Amazon introduced a slimmer Fire TV Stick 4K that draws power directly from a TV USB port, packs an 8GB storage, a quad-core 1.7 GHz chip, and adds Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Low Energy. Amazon says the new stick is its fastest yet and claims it is 20 to 40 percent faster than leading competitors; it supports HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9 and AV1 and can output up to 2160p at 60 frames per second. The bundled redesigned remote eliminates the old prominent blue Alexa button for a subtler black microphone button, adds a tactile, flatter D-pad, a metallic-feel home button you can find by touch, a recessed power button and a programmable favorites button. TechCrunch called the remote “an actually good remote” and noted the favorites button can launch an app or toggle options such as Closed Captions or Dialog Boost. The Fire TV Stick 4K has a $59.99 MSRP and will launch at a promotional $29.99; the new remote will sell separately for $14.99 and ships in late October. Amazon will initially sell the device in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. Amazon also plans to add an Alexa+ hub to the Fire TV interface in November to provide a more context-aware living room Alexa experience.
