Amazon launches new Fire TV Stick to replace two current options

Amazon/ZDNET

It appears to be streaming device season, as Amazon joins Google and Roku in launching a new product. Amazon has unceremoniously introduced the Fire TV Stick HD to simplify its offering of Fire TV streaming devices, replacing both the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite. 

Though Amazon didn't formally announce it, the new Fire TV Stick HD is available for purchase as a new device for $35. It delivers much of the same experience you'd expect from a Fire TV device, which plugs into your TV as a dongle and gives it smart capabilities. 

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Like the previous Lite and base models, the new Fire TV Stick HD supports 1080p resolution. Though this may not seem enough in the age of 4K televisions, it's a perfect way to upgrade smaller or older TVs with an HD resolution that may not feature smart capabilities.

Unlike the previous Lite version, the new Fire TV Stick HD features TV and voice control. The remote supports voice control via Alexa and buttons to control your TV's power and volume. 

But can you spot the difference? Though the Fire TV Stick HD seems quite similar to the previous Fire TV Stick, its Alexa Voice Remote looks slightly different. Compared to the existing Alexa Voice Remote offered in the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max, the new Fire Stick's remote control has rounder edges and a slimmer look. 

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"The Fire TV Stick family's new entry-level stick now features an Alexa Voice Remote, which means customers can use one remote to seamlessly control their entire TV experience across soundbars and receivers," an Amazon representative told ZDNET. "The Fire TV Stick HD delivers the full power and intelligence of the Fire TV experience and Alexa -- plus over 1.5 million movies and TV episodes. Now, with Fire TV Stick HD, customers will have a simpler choice when selecting a compact HD streaming device that neatly tucks away behind the TV."

This launch is a good way for Amazon to smooth its lineup of Fire TV streaming devices, combining two entry-level streaming sticks into one. Now, Amazon offers four streaming devices instead of five: the new Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Fire TV Cube.