I'm giving this 5 stars because it's my favorite media player right now. I've primarily been using a Roku 3 and Roku XS for the last couple of years but I recently made the switch to the Fire TV after buying the Fire Stick for travel and enjoying the user experience more than the Roku. My review is based on my experience with the Roku, Fire TV and Chromecast which I had bought first but exchanged for a Roku because I didn't like it. Here is a list of my pros for the Fire TV:
1. The voice control is great. It makes it easier to find content quickly which was my main problem with the Roku. I also like checking the weather.
2. The Fire TV is powerful. It's very responsive and streams HD content without a hitch. The Roku 3 is pretty solid with this as well but lacks the processing power of the Fire TV. The XS is an inferior product at this stage.
3. The wireless headphone jack is more reliable in my experience compared to the Roku 3. I had to remove the batteries from the Roku remote typically at least once per sitting to reset it after losing audio in my headphones.
4. The interface on the Fire TV is superior to the Roku in my opinion. It's very easy to navigate and to discover content quickly. The Roku is actually better at finding content for free if you know what to look for; which is a problem for me because I often don't prepare for tv watching and prefer to have a better guide when I turn on the player. I always find something to watch quickly on the Fire TV. On the Roku, I would often find myself losing interest in watching tv at all after aimlessly searching for content for a while.
Here are the cons:
1. The Fire TV doesn't have a true universal search feature across channels like the Roku does. If you know what you want to watch it's easier on Roku to see if it's available somewhere for free. The Roku search across Netflix, Hulu, HBO and Amazon is pretty solid. That being said you can pretty much find anything in the Amazon app through the Fire TV search. You can speak a movie, show or actors name and quickly get recommendations for content. You will spend more money on content with the Fire TV but you will probably have quicker and better access to it. A universal cross channel search would really give Amazon a huge edge over the Roku as this is the only place the Roku shines.
2. The down button on my Fire TV controller doesn't work right out of the box. There have not been any other controllers in stock to buy. Also, I already downloaded a lot of apps and spent time setting up the unit so I don't want to exchange it right now. It works great except for the controls. To be honest I only purchased the gaming edition for the headphone jack because I like to watch TV late and I live in an open loft so I want to play movies without disturbing my girlfriend. The down button not being responsive is annoying but not a huge issue for me. The controller is also kind of big and heavy. The Roku remote with headphone jack is lighter and smaller. I love the regular Fire TV remote with voice control. It's my favorite media remote right now and way more solid and stylish than the Roku remote. If a headphone jack could somehow be added to this while keeping it sleek that would be great and I would buy it yesterday.
Technical Details
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Amazon Fire TV |
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Size |
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4.5” x 4.5” x 0.7” (115 mm x 115 mm x 17.8 mm) |
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Weight |
9.5 oz. (270 g) |
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Processor |
MediaTek Quad-core up to 2 Ghz |
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GPU |
Power VR GX6250 |
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Storage |
8 GB internal |
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Memory |
2 GB |
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Wi-Fi Connectivity |
Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks. |
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Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 4.1 + LE, with support for HID, HFP, and SPP profiles |
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Voice Support |
Yes, with Fire TV Game Controller (included) or free Fire TV Remote App (available for download on Fire, Android, and iOS) |
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Game Controller Support |
Yes, optimized for Amazon Fire TV Game Controller and most games are compatible with other Bluetooth controllers |
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Cloud Storage |
Free cloud storage for all Amazon content |
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Ports |
DC Jack, HDMI output, 10/100 Ethernet, microSD slot, USB 2.0 |
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Audio Support |
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.265, H.264, |
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Output Resolution Supported |
2160p up to 30fps; 720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
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System Requirements |
Compatible high-definition or ultra high-definition television with available HDMI input, Internet connection, a power outlet |
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TV Compatibility |
TV must support minimum HDCP requirements for protected content playback. Learn more about compatibility. Compatible with (1) 4K ultra high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 2160p at 24/25/30/50/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2, including popular models from LG, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Vizio, and others or (2) high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 50/60 Hz, including popular HDCP-compatible models from Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse, and others. |
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Warranty and Service |
1-year Limited Warranty and service included. Optional 2-year and 3-year Extended Warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately. Use of Fire TV 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 |
Amazon Fire TV |
Easy to understand interface with great apps
I can't believe I've been without this product. I've had it for about 2 weeks now and am in love. It has been working seamlessly. Interface is easy to understand and easy to browse. I enjoy the look of the design. When you first turn it on, there's a friendly intro that walks you through how to use everything as well. I use this primarily to watch Amazon Prime videos and Netflix, but LOVE the TED talk app. Super convenient and easy to access great content! The box looks aesthetically pleasing and is very subtle next to my TV. I'm considering mounting it because I don't like seeing the wire, but that's a future project. For anyone who's on the market to purchase a TV, I'd save a couple hundred bucks, buy a solid non-smart TV and pair it with the Amazon Fire TV. Software updates don't take so long in comparison to a Smart TV's update.
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