Amazon Fire TV Cube

The benchmark for streaming sticks and great value

While the big upgrade for the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is support for 4K video, HDR has also been added in standard HDR10 form and also HLG, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, making this the most format-friendly video streamer. Alexa has been added, too, and proves more compelling than you might imagine.

All of that makes it worth more than the small premium over its Fire TV Stick sibling. But what’s surprising is what a star performer it is for a video streamer.

Compact design

Compared with a more traditionally shaped streamer such as the Apple TV 4K, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a far more compact design at just 10cm long. An HDMI extender in the box helps hide it away and improves wi-fi performance.

You can also hardwire the Fire TV Stick 4K to your router with the ethernet adapter. As well as being physically bigger than most sticks, the Fire TV Stick 4K also draws more power, to the extent that you should use the USB wall plug in the box rather than running the cable into one of your TV’S own sockets.

The user experience offered by the Fire TV Stick 4K is vastly superior to that of the Prime Video app built into your television. Home screens are bright and colourful advertisements for Amazon’s latest content, menus are bold, sharp and clear, and operation is quick and smooth.

For Alexa voice control, simply press the voice control button on the remote and issue commands into the integrated microphone. What makes the Fire TV Stick 4K’s voice control function so special is its combination of responsiveness, consistency of comprehension and scope.

You can issue a single voice command to turn on your TV, turn on the Fire TV Stick 4K and start playing. If you have another Alexa device, such as an Echo Dot, you can issue the command out loud – no need for the Stick’s remote.

However, Alexa is slightly hampered by a patchy general search function – iplayer, for example, isn’t included in results, and Amazon results are prioritised. In short, the function works best when you know what you’re after.

At front and centre of the app selection is Amazon Prime Video, here available in 4K with standard HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision – and Dolby Atmos sound. Netflix is here, too, also in 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision – but without HDR10+ or Dolby Atmos. As well as BBC iplayer, you also get ITV Hub, 4OD and Demand 5, while for music there is Spotify, Deezer and Tidal.

That’s key to its appeal: it includes all the streaming services you’re likely to want, and supports the most advanced video and sound formats. Support for HDR10+ is a benefit over the Apple TV 4K, which costs £130 more. The Apple TV counters with a superior selection of pay-as-you-go films in 4K HDR, via the itunes app, while Amazon allows you to rent and buy new releases not included with Prime, but few are in 4K or HDR.

The Grand Tour shows off Amazon’s production qualities at their highest, and looks excellent when played through the Fire TV Stick 4K. This is a sharp and detailed image, terrifically bright and vibrant, too.

There’s a bit of judder to tricky motion and some of the brightest detail is missing, but this is an impressive picture. Informer on BBC iplayer proves the Fire TV Stick 4K is a dab hand when it comes to standard 1080p, too. It’s clear and detailed, with subtle, balanced colours. There’s nothing here to complain about, particularly given the price.

Room-filling sound

Dolby Atmos is practically unheard of at this end of the market, so we make a beeline for Amazon’s Jack Ryan and are delighted to discover that it offers room-filling sound with excellent placement of effects and real drama.

The Fire TV Stick 4K sounds good with standard 5.1 and stereo, too. This is a clear, detailed and spacious sound regardless of the format, and will reward those using a decent sound solution rather than their telly’s in-built speakers.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has all the apps you need, supports all current HDR formats and throws in Dolby Atmos with an all-round quality performance and excellent user-friendliness. The Apple TV 4K still has the edge in terms of picture quality, but the fact that you would have to spend a whole lot more money to better the Fire TV Stick 4K proves just what a bargain it is.