It's also worth noting that you won't get the full impact of HDR without 4K resolution either, given there are fewer pixels on show. You get the basic HDR10 format here, as well as the dynamic HDR delights of HDR10+ (which uses metadata to calibrate picture settings shot-by-shot) though not its Dolby Vision competitor.
There are a few notable upgrades over the previous HD Fire TV Stick model, though, even though it launched pretty recently (in 2019).įor one, there's the introduction of HDR (high dynamic range), meaning you'll get increased color and contrast in your HD images, with more nuanced tones and a larger spectrum of light and dark shades.
So, what's new with the 2020 model of the Amazon Fire TV Stick? This version is still a Full HD streamer, and still comes with the same Alexa Voice Remote of its predecessor – a clicker with playback, power, volume and voice command inputs that also ships with the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Cube, and can be used to control connected AV receivers and soundbars. The Fire TV Stick (2020) remote packs in volume controls below the other buttons (Image credit: TechRadar) Features and performance The Fire TV Stick (2020) also adds in volume controls for increasing / decreasing audio levels, as well as a mute button for switching off the sound entirely. They all support voice functionality and some basic inputs such as return, home, menu, power, and navigation (with a d-pad disguised as an omni-directional circle). The main difference here is not in the streamer, though, so much as the remote.Įvery Fire TV device ships with some version of the Alexa voice remote. There is a subtle Amazon logo, but it's not obtrusive, and the sleek black design and curved remote give it all a premium feel, despite the low price. It's essentially the same design as the Fire TV Stick Lite or Fire TV Stick 4K, so if you're juggling a couple – as we were during our review – it may be hard to tell the difference. The streaming stick itself is pretty nondescript: a short black slab, the size of a small candy bar, which plugs into a TV via HDMI 2.0, and measures 86 x 30 x 13mm. You'll also get two Amazon Basics AAA batteries for the Alexa voice remote, and a charger to plug the streamer into (via micro USB). There's the Fire TV Stick (2020) streamer itself, as well as a short (but pliable) extension cable, which is useful for helping the stick fit in narrow spaces behind a television. When you open the box, you'll find a neatly packaged assortment of accessories. (Image credit: TechRadar) Fire TV Stick (2020) design You can buy it for $39.99 or £39.99 in the US and UK respectively – the same price as the previous Fire TV Stick – or AU$79 in Australia, now that this model has come to the region. The Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) is available now.