Amazon - Fire TV Stick 4K

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Review of:	Amazon - Fire TV Stick 4K
Reviewed by:	The examinator
Product rating:	5 out of 5
Packaging rating:	3 out of 5
Summary:	Fast, easy to use, and smooth presentation of content.

Description:

From the seller:

• The most powerful 4K streaming media stick.
  
• Watch favorites from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, HBO, and more. Stream for free with Pluto, IMDB TV, and more.
• Launch and control content with the Alexa Voice Remote.
• Enjoy brilliant picture with access to 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.
• Choose from 500,000 movies and TV episodes.
• More storage for apps and games than any other streaming media stick.
• Experience tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills.
• Alexa on Fire TV provides the most comprehensive voice experience of any streaming media player.
• Amazon Prime members get unlimited access to thousands of movies and TV episodes.

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For details as to how this item received the given rating, see below:

Aside from a Roku, the Fire TV stick nailed one of the best user experiences. In going through various streaming devices, from Apple TV, other brands that have gone to the way side, to using a Chromecast, the Fire brand got it right. Streaming your favorite app for content, or even playing a game, it's just easy.

In recently upgrading from an older stick, this one works great with current AC network types (even though it is compatible with previous versions from N even back to B or A, if A is even around anymore). In testing, there is yet to be a moment where there is lag or content jolts due to buffering issues.

The built in Alexa module/button is convenient and works really smoothly. The IR device control is an extra bonus that I was not even expecting. On the older TV we can now control the power and audio without having to use extra controllers.

There was a slight challenge in getting content from Google's play store, such as our favorite show Friends leaving Netflix. In purchasing the entire series on sale from the play store (sorry, the whole series is no longer on sale), we discovered that there was no way in getting the content to play on Amazon. In chatting with Google's support team, there was no way in getting this content to appear. However, turns out there is! If you use the YouTube app on your Fire stick, and then tie it to you Google account, you now have access to your content!

Movies anywhere? Yes, but not TV show's everywhere! It's time for all of these providers to have one general platform/license that talks to everything. In the end, we the consumers feel the pain of going back and forth between different platforms, when we should be on one. The same applies to other digital content, one license for many systems or one license for one system.

Apologies for the extra dialog, but it's just a tech dream that maybe will come true one day.

One downside was the packaging. Why all the plastic? There was a plastic bag for my plastic controller that also had plastic all around it. It is appreciated that it was not scratched in anyway, however, unnecessary use when I'm sure Amazon can come up with better packaging.

Pros:

• Fast
• Huge environment of apps/games/music.
• Great integration with existing Amazon eco system (and other platforms, even if via work arounds for some).
• Wireless AC support (Dual-Band and backwards compatible with older wireless technologies).
• IR Device Control to control more with less.
• Great output 4K/up to 2016p/up to 60 fps.
• Alexa microphone.
• Volume keys.

Cons:

• Packaging can use less plastic.

*Note, there are two ratings applied to the reviewed item. "Product rating" and "Packaging rating". The actual product will not be impacted by the packaging as these are two separate ratings.

In regards to packaging, the following are contributing factors against the "Packaging rating":

• In an effort to globally reduce and promote less usage of plastic, any usage of plastic or non-environmentally safe packaging/products/material will be marked negatively.
• Single use items that do not biodegrade or cannot be easily recycled (see point above on plastics).
• The packaging rating is being introduced to help drive a shift to more sustainable and environmentally friendly resources.
  

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For additional details, see below:

References:	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079QHML21/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
Seller information:	https://www.amazon.com
Product warranty:	1-year limited warranty and service.
Review ID:	R00065