Amazon has announced an all-new Fire TV Stick HD, which is set to replace the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite as its new entry-level streaming device.
The main advantage of any streaming stick is that it transforms a regular TV into a smart TV, and with Amazon that means you’ll get the Fire TV experience with apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Max and Paramount. Of course, you’ll need to pay for them.
As an entry-level device, it does not support the same kind of high-end visuals and audio standards of the Fire TV Stick 4K or the Fire TV Stick Max, but in any case it looks worthwhile for those who don’t have a super glitzy TV set to support such wizardry.
According to the company, the new Fire TV Stick HD will deliver the classic Amazon streaming experience, with content available in 1080p HD with support for various high dynamic range formats, including HDR10+, HDR10, HDR and HLG, but no Dolby Vision (or Dolby Atmos). But it does support “Dolby-encoded audio”, meaning a somewhat lesser-version of Dolby’s atmospheric surround sound experience.
Perhaps the best thing about the new device is the Alexa Voice remote control that comes with it, enabling a bog standard TV to be controlled with your natural voice. Alexa will be able to raise the volume, tone it down, and control various aspects of the Fire TV experience simply by telling it what to do. For instance, you can just tell it to open Netflix and start playing Money Heist. As a nice bonus, Amazon throws in a couple of batteries to power the remote out of the box.
In terms of specifications, Amazon said the new stick comes with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth LE and Bluetooth 5.0 support, enabling easy connectivity. It’s powered by a 1.7Ghz quad-core processor that’s equipped with 1GB of RAM, and there’s 8GB of storage space for apps.
The new Fire TV Stick HD retains the look and feel of the streaming sticks it replaces, and just like those models, it works the same way too, slotting into the back of your TV in one of its HDMI ports. Although it’s out of sight and out of mind, it does need its own power source, which is delivered via a micro USB.
Besides the streaming apps, you might be intrigued to know that the Fire TV Stick HD also provides access to video game streaming via Amazon Luna, though don’t expect the most slick graphics performance if you’re using a lower-end TV. You’ll need to buy a compatible controller too.
Amazon said the Fire TV Stick HD is available to buy on Amazon right now, priced at £39.99 in the U.K. and a bit cheaper at just $34.99 in the U.S. The older Fire TV Stick Lite and Fire TV Stick devices are both still on sale, though only while stocks last.
