Streaming Services.
Premium:
Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, HBO Go, HBO Now, MLB.TV Premium, WWE Network, UFC, Showtime, Sling Television, Disney Movies Anywhere, Gamefly Streaming, Playstation Vue
Other:
YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, Watch Disney Channel, Watch Disney Junior, Watch Disney XD, Watch ESPN, Crackle, Vimeo, Plex, Slingplayer, Showtime Anytime, TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, RealPlayer Cloud, Rdio, and more
Description. Like the first generation, Amazon's Fire TV (2nd Gen) has a small, square black enclosure and is among the tiniest (about 4.5 inches across each side and less than an inch high) of the players we've tested. Beyond its diminutive size the box is fairly nondescript, with the Amazon logo embossed on the top of the unit. The rear panel contains a power-cord receptacle, one HDMI input, an Ethernet jack, and - while it lacks the optical audio output the first generation had - its USB port is now supported (though it can only be used with third party apps) and it now has a microSD card slot for expanding it's built in memory. The Fire TV comes with a relatively simple remote that operates via Bluetooth rather than infrared (IR). It has a circular navigation control, a built in mic, and a dedicated button to go to the voice search.
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up. While there was labeling for all the connections, it lacked contrast, making it a bit more difficult to connect the HDMI and other cables. There is an onscreen setup guide the first time you power up the player that syncs the Bluetooth remote and then automatically scans for available WiFi networks, but it doesn't support WPS connections that let you pair the device without entering a password. Since you are buying it right from Amazon, if you have a Prime account, your account information and any content stored in the Amazon Cloud Drive or Amazon Music services will be automatically loaded onto the player. At the end of the setup, it even has a tutorial video that shows you how to use the more advanced features, including the voice search. We found updating the player's firmware was easy thanks to automatic prompts.
Ease of use. For everyday use the box is generally easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen uses a list on the left side to go through the main categories (home, movies, TV, apps, etc.) and graphic tiles divided into sub-sections (most popular, recent, new releases, etc.) on the right. All of the movie and TV content displayed on the home screen is from Amazon Instant Video and will load almost instantly. However, you cannot manually organize your apps which can make it harder to use if a favorite app is not at the beginning of the default layout. Though, if you use it often it will stay in the "Recent" section of the home screen. It also has a very responsive voice search function that will search a few of the video streaming services and your Amazon Music account for content. The voice search now also uses Alexa, Amazon's answer to Apple's Siri, to add to shopping and to-do lists, find out the current weather and news, and other information. Thanks to its quad-core processor, we found this player's response to be noticeably faster than most other players, which made navigating the menus and content more pleasing. It also loads apps faster than other players.
Remote control. The provided remote is very simple, with few buttons. The buttons' size and labeling is good, with high enough contrast that they can still be seen in a room with low light conditions. However, some buttons use non-standard icons, so it may take a while to get used to their functions. The remote uses a Bluetooth connection so it doesn't require line of sight to control the box. It also has a built in mic and a dedicated button to easily bring you to the voice search. You can download an iOS, Android, or Fire OS app that lets you use a phone or tablet to control the player, use the device's mic for voice searches, and use the device's QWERTY keyboard to enter text, making it easier to enter passwords.
Picture quality. This player supports 2160p (UHD) output. In general we found the streaming picture quality for both HD and UHD to be very good. HD content is better than standard DVDs but not quite as sharp or detailed as from a Blu-ray disc, and UHD content matches what we see with streaming content on the best UHD Smart TVs. However, you will need an UHD TV in order to stream UHD content and the quality of the video that you'll get is largely dependent on the speed of your wired or wireless network. (We tested all the players using a wired Ethernet connection.)
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio via its HDMI output.
Connections. It has a very good number of connections, including one HDMI output, and an Ethernet port. It supports the latest WiFi standard (802.11ac), which supports dual-band 5GHz networks. While the USB will work with third party apps, there is no built-in support for it or DLNA, so you cannot play music, photos, or videos directly thought the player. In order to play your personal photos and videos they need to be loaded to your Amazon Cloud Drive through a computer or mobile device, and your music needs to be loaded to your Amazon Music account. It supports "casting," which allows you to load content from YouTube and Netflix onto the player and control the video from the app on your mobile device. It also supports Miracast, so you can mirror the screen of any Android, Fire OS, or Windows device on to your TV via the player.
Miscellaneous. It supports 2160p or Ultra HD resolution output and will play UHD content from several streaming services including Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon, but will not play any personal UHD photo and video files. You also need to have an Ultra HD TV to be able to view the 2160p output. While this box does not have a traditional standby mode, it does have a sleep mode that will reduce the power consumption after a certain amount of time. Amazon also has access to GameFly game streaming service and its own gaming studio that is developing more complex, console-like games that can be played on the Fire TV, though they will require using the optional game controller ($50). This player also has one of the most advanced parental controls seen, called FreeTime. It allows you to set up a different profile for each child ($2.99 for one profile and $6.99 for up to four profiles with a Prime membership) in which you can select what apps and videos can be accessed, set a viewing length, a bed time, and a wake time for both weekdays and weekends. Finally, in addition to the remote app, you can use a Kindle Fire HDX to "cast" content from Amazon Instant Video onto the player, and will provide you with X-ray information. X-ray displays additional information from the IMDb database - character names, actor information, and other trivia - on your mobile device. So, for instance, as a character enters a scene, the actor's picture will appear on the device's screen, along with the character's and actor's names, and tapping on the actor's picture will bring up his or her bio.
Firmware Version. All players are evaluated using the latest firmware version available at the time of testing.
Firmware version for the Amazon Fire TV (2nd Gen) is: 5.0.3.1 (534011720)
About Firmware Version. Our test results are valid for the version of firmware indicated above. If your player's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the players’s firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your player via a wired or wireless network, USB port, or memory card, depending on your player’s capability. You can check your player’s firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer’s website if further guidance is needed.
