Streaming Services.
Premium:
Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, HBO Max, MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, NFL Sunday Ticket, MLS, WWE Network, UFC, Tennis Channel, Showtime, Showtime anytime, Sling TV, Movies anywhere, AT&T TV, Starz, CBS All Access, YouTube TV
Other:
YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, and more
Description. This Amazon Fire TV Stick - 2020 is a small, thumb-drive sized media player. The unit contains a micro-usb power port, one HDMI input, and lacks an Ethernet jack. The Fire TV Stick comes with a relatively simple remote but also has TV controls. It has a circular navigation control, a built in mic, and a dedicated button to go to the voice search. The device only supports HD playback and does not support 4K. It also supports HDR 10.
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up. There is an onscreen setup guide the first time you power up the player that synchronizes the remote and then automatically scans for available Wi-Fi networks, and it supports 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 will be automatically loaded onto the player.
Ease of use. For everyday use the device is generally easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen uses "tabs" along the top of the screen to go through the main categories (home, movies, TV, apps, etc.) and graphic tiles divided into sub-sections (most popular, recent, new releases, etc.). All of the movie and TV content displayed on the home screen is from Prime Video and will load almost instantly. It allows manually organizing your apps, which makes it easier to use to get to a favorite app. 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. One drawback we found is that the Fire TV will always recommend making purchases from Amazon first. You cannot make purchases from other providers like FandangoNOW. If you try to purchase content through an app directly, you will be directed to go to another device to make the purchase. This makes it more difficult for you to purchase content from other sources and is not a consumer friendly approach. We found this player's response to be fast, which made navigating the menus and content easy.
Remote control. The provided remote is very simple, with few buttons. The buttons' size and labeling is good, with high enough contrast to be seen in a room with low light conditions. It also has a built in mic and a dedicated button to easily bring you to the voice search. There are power and volume buttons so you can control your TV. You can download an iOS, Android, Windows 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 resolutions up to 1080p. It also supports HDR 10. In general, we found the streaming picture quality for HD to be excellent. HD content is better than standard DVDs but not quite as sharp or detailed as from an HD Blu-ray disc. However, the quality of the video that you'll get is largely dependent on the speed of your wired or wireless network.
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio via its HDMI output.
Connections. It supports the latest Wi-Fi standard (802.11ac), which supports dual-band: 2.4Ghz and 5GHz networks. DLNA is supported allowing access to play music, photos, or videos directly through the player but will require App download to gain access to content. It supports casting allowing you to play and control apps like Netflix directly from a mobile device. Screen mirroring is also supported, so you can mirror the screen of any Android, Fire OS, or Windows device on to your TV via the player.
Miscellaneous.With built-in Alexa support, you can use the remote's microphone for voice commands, to search for content, check the weather, and control compatible Smart Home devices
