Amazon Debuts Faster Fire TV Stick 4K With Sleeker Remote

(Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. announced a faster, slimmer Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device alongside a revamped remote control and upgrades to Alexa+ for the living room.

The new product is priced at $59.99 and starts shipping Tuesday in the US and a dozen other countries. Availability will expand further in late October, Amazon said in a statement.

The company claims that the new device makes apps launch 35% faster and allows content to start playing nearly 20% more quickly "than a similarly priced 4K streaming stick from another leading brand." It's also touting the streaming gadget as offering a faster experience than the built-in software on many smart TVs.

The Fire TV Stick 4K includes 8 gigabytes of internal storage, is powered by a quad-core processor and has both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity. It supports multiple high dynamic range (HDR) video formats, though Dolby Vision is excluded. It's efficient enough to be powered by the built-in USB port on most TVs without needing to be plugged into a wall outlet.

With this introduction, Amazon is streamlining its stick lineup to the $40 Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K and $85 Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The latter provides more storage and faster speeds, in addition to the aforementioned Dolby Vision support. All of the devices are frequently discounted by the online retailer.

Bundled with the Fire TV Stick 4K is a redesigned remote control with more tactile buttons and an asymmetric shape that makes it easier to tell when you're holding it right side up. The remote has gained a customizable button, a convenience previously limited to Fire TV's more premium remote, that can be mapped to open a specific entertainment app or adjust settings.

The new Fire TV Remote will be available as a standalone purchase for $15, with an aluminum version to follow in early 2027 that adds backlit buttons and a Find My Remote feature.

Amazon is also giving Alexa+ its own hub on Fire TV, and customers can expect smarter AI for locating content. "Alexa+ now draws on real-world context — awards, events, cultural references — alongside a customer's subscriptions and watch history to answer more complex questions and deliver smarter, more personal responses," the company said.