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Amazon’s streaming stick is nearing its final form. Find out if there’s anything missing in our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Reviewed: Bells, Whistles and More
Manufacturers use a simple trick to describe something as the best or most powerful: They add “Max” to the name. Think of the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the streaming service HBO Max. Now Amazon is bringing its streaming devices to the “Max”. Its new Fire TV Stick 4K Max bills itself as the company’s most powerful streaming device to date. Find out in our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Review whether the claims are true.
What You Need to Know About the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is an Amazon media streaming device that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port. and it only costs $ 5 more. For that little extra, you get some notable improvements. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the only streaming device from Amazon that currently supports WiFi 6. It also matches the Fire TV Cube with 2 GB of RAM and is equipped with a new processor of four cores at 1.8 GHz. So you can stream quickly and not get bogged down navigating the menus.
Amazon’s premium streaming device is compatible with all major video streaming services and music services such as Spotify. It also has support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, and you can also take advantage of HDR and 4K Ultra HD quality, always having a decent TV.
Amazon has introduced a new voice remote control with the Fire TV Stick 4K and it is back for the next generation. At the top, you’ll find a blue Alexa button for voice commands, as well as a number of hotkeys at the bottom. Our remote came with Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu.
The Amazon Fire TV 4K Max wants to compete with the best sticks and dongles from Google and Roku, above all the Chromecast with Google TV and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. You can pick up the Fire TV Stick 4K Max from Amazon (obviously) and many other major retailers in the US, UK and other regions of Europe and many, many other markets.
What is good?
Using the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a breeze from the start. Everything is included: stick, remote control, a pair of AAA batteries, a power cord and even an HDMI extender for TVs with going through a series of updates before relinquishing control, and the configuration of the remote control to turn on the TV is extreme HDMI CEC support allows you to restore your downloads even if you had an older Fire TV Stick.
Even in everyday life, everything is fast. I didn’t notice any lag or stutter thanks to the improved internals. With the addition of WiFi 6, transfers start almost instantly too, although you’ll need a compatible router to experience the benefits. Even if you don’t have one, you can rest assured that the Fire Stick 4K Max connectivity suite is ready for the future.
Despite the updates, Amazon has also kept the price very competitive. It costs $ 5 more than competing Roku and Google devices, but at $ 54.99, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is half the price of the Fire TV Cube, but better for those who want the raw performance of the cube without the functions of an intelligent loudspeaker.
The Amazon Fire TV interface has also received a facelift. It feels sleek and polished, and its huge list of streaming apps is easy to navigate. As with any self-respecting device, you can grapple with any single service. Amazon’s remote hotkeys make it easier to jump into each other, but you shouldn’t have any trouble finding and downloading your favourites.
Mention the Amazon remote control, it has everything you need. It now includes 17 buttons for complete control of your TV and the pairing process couldn’t be easier. The blue Alexa button stands out more than it used to be, and voice commands are the best way to get around as long as you’ve already got your apps installed.
What’s not so good?
There is little to complain about with Amazon’s latest streaming device. It offers speed, memory, and great remote control. However, the remote itself feels a bit cluttered. Amazon has increased the number of buttons to 17, but the size and shape of the remote control haven’t changed much from previous generations. Likewise, some will find them useful, but I haven’t used hotkeys that often either. It’s a shame I can’t reassign them.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also a victim of Amazon’s love for advertising. As soon as you turn it on, you will be greeted by a huge banner ad on the home page. The UI will also show you some advertised bars and prioritize Amazon programs above all. It’s not exactly a surprise, but it could be toned down a bit.
If you’re looking to stream shows and videos from your phone to your TV, you’ll be disappointed to learn that the Fire Stick 4K Max doesn’t support Google Cast or Apple’s AirPlay 2. make phone calls to your television using Amazon’s own Prime Video app, though you won’t find that many
