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In a nutshell: Amazon has launched a new and improved version of its Fire TV Stick 4K featuring a slimmer form factor and speedier performance. The goal, Amazon says, is to get customers to content faster than ever – or at least, faster than competing devices.
The new Fire TV Stick 4K is powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz processor alongside 8GB of internal storage. The media streamer supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and Bluetooth Low Energy wireless technologies, as well as HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9, and AV1 video content formats. Output resolution support includes 2160p, 1080p, and 720p – all at up to 60 frames per second.
Amazon's latest runs the Vega operating system, and ships with Alexa+ and the newest Fire TV experience out of the box. The new streaming stick leverages Direct Power, which draws power from a TV's USB port to cut down on cable clutter for a cleaner install. It's also faster than ever. According to Amazon, it can get viewers to content 20-40% faster than a similarly priced stick from a leading brand (likely Roku). In testing, it also bested built-in experiences from three 4K smart TVs.
The new streaming stick also comes with a refreshed Fire TV remote with more tactile controls. It features an asymmetric shape – a flat top with a curved, weighted bottom – that makes it easier to determine orientation without looking. Other oft-used buttons feature unique surfaces and shapes, again – to make it easier to determine what buttons you are pushing through sheer muscle memory. There's even a customizable button that can be mapped to launch your favorite app or toggle frequently used features like closed captioning or the screen magnifier.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K is available now in several major markets including the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom, priced at $59.99, and is due out in several additional markets by the end of October. Better yet, those in the US will be able to grab it for just $29.99 during the Prime Big Deal Days sales event early next month.
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