Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)From real comments

Verdict distilled from 44 mentions across 14 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment22%
PROS 22%
CONS 78%

Rank based on 44 mentions across 14 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a cheap, fast streaming device often on sale under $40
  • You use Plex and want lossless Dolby TrueHD/Atmos passthrough
  • You're fine with Amazon's ecosystem and don't mind ads

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need USB-C or plan to sideload many large apps
  • You hate cluttered, ad-heavy home screen interfaces
  • You rely on external HDD storage or NTFS/exFAT for large media files

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choiceBest value
1Mid
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
Plex and local media server supportBuild quality and longevityLossless audio passthroughLack of hardware refreshAI upscale inconsistencyImage quality not as vivid as competitors
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
Plex and local media server support
Build quality and longevity
Lossless audio passthrough
Lack of hardware refresh
AI upscale inconsistency
Image quality not as vivid as competitors
2Premium
NVIDIA Shield TV
Exceptional Long-Term ReliabilityLossless Audio PassthroughAI Upscaling QualityOverdue Hardware RefreshHigh Price for Casual UsersWeaker Streaming App Experience
NVIDIA Shield TV
Exceptional Long-Term Reliability
Lossless Audio Passthrough
AI Upscaling Quality
Overdue Hardware Refresh
High Price for Casual Users
Weaker Streaming App Experience
3Premium
Apple TV 4K
Best-in-Class InterfaceFast, Smooth PerformanceSpatial Audio & Ecosystem IntegrationLimited Audio PassthroughPremium PricingRemote Reliability & Usability Issues
Apple TV 4K
Best-in-Class Interface
Fast, Smooth Performance
Spatial Audio & Ecosystem Integration
Limited Audio Passthrough
Premium Pricing
Remote Reliability & Usability Issues
4Mid
Google Chromecast with Google TV
Unified multi-app remote and voice searchRevives older or non-smart TVsEasy setup and HDMI-CEC power handlingMarginal CPU upgrade for the priceNo USB port or EthernetWeaker value versus cheaper competitors
Google Chromecast with Google TV
Unified multi-app remote and voice search
Revives older or non-smart TVs
Easy setup and HDMI-CEC power handling
Marginal CPU upgrade for the price
No USB port or Ethernet
Weaker value versus cheaper competitors
5Mid
Roku Ultra
Strong Interface and OSDedicated Ethernet PortFaster ProcessorEthernet Capped at 100MbpsRemote Battery and Charging IssuesDropped Headphone Jack on Remote
Roku Ultra
Strong Interface and OS
Dedicated Ethernet Port
Faster Processor
Ethernet Capped at 100Mbps
Remote Battery and Charging Issues
Dropped Headphone Jack on Remote
6Mid
Amazon Fire TV Recast
No subscription feesFlexible wifi antenna placementGood channel reception for some usersDiscontinued by AmazonBuggy and unreliable DVR performance720p resolution downgrade
Amazon Fire TV Recast
No subscription fees
Flexible wifi antenna placement
Good channel reception for some users
Discontinued by Amazon
Buggy and unreliable DVR performance
720p resolution downgrade
7Mid
Google Chromecast
Modernizes older TVsUnifies streaming appsGood value for priceWi-Fi connection failuresApp and setup reliability issuesCheap, fragile remote
Google Chromecast
Modernizes older TVs
Unifies streaming apps
Good value for price
Wi-Fi connection failures
App and setup reliability issues
Cheap, fragile remote
8Budget
Xiaomi Mi Box S
Great value for streaming appsFast and responsive performanceGood 4K/AV quality on supported appsLimited RAM and storageNo Ethernet portOnly single USB 2.0 port
Xiaomi Mi Box S
Great value for streaming apps
Fast and responsive performance
Good 4K/AV quality on supported apps
Limited RAM and storage
No Ethernet port
Only single USB 2.0 port
9Mid
Google TV Streamer
Improved speed over ChromecastCustomizable/moddable softwareMore storage and RAMHigh price for the hardwarePoor remote designWeak processor / no Wifi 6
Google TV Streamer
Improved speed over Chromecast
Customizable/moddable software
More storage and RAM
High price for the hardware
Poor remote design
Weak processor / no Wifi 6
10Premium
RED One
Enjoyable comfort-watch for some familiesCreative mythological worldbuildingKrampus scenes well receivedDwayne Johnson seen as playing the same characterBloated $250 million budgetConfused tone and unclear target audience
RED One
Enjoyable comfort-watch for some families
Creative mythological worldbuilding
Krampus scenes well received
Dwayne Johnson seen as playing the same character
Bloated $250 million budget
Confused tone and unclear target audience
You are here
15Budget
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)
Frequent discountsLossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD supportFast and easy setupCluttered, ad-heavy interfaceInsufficient storagePlayback and codec issues
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)
Frequent discounts
Lossless Dolby Atmos/TrueHD support
Fast and easy setup
Cluttered, ad-heavy interface
Insufficient storage
Playback and codec issues

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Storage remains a persistent frustration despite the bump to 16GB. Multiple users report running out of space with just a handful of apps installed, even on the newer 16GB model, with one noting only about 10.82GB usable rather than the expected doubled capacity. Others say external USB or thumb drives aren't properly recognized as installable storage, forcing constant app deletion just to update or add new streaming apps.

The interface is widely criticized as cluttered and ad-heavy. Several commenters say the home screen is dominated by Amazon promotions and cannot be decluttered, unlike Roku, Apple TV, or Google TV, and one user switched to Apple TV specifically to escape the ads. Others echo that a cleaner interface option should exist, calling the current bloatware-filled menu 'second rate' and comparing it unfavorably to competitors like Nvidia Shield.

Audio and playback support has improved but issues linger for some. Users confirm the new stick passes lossless Dolby TrueHD/Atmos via Plex, a notable upgrade many are happy about. However, others still report DV/HDR black-screen bugs on certain movies, audio-sync problems, and codec issues with h.265 or high-bitrate files, suggesting playback reliability varies significantly depending on content source and app used.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?