Amazon Fire TV Stick 2020 test: stuck with TV control in...

TV-Streaming is becoming more popular, with new ones Services and Options Every day and to keep up with most of the major device manufacturers who have released new 2020 products, you can plug in any TV. Roku has one new streambar and an ultraGoogle has the Chromecast with Google TV and Amazon has that cheapest new streamers in the group: the $ 30 Fire Stick TV Lite and an update to the $ 40 Fire TV Stick. I Read the Fire Stick TV Lite in detail hereFor this review, I’ll focus on the more expensive Fire TV Stick.

Compared to his 2019 Fire TV Stick predecessorAccording to Amazon, the latest Fire TV is 50 percent faster and 50 percent more efficient. I am not testing the power consumption, but I can report that it is fast enough. As in last year’s version, the stick’s remote control has volume, mute, and power buttons that allow you to control these functions on your TV and possibly do without your remote control. These remote control buttons are the only real difference between the $ 30 Stick Lite and the $ 40 Stick. So you basically pay $ 10 for the TV control.

With the existence of the cheaper Lite and the more capable Fire TV Stick 4KThe $ 40 stick (2020) is the middle kid, and both of the others are better choices overall. Yes, those TV controls are good, and the Fire Stick offers a lot for your $ 40, including integration with existing Echo devices, a good selection of apps (though no HBO max or Pfau) and a smooth surface. But Fire TV is still pushing its Prime Video store into search results, and the home screen can be a little too crowded for people who know what to watch. For another $ 10, the Fire Stick TV offers 4K Roku Streaming Stick Plus and Chromecast with Google TV All of them have better features and value for money, and for $ 10 less, the Lite is an unbeatable deal.

What is it?

Fire TV Sticks are USB stick-sized devices that plug into an available HDMI port on your TV. They stream audio and video content from dozens of different apps over your Wi-Fi connection. While anyone can use any of these devices, as an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can watch additional programs.

The remote itself has hardly changed physically since the first Fire TV was launched, and it lacks the premium feel of the Roku remote or the new remote from Google. The new Fire Stick remote lets you control the volume on your TV even though it lacks the shortcuts to Netflix or other frequently used services. Setting up the remote with a TV takes about 30 seconds and can even control a receiver (I’ve used it with a Sony TV and an Onkyo receiver without any problems).

Aside from the Fire TV Lite, these are the first devices to offer HDR, but not 4K resolutionand it begs the question of what type of television it was designed for. There are hundreds of 4K HDR TVs out there, but I tried looking for 1080p TVs that are HDR capable on the Best Buy website and only found four. For most people with 4K HDR TVs, we recommend a streamer that can actually 4K rather than a 1080p streamer like the Stick.

The stick is supplied with a power supply unit. Amazon strongly recommends using this. While you could Use the USB ports on your TV to power the device. This means that the device can behave abnormally. For example, Dolby Atmos Content would not work at all if the device was connected to a TV USB port, even though the device said it was outputting “Dolby Atmos” – the sound was output as 5.1.

Lots of streaming apps (but no Peacock or HBO Max)

As with other streaming devices, the number of services supported by Amazon Fire TV is constantly improving. It can access almost all major streaming apps including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Sling TV, Crackle, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, and many, many more. With so many services supported, it’s almost easier to list the services that the adapter doesn’t have, namely NBC’s Peacock and HBO Max (although there is a vanilla HBO app). The Roku and Chromecast with Google TV Platforms both feature Peacock and the latter also includes HBO Max.

How to use it

With just a few tiny disconnect functions – and the sticks even have the same S3L46N model number – the Fire TV and Fire TV Lite behaved almost identically in my tests. Both offer a healthy range of features, tightly integrated voice commands, and relatively quick response times.

Using the Fire TV Stick remote is easy, and using the microphone button to search Alexa was more responsive and relevant than using the Echo as an intermediary. In contrast, Roku may not have the same robust voice capabilities, but text searches using the Roku remote will generally target free or included programs rather than “Buy Now” links.

When it comes to user interfaces, there are two different schools of thought: app-centric menus like those on Roku and Apple TV just show you a grid of apps, so you can’t search for something to watch without clicking through to each app . Amazon Fire TV and Google TV take a more content-centric approach, with many titles showing up on the home page itself.

If you’re looking to search for content, Fire TV might be more engaging. If you already know what you want or at least which app you want to watch, a Roku is probably a better choice, also because Amazon’s search results are heavily skewed towards its own (often User-Pays-Extra) content.

Amazon has promised an interface update for 2020 that will be number one for both Lite and 2020 Fire TV. Amazon has a redesigned main menu and improved browsing, as well as a new section called Alexa Explore with new recipes, inventory reports, and the like.

The picture and sound quality was very similar between the Lite and the Fire Stick, and the picture quality was as good as I expected. On paper, there’s a difference in Atmos audio support: the stick offers Dolby Atmos audio decoding while the Lite has Dolby Atmos pass-through. The practical difference between them is negligible, however, as either an Atmos-enabled receiver or soundbar is required to hear Atmos audio. It doesn’t matter whether the stick or the receiver decodes.

Also, in my tests, I’ve found that many services – including Prime Video and Disney Plus – require a 4K TV for Atmos to work anyway. In short, I don’t think this feature difference is a big deal, as most people with decent Atmos setups should be using a true 4K streamer (again).

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a new $ 30 or $ 40 streamer in the market, you’ll have to choose between Fire TV’s content-first approach and Roku’s app-first approach. If you’re familiar with Roku’s simple menu design, the number of tiles and options on the Fire TV Stick’s homepage can be overwhelming.

If you already have a Fire Stick there is absolutely no reason for you to buy the 2020 version. Dolby Atmos and HDR are weird add-ons for 1080p devices, and if Amazon wanted to offer something unique for the price, it should include full 4K support. If you have a decent 4K TV, consider getting a real 4K streamer – that’s only another $ 10. And if you want to save money, go for the LIte.