Amazon has revealed its latest offerings in the Fire TV Stick lineup at a recent product event. The new devices consist of the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K, replacing the 2018 model, and the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max, succeeding the 2021 model. Both devices come with performance enhancements and improved WiFi capabilities compared to their predecessors, though some enhancements are exclusive to the Max version.
2023 2nd-Gen Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max Overview Features and Comparison
The 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K is equipped with a new MediaTek MT8696D quad-core 1.7GHz CPU and an IMG PowerVR GE9215 650MHz GPU, similar to the SoC found in the existing Fire TV Stick 4K Max. These hardware upgrades result in nearly 30% better performance than the outgoing Fire TV Stick 4K. Additionally, it boasts 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM and upgraded 802.11ax WiFi 6, which is more advanced than the old model’s 802.11ac WiFi 5.
However, the storage capacity remains at 8GB, which may disappoint users as storage shortages have been a common issue for Fire TV users. The new Fire TV Stick 4K retains the same video capabilities as the previous model, supporting 4K at 60fps video playback and various top HDR formats. One notable addition is support for AV1 video decoding, which was absent in the previous model.
Turning to the new 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max, it packs a MediaTek MT8696T quad-core 2GHz CPU, a performance improvement over the already robust MediaTek MT8696 quad-core 1.8GHz CPU in the previous Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The Max version also features an IMG PowerVR GE9215 850 MHz GPU and a WiFi upgrade from WiFi 6 to WiFi 6E. Memory remains the same at 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM.
Fortunately, Amazon addresses the storage limitation in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max by doubling the internal storage to 16GB, aligning it with the 3rd-gen Fire TV Cube, making them the only Fire TV models with more than 8GB of storage. Like the Fire TV Stick 4K, the 4K Max supports top 4K video formats and HDR versions.
Both Fire TV Sticks come with Fire OS 8, based on Android 11, marking the first time this operating system is available on Fire TV models. In contrast, the outgoing Fire TV Stick 4K runs Fire OS 6 based on Android 7.1, and the previous Fire TV Stick 4K Max runs Fire OS 7 based on Android 9.
Notably, Amazon has chosen to bundle the larger “enhanced” Fire TV Alexa remote with the 4K Max, while the Fire Stick 4K comes with the standard Fire TV Alexa remote. This enhanced remote offers added functionality with channel up/down buttons, a settings button, and a recent button for quick access to recently opened apps and content.
An exclusive feature of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the Fire TV Ambient Experience, previously available only on Amazon’s Omni QLED Series Fire TVs. This feature transforms your TV into an Echo Show-like device, displaying art, photos, and information widgets such as news, weather, notes, and more. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the first stand-alone Fire TV model to feature this experience, previously exclusive to Fire TV Smart TVs.
2023 Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max
You can find the full comparison chart of all the latest Fire TV Stick & Cube 4K models from 2018-2023 on AFTVnews. Below is just a comparison of the latest 2023 models.
Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd-Gen |
Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd-Gen |
|
List Price | $49.99 | $59.99 |
Release | Sept 27, 2023 | Sept 27, 2023 |
CPU Model | MediaTek MT8696D |
MediaTek MT8696T |
CPU Cores | 4-core | 4-core |
CPU Speed | 1.7GHz (4x) | 2.0GHz (4x) |
GPU | IMG PowerVR GE9215 |
IMG PowerVR GE9215 |
GPU Speed | 650 MHz | 850 MHz |
RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax |
Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax |
Ethernet | 10/100 External (Sold Separately) |
10/100 External (Sold Separately) |
Internal Storage | 8 GB | 16 GB |
External Storage | Unknown | Unknown |
Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) |
Fire OS 8 (Android 11) |
Architecture | 32-bit | 32-bit |
Video Resolution | 4K @ 60fps | 4K @ 60fps |
HDR Types | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision |
Video Decoding | H.265 (HEVC), H.264 (AVC), VP9, VP8, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 AV1 |
H.265 (HEVC), H.264 (AVC), VP9, VP8, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 AV1 |
Audio Decoding | Stereo, PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby MAT, AC4 (Atmos) |
Stereo, PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby MAT, AC4 (Atmos) |
USB | USB 2.0 (Micro) |
USB 2.0 (Micro) |
Extras | HDMI Extender | HDMI Extender, Fire TV Ambient Experience |
Remote | Standard Alexa Voice Remote |
Enhanced Alexa Voice Remote |
Basic Remote Buttons | Voice, D-Pad, Select, Home, Back, Menu, Play/Pause, RWD, FFWD | Voice, D-Pad, Select, Home, Back, Menu, Play/Pause, RWD, FFWD |
Device Control Buttons | Power, Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute |
Power, Volume Up, Volume Down, Mute |
Extra Remote Buttons | Channel Guide, App Shortcut (4) |
Channel Guide, App Shortcut (4), Settings, Recents, Channel Up, Channel Down |
Price and availability
The 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K is priced at $49.99, matching the outgoing model’s price, while the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max is priced at $59.99, representing a $5 increase from the previous model. Both devices are available for pre-order and will be released on September 27th. Additionally, purchasing either device includes a complimentary 6-month subscription to MGM+.
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