Amazon's foray into the world of media streaming devices has been generally well received. The Fire TV's accessible price along with Amazon's ever-growing selection of content has made it a very popular choice among cord cutters.
It seems that new iterations of Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and a number of other peripherals and devices are released every year. Trying to follow the likes of Google is no easy task.
If you're looking for a Fire TV Stick but don't know where to start, here's a breakdown of the most recent versions on the market.
A Brief History of Fire TV
The very first Fire TV was released in 2014. Apple TV and Roku were starting to see a lot of early cord cutter success and Amazon felt they had to join the party.
Like its competitors, the Fire TV was a machine with relatively modest internals. It wasn't meant to compete with game consoles, but it had gaming capabilities and a controller accessory.
The popularity of Fire TV has grown rapidly. It was mainly fueled by the growing adoption of Amazon's Prime Video service. Amazon didn't lag behind, releasing the second-generation Fire TV the following year. They improved just about everything that could be improved, including the processor and the chipset. More importantly, the new Fire TV supported 4K viewing.
Newest Fire TV Stick in 2022
Over the years, Amazon has expanded its Fire TV lineup. The most popular option is, of course, the Fire Stick, but even this model has a few different iterations. There is also a cube. In this section, we will review the most recent models of the Fire TV Stick in 2022.
Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max
The newest and most feature-rich Firestick is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, released on October 7, 2022. This model succeeds the Fire TV Stick 4K model, offering 40% more power, faster application launch with a 1,8 GHz processor versus 1,7 GHz, the 750MHz versus 650MHz GPU, 2 GB of RAM versus 1,5 GB, Wi-Fi 6 support for smoother streaming if you have a Wi-Fi 6 compatible router, and faster graphics rendering for your favorite Amazon App Store games. As for storage, it includes the same 8 GB as the previous model.
The Fire TV 4k Max remote is the same as the 4K model, and all graphical navigation is the same since it uses the same Fire OS version. If you upgrade, you won't see any difference in the UI except for faster launch and app switching.
Just like its predecessor, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max remote comes with a power button and volume controls for your TV, as well as four app buttons and, of course, it's integrated with Alexa Voice.
The Alexa Voice feature allows users to quickly search for content by tapping the blue Alexa icon at the top of the remote.
Of course, this latest generation is the 4K model with Dolby Atmos, 1080p and 4k HD audio quality.
The price of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max device is only $54,99 and supports most apps and streaming services. Currently, the older 4K model is only $34,99 on Amazon, but its original price was $49,99, making the Max version just $5 more for all the new upgrades.
What is the latest Fire TV Cube?
The Fire TV Cube is similar to the Fire Stick only because it is a streaming device. Other than that, the 2nd Gen Cube is the latest version, released in September 2022.
If you came across this device while browsing Amazon, you must have noticed that the device and the price are much bigger than all other Fire TV devices. It's because it's not just a streaming device. It is also a Alexa device and command center for your entertainment devices.
From your TV to your soundbar, the 2nd generation of the Fire Cube adds Alexa functionality to many other devices. For example, if you're still using a cable box, the Fire Cube will let you control the channels you watch and the volume with Alexa Voice.
The Fire TV Cube also supports 4K streaming, has Dolby Atmos Audio functionality, and packs 16GB of storage instead of other Fire TV devices that are 8GB or less. Of course, you also get full Ethernet support. You can order the Fire TV Cube from Amazon for $119,99, unless you catch it on Prime Day or during holiday sale events.
In conclusion, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the latest version of any Fire TV device except actual TVs. On the other hand, the latest Fire TV Cube (2022, 2nd Gen) does more and offers more (larger storage, control other devices, etc.), except the 4K Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and improves browsing speed. This model has also increased performance with its higher CPU and GPU speeds, as well as more RAM, making the small cost difference worth every penny!
