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Amazon’s Fire TV line of devices now includes four different Fire TV Stick models with list prices ranging from $30 to $55. But under the hood it turns out that some models have remarkably similar hardware.
In fact, the $30 Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite and $40 Fire TV Stick are basically identical. The only difference is that the Lite model comes with a paired down Alexa Voice Remote Lite that lacks hardware buttons for controlling the volume and power on your TV.
But the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max pack additional RAM and, in the case of the Max, faster CPU and graphics performance which should lead to quicker app launch times and smoother all-around performance.
Meanwhile, folks who want the most powerful Amazon media streamer available might want to opt for the 3rd-gen Fire TV Cube.
While it’s the most expensive of the bunch, at $140, it also has a faster processor, more storage space, Ethernet, USB, and HDMI input ports, a mic and speaker for hands-free Alexa use.
Here’s how Amazon’s Fire TV devices stack up against one another:
| Fire TV Stick Lite (2020) | Fire TV Stick (2020) | Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) | Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) | Fire TV Cube (2022) | |
| Video | 1080p @ 60 fps HDR10+ | 1080p @ 60 fps HDR10+ | 4K @ 60 fps HDR10+ | 4K @ 60 fps HDR10+ | HDR10+4K @ 60 fps HDR10+ |
| CPU | MT8695D 1.7 GHz quad-core 32-bit (software limitation) | MT8695D 1.7 GHz quad-core 32-bit (software limitation) | MT8696D 1.7 GHz ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core 32-bit (software limitation) | MT8696T 2 GHz ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core 32-bit (software limitation) | Amlogic POP1-G 4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores @ 2.2 GHz 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ 2 GHz 32-bit (software limitation) |
| GPU | IMG GE8300 | IMG GE8300 | IMG GE9215 (650 MHz) | IMG GE9215 (850 MHz) | Mali-G52 MP8 (800MHz) |
| RAM | 1GB DDR4 | 1GB DDR4 | 2GB LPDDR4 | 2GB LPDDR4 | 2GB LPDDR4x-4244 |
| Storage | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| WiFi | WiFi 5 2 x 2 MIMO | WiFi 5 2 x 2 MIMO | WiFi 6 2 x 2 MIMO | WiFi 6E 2 x 2 MIMO | WiFi 6E 2 x 2 MIMO |
| Bluetooth | BT 5.0 | BT 5.0 | BT 5.2 | BT 5.2 | BT 5.2 |
| Ethernet | 10/100 (with dongle) | 10/100 (with dongle) | 10/100 (with dongle) | 10/100 (with dongle) | 10/100 (built-in) |
| USB port | ✓ | ||||
| HDMI input | ✓ | ||||
| AV1 decoding | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Hands-free Alexa | ✓ | ||||
| Live View Picture-in-Picture | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Fire TV Ambient Experience | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Speaker | ✓ | ||||
| Remote | Alexa voice remote Lite | Alexa voice remote | Alexa voice remote | Enhanced Alexa voice remote | Enhanced Alexa Voice Remote |
| OSÂ | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) |
| List Price | $30 | $40 | $50 | $60 | $140 |
This article was originally published September 24, 2020 and last updated September 20, 2023.
Do we know for sure the new Fire TV Stick 4K Max has 16GB storage? Amazon’s product site says 8GB storage. Their GPU spec also says 750MHz, not 850MHz. Hope they just have typos.
Never mind, it seems your link above to the 2023 4k Max is pointing to the older one.
Thanks, the link should be correct now!
It’s worth noting that the 4k MAX version of the stick supports hardware av1 decoding but the regular 4k stick does not.
Good point, I’ve added that to the comparison table!
Fire TV Cube – 3rd Gen (2022)
Amlogic POP1-G (Amlogic – AML Popcorn)
CPU ARM 4xCA73 @ 2.2GHz + ARM 4xCA53 @ 2.0GHz
GPU ARM G52 MP8, 800MHz
Memory (RAM) 2GB, LPDDR4/x – 4224 MT/s
https://developer.amazon.com/docs/fire-tv/device-specifications-fire-tv-cube.html?v=ftvcubegen3
Curiously it doesn’t seem to mention AV1 support in this page.
Just read this because I’ve seen a cheap offer.
What does it do that I my computer cannot? what connections are there? what are ‘sideloads’, apps etc
I can play media without this so what difference does it make?
You are clearly not the target audience.
The lite model is actually a 3rd gen upgrade from Gen 2 even though Amazon calls it a Gen 1 because they changed the name to lite. It is as advertised at 50% faster than 2019 but I think it is faster than that based on my 2016 Gen 2.
Good to know. I bought the 4K stick when it came out in part because I wanted a media player/streaming device that was future proof and it supports Dolby Vision (and HDR 10+, etc.). The new one is slightly better, faster, but not enough to switch it out. Though definitely worth buying in the case I need a second one.
That said… Wow Brad. You originally published this in the future? I am very impressed that the original publication is two weeks AFTER the update to the article 😉
I’m apparently diligent enough to update this post from last year… but not enough to get the dates right 🙂
One HUGE features missing from your grid… the lite does not have a volume control for your tv/sound bar/amp.
This even works for some computer brand speaker remotes like logitech.
That’s because it’s mentioned in the article as the difference between the Voice Remote Lite and the Voice Remote.
For the price the hardware is poor on all models.
Terrible ram and storage sizes.
minimum 2gb ram with models up having 4gb and storage wise 8gb then 16gb+ for higher models also add sd card support (the extra ethernet adapter as well is a joke not even gigabit)
I don’t know why people buy these things
Speaking for the 4k version, hardware storage might be poor, but performance isn’t. Wasn’t happy with any of the previous versions, but the 4k version has more than enough fire power. As long as you can sideload and still put a launcher on it, I’ll still have lots of uses for one, whether that’s taking one with me while traveling or an extra one concealed behind the tv, they are extremely handy because of their size. For $25 for the two 4K sticks I currently have, I’m not complaining.
Perfect example of how I use the 4k stick. Get an otg cable, sideload your favorite media player app or download vimu player from amazon, and connect a 512gb flash drive full of media for on the go. Perfect companion if there’s nothing good to watch where you are. As long as thr flash drive is in the FAT32 format, it will work fine and anything in the x265 codec works fine as well. I’ve even got a 2tb seagate wireless drive running on the stick using kodi with a ton of movies + tv on that which connects through wifi. Been solid for years. The entertainment that you can get out of this thing is pretty impressive when you think outside of the box. The apps you can use run with from iptv to games with a bluetooth controller.
You want to complain about specs. Look at the reviews on that new xiaomi mi stick. The hardware on that is woefully under-powered based on the reviews I’m reading. A stuttering mess with apps like hulu. It’s no Nvidia Shield, but rarely have I had any performance issues from all the times I’ve been using the 4k stick.
You don’t have to worry about asking me why I bought it. I could give you a hundred reasons.
Meant $25 each for the two 4k sticks I own. No edit option for my original post.
There’s a serious mistake on at least the Stick 4K specs.
The specs read 32 bit under the CPU SoC, but the actual cores are 64 bit ARM64/v8-A based A53 cores.
The OS is the limiting factor as for some reason Amazon is gimping all their devices with a 32 bit version of Android thereby limiting the full performance of the SoC’s they use.
I should clarify that, but this is how Amazon lists the specs, because there’s no support for 64-bit applications on these devices. So unless it becomes possible to root these sticks and install custom ROMs, for all intents and purposes, these are 32-bit devices.
Just compare the Fire TV Stick 4K and the AppleTV 4K, the latter looks like a complete dinosaur.
and appletv is about 6x the price, before amazon prime day discounts…