What Is Amazon’s Fire TV Stick? The Latest in Streaming

Amazon has set about building its local presence in the increasingly competitive media streamer market, introducing two new devices in the form of its Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Both devices provide plug-and-play streaming and are paired with a multifunctional Alexa Voice Remote. In addition, Amazon has notably focused on delivering a local content experience, along with the standard bevy of international streaming services.

While VodafoneTV is on its way out, a number of new devices have arrived in the local market of late. The new Amazon devices will be competing with the likes of Google’s latest offering, the Chromecast with Google TV, Xiaomi’s Mi TV Stick and the SmartVU SV11. Meanwhile, Sky has also recently taken the wraps off two new products, the Sky Pod and Sky Box.

In the following guide, we’ll take a look at the range of streaming services offered by the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K Max and will run through the key specs of each device. In addition to this, we’ll see how some of the alternatives stack up.

Fire TV: Local content and a personalised user experience

Hooking up a shiny new-release media streamer to your TV is all well and good, however, it will ultimately come down to the content on offer and general viewing experience. Being able to access a wide range of streaming services via the one device will be a priority for most consumers.

As is to be expected, the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K Max deliver access to major international streaming services, while Amazon has also emphasised that they are decked out to deliver a “local experience”.

These services include:

• International – Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+
• Local – TVNZ+, ThreeNow, Neon, Sky Sport Now and Spark Sport

Of course, there are a wide range of apps (streaming and otherwise) available to download via the devices (Amazon advises that Fire TV provides access to thousands of apps). You should also keep in mind any subscription costs associated with streaming services.

Meanwhile, when it comes to operating the devices, Amazon advises that they feature the latest Fire TV experience (Fire OS is based on Android), geared to provide a personalised user interface.

• Main menu – the bar has been simplified, with the ability to pin your favourite apps for quick access
• App peeks – lets you explore content from popular apps within the user interface itself
• Find – allows you to discover content by categories like TV Shows, Movies and Kids & Family
• User Profiles – delivers a personalised experience for up to six members of a household, providing individual content recommendations, viewing history, watch lists and preferred settings.

As we’ll cover below, the Alexa Voice Remote additionally enables users to draw on a range of voice commands, from browsing and launching content to controlling smart home devices.

Fire TV Stick

The Fire TV Stick supports 1080p full-HD streaming at 60fps with HDR compatibility. Sporting a compact form, it’s designed to plug discretely into a TV’s HDMI port, with a micro-USB port connecting it via cable to a power outlet.

Amazon states it simplifies the streaming experience, sporting a number of convenient TV controls, while delivering quick app starts and fast streaming.

Fire TV Stick specs:

• Processor – a 1.7GHz quad-core processor
• Storage – 8GB internal storage; 1GB memory
• Connectivity – Wi-fi 5; Bluetooth 5.0
• Audio support – Dolby Atmos
• Alexa Voice Remote – press the Alexa button to use voice commands, including searching for and launching content. It features dedicated Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Music buttons
• Smart home – ask Alexa to control lights, smart plugs and other compatible smart home devices, along with showing Live View Picture-in-Picture camera feeds without interrupting TV viewing
• Design – sporting a black finish, measures in at 86 x 30 x 13mm (including the connector) and weighs 32g. The remote also has a black finish, measuring in at 38 x 142 x 16mm and weighing 43.4g (without batteries)
• Pricing – Amazon advises that the Fire TV Stick is priced at $89 RRP*. It is available from retailers including Noel Leeming, JB Hi-Fi, PB Tech and Harvey Norman

Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max sports a number of hardware upgrades over the Fire TV Stick. A key difference is its ability to stream 4K content at up to 60fps, with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Another key difference is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max’s wi-fi 6 connectivity. Meanwhile, it also sports a compact form factor, plugging directly into a TV’s HDMI port, with the micro-USB port connecting it via cable to a power outlet.

Fire TV Stick 4K Max specs:

• Processor – a 1.8GHz quad-core processor
• Storage – 8GB internal storage; 2GB memory
• Connectivity – Wi-fi 6; Bluetooth 5.0
• Audio support – Dolby Atmos
• Alexa Voice Remote – press the Alexa button to use voice commands, including searching for and launching content. It features dedicated Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Music buttons
• Smart home – ask Alexa to control lights, smart plugs and other compatible smart home devices, along with showing Live View Picture-in-Picture camera feeds without interrupting TV viewing
• Design – sporting a black finish, measures in at 108 x 30 x 14mm (including the connector) and weighs 48.4g. The remote also has a black finish, measuring in at 38 x 142 x 16mm and weighing 43.4g (without batteries)

• Pricing – Amazon advises that the Fire TV Stick is priced at $109 RRP*. It is available from retailers including Noel Leeming, JB Hi-Fi, PB Tech and Harvey Norman

Streaming alternatives

As advised above, there are a growing number of streaming devices for consumers to choose from, depending on your household’s requirements. Of course, it will be worthwhile shopping around and weighing up your options.

Keep in mind the range of apps available, the streaming services you are likely to use (both international and local), and integration with your household’s other devices (from mobile to smart home devices).

We’ve run through a selection of streaming apps available with the below devices. Of course, it will be worthwhile confirming app availability when shopping for a new device.

Chromecast with Google TV ($110*)

The Chromecast with Google TV dongle runs Google’s new Android TV interface Google TV. It streams in up to 4K HDR at 60fps and supports Dolby Vision and HDMI pass-through of Dolby audio content, while Chromecast allows users to cast from a mobile device to their TV.

Its remote features a dedicated Google Assistant button, enabling a range of voice commands, and also sports dedicated YouTube and Netflix buttons.

The Chromecast with Google TV supports the Freeview, TVNZ+ and ThreeNow apps, and users can also cast streaming services such as Spark Sport and Sky Sport Now from a mobile device.

As advised by Google, the Chromecast with Google TV is available for $110* from retailers Noel Leeming, The Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and PB Tech.

SmartVU SV11 (149.01*)

The SmartVU SV11 plug-and-play dongle runs Android TV. It streams in up to 4K Ultra HD and HDR, with built-in Chromecast enabling casting from a mobile device to your TV.

Its remote features a Google Assistant button, enabling voice commands, and also sports dedicated YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and Freeview buttons.

As well as Freeview, support is also provided for the streaming apps from TVNZ, Sky Sport Now, Neon and ThreeNow.

The DishTV website lists the SV11 as being priced at $149.01*.

Mi TV Stick ($89*)

Xiaomi’s plug-and-play Mi TV Stick runs Android TV. It streams in up to 1080p at 60 fps, and supports both DTS and Dolby multichannel HD audio decoding, with built-in Chromecast allowing you to cast from your mobile device to your TV.

Its remote features a Google Assistant button, enabling voice controls, and is also equipped with dedicated Netflix and Prime Video buttons.

From YouTube, to Disney+ and others, users can download streaming and other apps via Google Play.

The Xiaomi website lists the Mi TV Stick as being priced at $89*.

Apple TV 4K (from $279*)

Apple recently introduced its new Apple TV 4K (which like its predecessor sports a box form factor), with it supporting 4K and HDR10+ streaming, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

It comes with a Siri Remote, enabling voice control, and is equipped with Wi-Fi 6 (with a choice of two models: Wi-Fi with 64 GB storage, or Wi-Fi + Ethernet with 128 GB storage).

Running Apple’s tvOS, it supports apps including Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Sky Sports Now, and, of course, Apple TV+.

The Apple website lists the Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi as priced at $279 and the Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet as priced at $319*.

Sky Pod (from $100*)

Sky’s recently unveiled Sky Pod dongle is a plug-and-play streaming device based on Android TV. It is 4K HDR-ready, and its built-in Chromecast allows users to cast from a mobile device to their TV.

Its remote features a dedicated Google Assistant button, enabling voice commands, and is also decked out with a dedicated Netflix button.

The Sky Pod comes with Netflix, TVNZ+, ThreeNow, Disney+, Neon and Prime Video preloaded, with users able to download other streaming apps from Google Play.

Sky advises that the Sky Pod will initially be available to VodafoneTV customers for a one-off, non-refundable $100 fee to watch Sky TV services (as long as they subscribe to the base Sky TV package Sky Starter, priced at $25.99 per month).

→Related article: Sky Pod and Sky Box: Sky’s New Devices

*Further information on pricing can be found at individual retailer websites. This should be used as a starter guide and not considered an actual quote.

Compare broadband providers for free with Canstar!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar author Martin Kovacs. Martin is a freelance writer with experience covering the business, consumer technology and utilities sectors. Martin has written about a wide range of topics across both print and digital publications, including the manner in which industry continues to adapt and evolve amid the rollout of new technologies.