Amazon offers streaming devices at all levels. From the Fire TV Stick Lite to the Fire TV Cube, there are five different models in total.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best of the “stick” devices, designed to be discreetly added to your television to boost the streaming experience – and a whole lot more.
I’ve been using streaming devices for many years now, and have had the opportunity to live with a whole range of models from different brands in my TV setup.
I live in a busy house with teenage children, so these devices get heavily used and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the streaming device I recommend above others.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: At a glance
Pros
- Alexa voice control
- Fast, slick performance
- Streaming services and apps
- Wifi 6e support
- Smart home controls
Cons
- Amazon content gets top-billing
- Fire TV Stick 4K is similar but cheaper
Key specifications
| Connectivity | HDMI, wifi 6e |
|---|---|
| Streaming services | All major UK streaming services |
| Quality | 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos |
| Dimensions | 9.9 x 3 x 1.4cm |
| Weight | 43.5g |
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a stick that you plug into an HDMI port on your TV to bring new streaming and smart home skills to your television.
Setup involves plugging it in (a mains connection is needed) before hooking it up to your wifi network and signing into your Amazon account – essential if you want to use the Fire TV. If you find the on-screen setup a little fiddly, much can be done on your phone via the Fire TV app instead, which generally makes the process smoother and faster.
Wifi is one of the key points of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. One of the big advantages over Amazon’s other Fire TV Sticks is that the Max supports the faster wifi 6e standard. If your home network supports that, you’ll get less buffering and a faster experience when using it.
You’ll also be able to configure the Alexa Voice Remote so that it can control your TV and sound system. This is well worth doing so that you can reduce the number of remote controls you need when streaming – and being able to select what you want to watch and change the volume on the same remote is handy.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: Features
One of the top reasons for choosing a Fire TV Stick is Alexa. The remote will let you talk to Alexa to search for content or to open channels or services you like. There’s no need to scroll through the interface, you can just tell Alexa to “open Disney+”.
Searching for content will show you your options for watching it, through streaming services you subscribe to, or options for rental. The Fire TV Stick also covers all the paid-for streaming services, UK catch-up services, as well as the likes of YouTube and Twitch, so there really is wide coverage.
In a more recent move, Fire TV Stick 4K Max will also support Xbox cloud gaming. You’ll have to connect a Bluetooth controller, but then you’ll be able to play Xbox games on your TV without a console, making for another great way to keep the kids entertained. Again, having the fastest connection and the most powerful streaming stick is a real advantage here.
With Alexa at the helm, you’ll also be able to control your smart home devices by talking to your TV remote, as well as viewing Alexa-compatible cameras on the screen – so you can check who’s at the door right there on the big screen.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports the latest video standards, with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, as well as Dolby Atmos for rich immersive sound. Of course, you’ll need a TV and sound system that supports those standards to take advantage of that top notch quality.
What really sells the Fire TV Stick 4K Max to me over the existing smart features on my TV is that it’s faster to navigate and Alexa just makes it so simple.
There is a slight downside, in that Amazon’s content can feature quite prominently around the home screen, but it’s quick to resume what you were watching through whichever services you subscribe to. Of course, Prime Video is well-served and makes for a great experience, but Netflix or Disney+ is just as good here as it is on any other device.
It’s also impossible to ignore that the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is closely related to the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is a little cheaper. The difference here is that the 4K Max has faster wifi and a faster and more powerful processor – as well as more storage for apps you might download. It also comes with an enhanced remote, giving you a few more controls to make it more convenient.
Finally, Fire TV Stick 4K Max also offers something called Ambient Experience. This will let you set wallpapers and display art, as well as use your TV for widgets. It means that you have the option to do a little more with your TV when you’re not actually watching movies and shows.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max offers a range of features that will enhance many smart TVs. The speed on offer makes for a smoother streaming experience and the complete set of services, easily found through Alexa, is a pleasure to use.
The addition of new features like Ambient Experience or Xbox cloud gaming gives this version of the Fire TV Stick an advantage over lesser models, making for a better smart TV experience.
Chris Hall is a freelance journalist who specialises in consumer technology, pursuing a passion that started over 20 years ago. In 2008 he took on a full-time Reviews Editor position at technology website Pocket-lint.com, before stepping up to Editor-in-Chief in 2012. Chris led coverage over a 15-year tenure, exposing him to every gadget, system and technology you'd ever want to know about.
Chris left the Editor-in-Chief position at Pocket-lint.com in 2023 having published over 4,000 articles on consumer technology. His experience covers everything from smartphones and headphones to cars and computers. Chris doesn't just test for reviews, he lives with a lot of technology, building a smart home and looking for a simpler solution to a connected home. This is much to his family's irritation, because everything is always changing, especially the remote controls.
As a freelance writer, Chris has contributed to The Telegraph, T3.com, TechRadar and Autocar -while launching his own technology website The Disconnekt – writing news about the latest technology, guides to help people make the best choices when shopping for technology, as well as reviewing extensively.
Chris has appeared on BBC News and Sky News, BBC Radio and The Times Radio talking technology, and even once played a part on The Apprentice. Chris has also been an expert judge at the GSMA Global Mobile Awards and the Uswitch Awards.
When not writing about technology or rearranging the technology in his home, Chris can be found on his bike, trying to get lost in the Surrey hills.
