We have got our hands on the new 3rd gen Amazon Fire TV Stick which is a bit faster and supports 1080p streaming. There are several streaming devices available in the market such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Mi Box, and so on.
The 3rd Gen Fire TV Stick is identical to its previous version with some upgrades such as more speed, remote, and Dolby Atmos audio support.
So considering the price range and features is it really worth it what gives it the edge over other streaming devices? In this article, we will briefly talk about the features and streaming experience and why it is the best streaming device available in the market.
Features
Fire TV Stick is filled with exclusive features which makes it an attractive option compared to other devices. The Fire Stick box comes with:
- A Fire Stick
- Alexa voice remote
- USB cable
- Power adapter
- 2 AAA batteries
- HDMI extender cable
- A user manual
Now talking about what is inside the device, the device obviously supports Bluetooth 5.0 to connect it to a headset or external speaker, apart from this the device offers:
- High-definition 1080p streaming up to 60fps
- HDR 10+ format
- Quad-core 1.7 GHz processor
- Dual-band wifi with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Dolby Atmos support
- IMG GE8300 GPU
There is no ethernet adapter with it but you can get it by paying some extra. The biggest upgrade I got with the remote is the built-in voice control, just press the microphone button on the remote and speak into the mic.
The device streams over 12,000+ apps and the Fire OS looks more attractive compared to Xiaomi. You can also optimize the data consumption by adjusting video quality and it also lets you monitor the data usage.
With parental control and a security PIN option, you can make the whole streaming more kid-friendly. Enjoy all sorts of channels from live news to sports, and this cricketing season seamlessly enjoys the IPL and upcoming World Cup matches.
First Time Booting
Starting off the device didn’t support 4K and it was quite a shock because under this price range, you can get that. So anyway take it out of the box and then plug it into the HDMI port.
For the first time, the boot time was slow, it gave lag and bug-free first-time experience and you can safely leave it plugged in. I had a 100 mbps connection and it was just an average experience during the first boot; nothing seemed magical or very fast-paced.
Our Verdict: Is It The Best Streaming Device?
Fire TV Stick 3rd gen claims to be 50% faster compared to its previous-gen but personally, we felt like it was just a little bit faster especially talking about the boot time which took 1-2 seconds less than the previous.
The best part was the inbuilt Alexa voice remote control which is responsive and lets you navigate without tapping on buttons. If we compare the user interface with other streaming devices, the Fire Stick was more appealing compared to others.
We’ve been using this device for almost 3 months. The wifi coverage was quite good. We kept the router approx 40 feet away from the drive. And the hours of streaming experience were quite smooth and didn’t face any lag issues. But once or twice we experience apps getting closed and frozen which is not a big deal.
The device doesn’t support 4K streaming which is a bit of a letdown and for 4K support, you are required to pay extra and get a 4K stick or Fire Cube. Considering the features and price range it’s not the best but average one out there and you should definitely get your hands on it.
FAQs
Q1. How do I watch the news on Amazon Fire Stick?
Ans. Download and buy the subscription of the app which offers live TV content.
Q2. Are there any monthly fees for Fire Stick?
Ans. No, there is no monthly fee for Fire Stick but you would have to pay for the monthly subscription for apps and streaming channels.
Q3. What is free on Fire Stick?
Ans. YouTube, MXPlayer, and TVFPlay are free to stream on Fire Stick, apart from that you can download any streaming app but requires you to pay for a subscription.
Q4. How many apps does the Fire TV Stick have?
Ans. Fire Stick offers 12,000+ apps to its users, which makes it the popular streaming device option for budget.
Q5. How much storage and RAM does Fire Stick 3rd gen have?
Ans. Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with 8GB storage and 1GB RAM.