The second-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is bursting with power, storage and new features. This is a fully loaded smart TV stick experience at a price which won’t break the bank.
Introduced during Amazon’s recent launch event, it’s the most powerful Fire TV Stick ever, so if you’re looking to supercharge your current television with slick streaming, Alexa and an impressive always-on ambient mode, then look no further.
Power play thanks to 2.0Gz quad-core processor
There’s never been more power inside a Fire TV Stick than there is in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. This range-topping stick boasts a 2.0GHz quad-core processor, which delivers significant speed improvements from the previous generation during setup, app load and navigation.
I easily scrolled through menus and enjoyed the fast app loading as I looked for something to watch. In fact, the experience was better than the built-in interface on my TV, and I was able to dive into apps such as BINGE or Kayo Sports in next to no time. In short, you’re getting a premium experience at a less-than-premium price point.
Wi-Fi 6E = less waiting, more watching
Coupled with the improved app load and navigation performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max also supports superfast internet speeds. With Wi-Fi 6E compatibility built in, you’ll go from switch-on to streaming in no time. You’ll need to check your router is 6E-compatible to take advantage of the quickest internet speeds, and if it is you’ll enjoy lower latency, less buffering and hardly having to wait for content to load—including the wealth of stunning 4K Ultra HD content available on the device.
Opening the Prime Video app and choosing The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, I saw the new Australian original start playing almost instantly. So make sure you have your popcorn ready before pressing play!
Space for all your apps and games with 16GB of storage
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is an excellent choice for anyone who really wants to maximise everything the device has to offer. With a sizeable 16GB of storage, you’ll have no trouble downloading the apps you want.
Awaken the Ambient Experience
Exclusive to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Ambient Experience. This mode turns your TV into an always-on display, complete with an in-home art gallery and handy widgets.
There are more than 2,000 free, gallery-quality pieces of artwork available today, with art from artists from Australia, France, Spain, Italy and Japan, and from notable institutions including Musée d'Orsay in Paris, Museo del Prado in Madrid, and Galleria d'Arte Moderna in Florence.
As part of the new Ambient Experience, there is also artwork available from renowned Indigenous Australian artist Biddee Baadjo, and Australian contemporary artist Nicole Blake.
With the handy widgets, you can also get information at a glance—like viewing schedules with Calendars and Reminders, leaving Sticky Notes for family members, controlling smart devices like a thermostat or Ring doorbell, or playing audio from services like Amazon Music and Spotify.
You can even ask Alexa to ‘expand widgets’ to get more information. And more widgets will be added in the future, making Ambient Experience even more useful.
Want something to watch? Just ask Alexa
Alexa gets its own dedicated button on the remote bundled with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, allowing you to quickly and easily make a voice request.
Using your voice to control your TV may not feel natural at first. The more you use and experiment with Alexa, the more you’ll find it’s actually a quicker way to get to the content you want, and find answers to pretty much any question which may pop into your head.
As well as the remote, you also get the batteries for it included in the box. The tactility of the buttons provides reassuring feedback, and the response is excellent with instant results to your inputs on-screen.
Something else we like here is the power button, which doesn’t just turn the stick off, but your actual TV. It means you can tuck the original remote for your TV into a drawer, and just use the Fire TV remote if the stick delivers everything you want.
For more on using the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you can read our handy guide.
