Best Fire TV Stick in 2023: Fire Stick 4K Max, Lite and more tested and reviewed

If you’re looking for the best Fire Stick on the market, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is it. Max is fast and loads apps almost instantly, and system navigation is quick and smooth. Even better, the Max supports Wi-Fi 6 and almost all the latest playback standards, including Dolby Vision. The downside of the Max is its Fire TV platform with ads prominently featured throughout. We just don’t appreciate turning the TV into a giant rotating billboard for content or ads when it’s in screensaver mode. But it’s a good choice for those looking for the best and fastest Amazon Fire TV stick.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K debuted in 2018 and is still on the market today. While we generally think it’s worth upgrading to the Max, the original Fire TV Stick 4K is still a good choice for those who want 4K streaming without paying for the latest perks, namely Wi-Fi 6 and lightning-fast speeds . The voice features are impressive and Echo and Dot owners can control it with Alexa. The selection of apps and games is superb, and responses are still quick, though not as quick as the Max. The remote can control the volume and power of TVs and sound bars. Ultimately, if the Fire TV Stick 4K is priced close to the Max, we recommend passing on this one and getting the newer, faster Max.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is our favorite budget streaming device, beating out the Roku Express. Lite beats Express in terms of features for the money. The biggest advantage of this Fire TV is a remote with built-in voice search and control powered by Alexa. The cheapest Roku with a voice remote is the Express Plus 4K, which uses Roku’s more basic voice system rather than Alexa. The Fire Stick remote also doesn’t need direct line of sight to work. If you want to spend as little as possible on a streaming player, the Lite is your best bet.

The 2022 Fire TV Cube adds several benefits, including 4K upscaling and a faster processor, to a device that’s been around for a while. The Cube has always been a mix of Fire TV Stick and Alexa speaker, allowing you to use your voice to search for shows and adjust the volume and inputs on your TV, dim the light, make Zoom calls (audio only, except if you don’t add a webcam), stream music and check the weather – all hands-free without using the remote. It also features an octa-core processor and 2GB of memory for lightning-fast 4K streaming, as well as Dolby Atmos audio support. However, the latest version of the Cube has a hard time controlling devices connected to your TV — especially if that TV is a TCL — and often misses the mark when integrating Alexa commands with your cable box.

While the Lite is a better value, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is another good choice for those who still watch regular HDTVs. The main difference between the Fire TV Stick and the cheaper Fire TV Stick Lite lies in the remote control. The Fire Stick remote has volume, mute, and power buttons, allowing you to control these functions on your TV. The Lite does not have these capabilities and is therefore slightly cheaper. If you have a 1080p TV and don’t mind paying a bit more for a remote that can control the volume on your TV, the Fire TV Stick is a good choice for you.