Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, brilliant 4K streaming quality, TV and smart home controls, free and live TV

I had a 1st Gen Fire TV stick years ago. This new Fire TV stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote is a marvel by comparison!(Skip to the next paragraph if you want to get right to the product itself...lol)I was having issues with my bedroom TV. It's a Vizio "Smart" 4K tv and recently it has been freezing up when using certain apps. The Netflix app was the biggest offender. It would freeze up, no remote function worked and I'd have to get up, physically unplug the tv and plug it back in just to reboot it. Apparently, this is a common issue with app incompatability with the Vizio and certain apps. Even with all of the apps and the TV's software and firmware up-to-date, the problem persisted. I decided the best work-around was to take the TV's software out of the picture and let the Fire TV Stick be the "Smart" part of my "Smart TV" setup. And it's awesome!The first thing I noticed was how easy the setup was. It paired effortlessly with my tv, Echo Dot Speaker w/Alexa and even my Blink cameras. Sure, you have to go through all of the usual stuff like download the streaming apps that you use that aren't pre-loaded and sign in to them all, but that's an expected pain in the butt and I only had 2 that weren't already there.The voice commands are also very intuitive. Whether I'm using the remote, my Echo Dot or the app on my phone, I get what I'm looking for.What I wasn't expecting was the much better picture quality! I have a Vizio 4K Ultra TV and I've noticed some of what I watch the quality is definitely not 4K but that's more to do with the quality of the content not being 4k (like my live TV streams using YouTube TV for instance....I don't pay for the 4K option). As soon as I got the Fire TV stick up and running, I noticed a much sharper picture (even the YouTube TV). I'm not a techie or videophile by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm guessing there are a few factors at play that contribute to the better image quality: Fewer resources being used by the TV itself having to run the apps whereas the Fire Stick has ample memory and fast processor to handle the bandwidth better, and there might even be some "upscaling" being done by the Fire to emulate 4K. Not true 4K but sharpened to nearly mimic the end result. Whatever it is, I was actually expecting a drop in quality so an increase isn't an optical illusion on my part. lolAfter a few days, I decided that I needed one thing that this was lacking....a remote with back-lit buttons. I've become spoiled by my universal remote with buttons I can see at night in my bedroom (and the remote is now defunct because it's infrared and doesn't work with the Fire Stick).So I threw down $34.99 for the Alexa Voice Remote Pro. Yes, I paid more for a new remote than I did for the Fire TV Stick and remote just to have lighted buttons. LOL BUT the remote has a bunch of other features that make it a little more useful and some features are just cool (you can use both remotes so I have a backup now). It has a "Find my remote" feature, additional, programmable buttons that are super easy, etc. so I'm in Fire TV Stick heaven with this remote plus the Fire TV Stick 4k.I highly recommend this Fire TV Stick. I considered getting the 4K MAX even though I don't have the latest wifi system that it takes advantage of, but I don't think I'll miss it even if my ISP upgrades it's service

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa is an absolute game-changer for anyone looking to elevate their streaming experience. First and foremost, the 4K Ultra HD streaming quality is simply breathtaking. Whether you're binge-watching your favorite series or catching the latest blockbuster, the crystal-clear visuals and vibrant colors make it feel like you're right in the action.The integration of Alexa is a true highlight. With just a voice command, you can effortlessly search for content, adjust the volume, or even control your smart home devices. It's like having a personal assistant right in your remote control.Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is a breeze, even for those who aren't tech-savvy. The intuitive interface and user-friendly remote make navigation a breeze, and the vast selection of apps and streaming platforms ensures you'll never run out of things to watch.Don't worry about buffering either – the device's powerful processor ensures smooth, uninterrupted streaming. Plus, with regular updates and new features, Amazon continues to enhance this product, making it a future-proof investment in home entertainment. In short, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa is an all-in-one streaming powerhouse that's well worth the investment for anyone looking to take their TV time to the next level.

Great remote. Just put I batteries and it was ready to go for my Sharp TV

I’ve had a few Fire TV sticks over the years, and generally I love them. For this model, the first one I got was a dud. It died in 2 days. Amazon took me through some reasonable troubleshooting steps, then replaced it quickly and easily. The second one is a lot better.In general, I find the remote has a weird tendency to, I guess “rot” is the word. The case starts to feel like it’s covered in a sticky mess. I don’t know why. I guess that’s why the remote covers are so popular. Not a stopping point – they still work – just a point of note. The optional game controllers do not have this issue.There are ample streaming options. I’ve yet to look for something, even less common things like Wonderium and Funimation, and not find it. The UI is easy to navigate. The device is responsive. I put it through a 7.1 sound system and it can handle that no problem.A few things to note, not exactly faults of the product, but faults you will encounter while using the product.For the Disney+ login, the trick of using the phone just errors out and asks to re-authenticate over and over. If you use a strong password, that can be a pain. Once it works, it’s fine, just a pain to set up.For the Ubisoft+ integration, for many of the games it starts to load then fails. I don’t see the same issue on the same games on PC, so it’s probably related to the app. This was the primary purpose for which I bought the device, so it is a bit of a disappointment. Also note, you need the Luna service for this, which is totally worth it on its own, by the way. Also, at least for me, while the video streaming was fine over WiFi, the gaming required the Ethernet adapter.It’s not perfect, but it’s outstanding for such a low price. I often use it rather than power up my PS5 to watch Netflix because it is so much more convenient, and of identical quality.