this newer 2020 mannequin, you get HDR help, in addition to a 60fps body fee, which brings you each smoother and richer photos – so long as your TV can help the identical specs.
You will not get native 4K decision with the Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) (you may want the Fire TV Stick 4K for that), however you probably have an HD TV or 4K TV with competent upscaling, it is a sensible, mid-price purchase that will not price you as a lot as an Ultra HD mannequin.
The problem in judging the Fire TV Stick (2020) – and shopping for the appropriate one you want – is that Amazon has since introduced out a brand new entry-level mannequin, which known as the Fire TV Stick Lite.
There are some notable variations between this one we're reviewing right here and the Lite – primarily, the inclusion of quantity controls and a mute button on the step-up mannequin's distant, in addition to the flexibility to attach and management different AV tools. If your property theater system is greater than merely a TV and streamer, it's going to be a greater guess for making certain harmonious collaboration between your streaming stick, soundbar, and also you.
The quantity controls may not appear all that vital, however they make a distinction. Switching again to the Lite mannequin's distant is tough – forcing us to consistently deal with a separate TV distant to extend or lower audio. Using the Fire TV Stick (2020) is a far smoother expertise, helped by the voice-navigated Fire TV platform and ongoing updates to simplify and enhance the interface.
Less forgivable is the at-times domineering presence of Amazon-owned or Amazon-affiliated content material, together with advertisements for Audible subscriptions on each menu – however if you happen to're a Prime subscriber this would possibly not be a deal-breaker.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A brand new HD streaming stick within the Amazon Fire TV vary
- When can I get it? It's out now
- How a lot does it price? $39.99 / £39.99 / AU$79
Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) pricing
The Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) is accessible now. You should purchase it for $39.99 or £39.99 within the US and UK respectively – the identical value because the earlier Fire TV Stick – or AU$79 in Australia, now that this mannequin has come to the area.
Fire TV Stick (2020) design
When you open the field, you may discover a neatly packaged assortment of equipment. There's the Fire TV Stick (2020) streamer itself, in addition to a brief (however pliable) extension cable, which is helpful for serving to the stick slot in slim areas behind a tv.
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You'll additionally get two Amazon Basics AAA batteries for the Alexa voice distant, and a charger to plug the streamer into (through micro USB).
The streaming stick itself is fairly nondescript: a brief black slab, the scale of a small sweet bar, which plugs right into a TV through HDMI 2.0, and measures 86 x 30 x 13mm.
It's basically the identical design because the Fire TV Stick Lite or Fire TV Stick 4K, so if you happen to're juggling a pair – as we had been throughout our review – it could be onerous to inform the distinction. There is a refined Amazon brand, but it surely's not obtrusive, and the modern black design and curved distant give all of it a premium really feel, regardless of the low value.
The principal distinction right here is just not within the streamer, although, a lot because the distant.
Every Fire TV gadget ships with some model of the Alexa voice distant. They all help voice performance and a few primary inputs akin to return, residence, menu, energy, and navigation (with a d-pad disguised as an omni-directional circle). The Fire TV Stick (2020) additionally provides in quantity controls for rising / reducing audio ranges, in addition to a mute button for switching off the sound fully.
Features and efficiency
So, what's new with the 2020 mannequin of the Amazon Fire TV Stick? This model remains to be a Full HD streamer, and nonetheless comes with the identical Alexa Voice Remote of its predecessor – a clicker with playback, energy, quantity and voice command inputs that additionally ships with the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube, and can be utilized to manage linked AV receivers and soundbars.
There are just a few notable upgrades over the earlier HD Fire TV Stick mannequin, although, although it launched fairly lately (in 2019).
For one, there's the introduction of HDR (excessive dynamic vary), that means you may get elevated colour and distinction in your HD photos, with extra nuanced tones and a bigger spectrum of sunshine and darkish shades. You get the essential HDR10 format right here, in addition to the dynamic HDR delights of HDR10+ (which makes use of metadata to calibrate image settings shot-by-shot) although not its Dolby Vision competitor.
It's additionally value noting that you simply will not get the complete influence of HDR with out 4K decision both, given there are fewer pixels on present. A 4K TV will upscale the video output to make it output in 4K on the display screen, although you may be on the mercy of that individual set's processing capability.
While the 2019 mannequin supported 30fps playback, the 2020 model pushes this as much as 60fps – which is becoming, given that the majority new 4K TVs nowadays include a 60fps panel (if not 120fps). This ought to make for smoother movement with much less blur or judder throughout fast-moving scenes, although a few of it will come right down to your tv's processing. It needs to be particularly good for any gaming on the Fire TV Stick, as with the upcoming Amazon Luna sport streaming service.
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Amazon tells us that the brand new mannequin is "50% more powerful" than the 2019 iteration, due to an "enhanced 1.7 GHz quad-core processor". We're advised that the "dual-band, dual-antenna WiFi supports 5 GHz networks for more stable streaming and fewer dropped connections" – and does all this "while consuming 50% less power" too.
On the audio aspect, the Fire TV Stick (2020) helps Dolby Atmos encompass sound. That means you will get extra immersive audio, although you will have to be utilizing audio system that help the format additionally.
Fire TV Stick (2020) setup and UI
The Fire TV Stick (2020) makes use, as you may anticipate, of the Fire TV interface – and if you happen to've ever used one other Fire TV streamer, or a Fire TV-based sensible TV, then you definately'll be conversant in what's on supply.
There are numerous content material rows to navigate horizontally, akin to your Recent apps, Your Apps & Channels, and Prime Originals & Exclusives.
This is a fairly complete platform, with streaming apps akin to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus, YouTube, and extra packed in, with none obtrusive absences.
There's no aggressive hiding away of Amazon Prime Video's principal opponents, then, although Amazon does be sure its personal content material will get precedence. Much of the Fire TV interface is clogged up with Amazon Prime Video content material – whether or not that is titles sourced from the platform immediately or affiliated TV channels akin to StarzPlay.
It's frequent to click on via on an attention-grabbing title to search out you want a subscription, and it may be irritating now to have this signposted across the content material previous to you clicking via and making an attempt to view it. (There's additionally no onscreen-prompt to 'cancel' as soon as you have chosen a movie or TV present; you may have to make use of the again button on the voice distant, which is not overly apparent at first look.)
Most content material panes even have a Sponsored part for Audible, the audiobook subscription service owned by Amazon. As ever, paying for {hardware} that then exhibits you ads is a little bit of a slap within the face – although the Tizen OS on new Samsung TVs does it too, if much less visibly.
You'll benefit from the UI and its urged content material essentially the most if you happen to're a Prime subscriber already, then, although different streaming platforms akin to Roku are a bit much less biased in the direction of funnelling you in the direction of specific purchases.
You can also't register to the Prime Video app except the Amazon account registered to the gadget has entry. This downside ought to get fastened when Amazon launches consumer profiles later in 2020, however for now it is an annoying ache level – particularly if (like me) you and your cohabitants share numerous streaming subscriptions.
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There are adjustments afoot, as with the latest overhaul of Alexa integration, aping the UI of the Echo Show sensible show vary when accessing info via Amazon's voice assistant. You're quickly getting a picture-in-picture mode, too, that means you'll be able to load up multiple app at one time in your Fire TV interface, say to carry up a wise safety digicam feed on the aspect of the display screen.
It's not an disagreeable interface in any respect, even when Amazon-affiliated content material is a bit domineering, and the Home / Your Videos tabs are basically equivalent.
Should I purchase the Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020)?
Buy it if...
Your sensible TV's app help is not nice
If you are still working with a dumb TV, or have some key apps lacking, the Fire TV platform is a superb complement.
You need hands-free voice instructions
Using Alexa is fairly nifty, even when the voice assistant cannot deal with every part you throw at it. For easy instructions, although, it is a neat technique to bounce across the OS.
You're an Amazon Prime subscriber
Amazon is fairly intent on showcasing Amazon Prime films and the like on its Fire TV platform – in addition to related Prime channels – and so you may see extra content material related to you if you happen to've purchased into the Amazon ecosystem already.
Don't purchase it if...
You need 4K HDR playback
You're having to sacrifice 4K decision at this value level, so a 4K streamer could also be higher for viewing high-quality sources.
You need the most affordable streaming stick on the market
There are cheaper streamers, akin to Amazon's personal Fire TV Stick Lite, which retails for simply $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99 – although you may be sacrificing quantity controls on the voice distant, in addition to Atmos compatability.
You're not an Amazon Prime subscriber
Amazon fairly overtly tries to promote its personal content material to you the place it could, and if you happen to're not within the ecosystem it could get a bit annoying.
