This streaming stick works great. I'll be honest, I am on my second stick, I had to return the first one because I think I got a malfunctioning unit. But this is a testament to Amazon's excellent customer service. They sent me a pre-authorized return label after going through some steps with their tech support team and sent out a replacement. The replacement worked great with no issues whatsoever and I'm happy with it. I now have every streaming device there is and while they all have their good qualities, if you have Prime you really can't go wrong with the Amazon Fire Streaming Stick. I'll tell you why.
The cost is the first thing. I got this on a promo for 19 bucks. Can't beat that price at all. Even the regular price is only 39 bucks which is still a deal. But 19 bucks for Prime members, if you got in on that deal is pretty much as cheap as anyone can get a streaming stick for anywhere. Unheard of for a brand new stick.
Now one might argue that the Fire TV has some options that the stick doesn't and it does, but it's also a hundred dollar box. Even at full price you're shaving off 60 bucks here by buying the stick and getting pretty much the same functionality stream-wise. When the app is available on all formats you will, if you have a smartphone, be able to utilize the voice search feature which is one of the selling points.
Netflix and Hulu Plus both worked great for me on the stick and I absolutely loved having a remote that worked similarly to my Apple TV. I think it was a genius move designing a remote that is similar to Apples. It makes things intuitive for those who already have an Apple TV and need to figure out a new remote.
A lot has been said by other reviewers about the way the power cable has been placed on the stick on the side of it, which may get in the way, depending upon where it is placed on your tv. Also, the USB end needs to be plugged into a wall socket rather than a USB plug, which further complicates matters. However, one should always follow the directions provided by the manufacturer. They have their reasons for wanting this stick to be powered by a 110 outlet and plugged into the side of the stick. For me, I used an HDMI plug on the side of my tv where it wasn't a hindrance to have the power cable off to the side.
USAGE:
Once I actually got a working unit in hand I found that it is indeed a wonderful device. Amazon has done a great job of doing a few things well. They do great customer service, have a great reputation and offer great products. When you purchase an Amazon product, be it a Paperwhite, a Prime membership or this streaming stick, you expect that you won't have any issues with it and that it will be up there with the best in class competing for top place at what it does. This device does not disappoint. It just works as you would expect, no hiccups, no burps, no bull. If you run into an issue like I did, you call, you send it back, you get a fresh unit. And that reinforces my faith in Amazon as a company and a service. I trust them with my credit card info, my money, my business because I know they stand behind their products and those of their sellers.
Once your user name and password are in for your other services, such as Netflix and Hulu, you can use them as usual. Netflix worked out of the box, and Hulu required me to authenticate it with a code using my mobile or laptop. This stick really excels with the free content offered through Prime. You can browse seven ways to sunday for whatever you like and it's all free.
Perhaps the most understated is that there is a ton of free HBO content on Amazon Prime. You aren't getting the current stuff but it's the closest thing to having an HBO GO subscription for cable cutters than actually having one. You get a lot of older content, including Sopranos, The Wire, Oz, all the great stuff that most people want HBO for. Frankly The Sopranos is reason enough to pay for a Prime membership.
But the fun doesn't end there. You have a lot of other networks that have their fingers dipped into the Prime offerings as well. HBO is the most famous perhaps but there's a bunch of others on there for you to discover. You can search by genre, network, many different ways. I like to spend a little time once in awhile digging through and adding stuff to my watch list and then later on when I'm in a tv watching marathon I just keep watching away without having to stop and look for stuff.
GAMES:
You can purchase and download free games as well on here. Some can be played with the remote and others require you purchase the game controller separately which you can use with the stick and also with the Fire TV. Thus you get a little more functionality out of this than you do out of some streaming devices because you can play a lot of games and with the gaming controller you actually get a full on gaming platform experience.
GUTS:
They pack this thing w/ more memory and guts than you get in other sticks so that your Fire TV Stick can handle playing the previously mentioned games, run video smoother, store more stuff and give you an all around better experience than other streaming devices. It may seem like a hassle to have to plug it into an outlet and all that but once you start to look upon this as more than a glorified chromecast and akin to a streamlined wii you will feel like you're more justified in plugging it in. Instead of thinking "why do I have to plug this in to watch a movie when I don't have to on a chromecast" you should be thinking "why doesn't chromecast let me play games and do all the cool stuff I can do on the Fire TV stick?"
SUMMARY:
You are getting a lot more for a little bit of money with this device than with competing products. Amazon wants you to buy into their ecosystem, yes. When you buy a Prime membership you buy more stuff from Amazon and you will probably buy more games from them. You might even buy a movie or two that isn't free from them, especially if it's cheaper than iTunes. So it makes sense for them to offer you a more powerful streaming stick for a good price. And they've done a great job of making it great so it works the way it's supposed to, no, better than it's supposed to, out of the box. If it doesn't then you need to call them and have them replace yours or let tech support fix your issue, maybe there's something you're doing wrong. They made it beefier and more powerful so that it can work better so you will choose it over the other options because they know in a business where the competition is inexpensive you probably have the others already. Like me, you might have all the different streaming sticks and a few of the boxes. If you're gonna use the Amazon stuff over the other brands more than it has to be better. I'll say this: I have a Fire TV on the way for one of my other tvs that's how much I like the stick.
Technical Details
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Fire TV Stick |
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Size |
3.3 x 1.0 x 0.5 in. (84.9 x 25.0 x 11.5 mm) |
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Weight |
0.9 oz. (25.1g) |
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Processor |
Broadcom Capri 28155, dual-core 2xARM A9 up to 1 Ghz |
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GPU |
VideoCore4 |
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Storage |
8 GB internal |
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Memory |
1 GB |
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Wi-Fi Connectivity |
Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO); supports 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks. |
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Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 3.0 with support for the following profiles: HID, SPP |
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Voice Search Support |
Yes, requires Fire TV Voice Remote (sold separately) or free Fire TV Remote App (available for download on Fire or Android OS; iOS coming soon) |
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Game Controller Support |
Yes, optimized for Amazon Fire Game Controller, compatible with Nyko PlayPad Pro and other Bluetooth controllers. |
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Cloud Storage |
All Amazon Cloud Drive customers start with 5 GB of free storage |
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Ports |
1 Type A HDMI 1.4b output, w/HDCP 1.4 |
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Dolby Audio |
Support for Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1 |
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Content Formats Supported |
Video: H.264 |
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Output Resolution Supported |
720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
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System Requirements |
High-definition television with available HDMI input, Internet connection via Wi-Fi, a power outlet. |
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TV Compatibility |
Compatible with high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 60/50Hz, including popular HDCP-compatible models from these manufacturers: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse |
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Warranty and Service |
1-year Limited Warranty and service included. Use of Fire TV Stick is subject to the terms found here. |
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Regional Support |
Certain services may not be available outside the U.S. |
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Closed Captioning |
Watch videos and TV shows with closed captioning displayed. Captions are not available for all content. |
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Included in the Box |
Fire TV Stick |
Amazon Fire TV stick - the new ringleader
I purchased the Fire Stick as a low-cost option for an extremely tight utilities budget, rather than a cable subscription. I am not a huge television watcher, but there are a handful of shows that I do enjoy and happily wait for them to become available on streaming/on-demand services. I am also a lover of mini-tech and have experience with Roku, Chromecast, and Vudu. Amazon leads the way with this device. If you are looking for a no-frills option, buy this Fire Stick. Rivaling Apple TV in usability, it is a fraction of the size and cost, yet just as powerful. Amazon, despite having humbug reception from buyers in regards to their emerging technologies, manages to create an engaging and painless user experience with this product. The Fire Stick comes preloaded with all of the apps that you expect, and has zillions more available to download for free in the app store. The novice user will be pleased to know that after a brief setup, "netflix n chill" can begin immediately. For the youtube fanatic, it is right there, alongside Spotify, Hulu, Pandora, and so on. If you don't own a smart TV there is no need to with the Fire Stick as they all basically share the same crop of apps with the same interfaces and functions. I picked up a refurbished unit to compare with a new one, and they are virtually indistinguishable. In fact I would not have guessed that this was a refurb, It works like a new unit, it functions like one, and it arrived in sleek packaging that made me quiver instantly. The body of the device is smooth and streamlined. It is extremely sturdy and fits comfortably in the back of my television, which has an awkwardly placed HDMI port. The Fire Stick can handle it though. And as always, shipping was fast. If you are seeking a no-nonsense device that doesn't come with a myriad of gimmicks, I highly recommend the Fire Stick. It does everything you need it to and nothing less. Five stars across the board.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2014
- Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2016
I purchased the Fire Stick as a low-cost option for an extremely tight utilities budget, rather than a cable subscription. I am not a huge television watcher, but there are a handful of shows that I do enjoy and happily wait for them to become available on streaming/on-demand services. I am also a lover of mini-tech and have experience with Roku, Chromecast, and Vudu. Amazon leads the way with this device.
Amazon Fire TV stick - the new ringleader
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2016
If you are looking for a no-frills option, buy this Fire Stick. Rivaling Apple TV in usability, it is a fraction of the size and cost, yet just as powerful. Amazon, despite having humbug reception from buyers in regards to their emerging technologies, manages to create an engaging and painless user experience with this product. The Fire Stick comes preloaded with all of the apps that you expect, and has zillions more available to download for free in the app store. The novice user will be pleased to know that after a brief setup, "netflix n chill" can begin immediately. For the youtube fanatic, it is right there, alongside Spotify, Hulu, Pandora, and so on. If you don't own a smart TV there is no need to with the Fire Stick as they all basically share the same crop of apps with the same interfaces and functions.
I picked up a refurbished unit to compare with a new one, and they are virtually indistinguishable. In fact I would not have guessed that this was a refurb, It works like a new unit, it functions like one, and it arrived in sleek packaging that made me quiver instantly. The body of the device is smooth and streamlined. It is extremely sturdy and fits comfortably in the back of my television, which has an awkwardly placed HDMI port. The Fire Stick can handle it though. And as always, shipping was fast.
If you are seeking a no-nonsense device that doesn't come with a myriad of gimmicks, I highly recommend the Fire Stick. It does everything you need it to and nothing less. Five stars across the board.
Images in this review
