The new Fire TV stick of Amazon is the company’s most powerful and highest priced streaming stick until now. The new Max run costs $55, which is costlier than the Streaming Stick 4K that costs $40. It packs a faster processor and supports most of the latest playback standards like Dolby Vision, 4K, HDR10, Dolby Atmos for audio.
The fast speed of the max makes it worth the cost. It gives you the quickest way to stream most apps like HBO max, Disney Plus, Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, HBOMax, YouTube TV, and others. 4K Max is the first streaming stick of Amazon that supports Wi-Fi 6. It means that you can enjoy more gaming across Wi-Fi 6 connected devices, smoother and fluid streaming.
Fire TV Functionality
The Fire TV Stick 4K max is loaded with features and apps. It provides access to most streaming services and music streaming devices like Tidal, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, SiriusXM, and YouTube Music. Various other smaller apps and services are available for different regions and interests. You can also play some games through this firestick and pair it with a Bluetooth controller.
Like any other Fire TV device, 4K max allows you to use the Amazon Alexa voice assistant. All you need to do is press and hold the blue button on the remote and instruct Alexa. Alexa will answer your question or fulfill your command. It will also provide you with information like sports scores, control compatible smart home devices, search for content, or let you know about the weather reports.
Alexa can show live feeds from the videos and camera doorbells that illustrate a small edge Fire TV Stick 4K Max has over the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is live picture-in-picture viewing. The live feed will be networked without interrupting what you are watching.
Concerning screen mirroring, Fire TV is the weakest platform available. You can mirror your Windows PC or mobile devices with WiDi or Miracast, but that is all. There is no AirPlay like Roku and Apple TV, and no Google cast like that on Google TV and Android TV. This means that you can not mirror your iOS divide to the firestick at all, and newer Android devices will need a third-party Miracast app to work.
You should also be careful while using Fire TV Stick 4K max and ensure that your connection is secure while you watch Fire TV. One easy way to achieve this is by installing a VPN that will add an extra layer of protection. It will keep you hidden and avoid any throttling of your speed, making your HD content experience smoother. Just make sure that you research well before finalizing the VPN and only pick the best VPN for Fire TV that fits your needs.
A Speed Boost
The processor speed upgrade was one major reason for giving this streaming stick the “max” name. It is a fast stick, which makes opening and switching between apps faster. It is not always instant, especially if you have not opened the app in the last few hours, but mostly the apps open quickly.
You can also experience a black screen a few times, which can be longer than your expectations. Sometimes, you will have to even restart the stream to bounce back into the streaming.
Ever-Present Alexa But Not Always Helpful
To utilize the maximum functionality of Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you will need other amazon devices at your home. Alexa not only helps in opening apps, but also it controls your smart home. For example, if you have anyone at your front door, you can simply ask Alexa to “show me the front door” and get the live footage of what is happening outside.
Alexa can also work on controlling your home appliances and smart light. You can also use the Alexa Home Theater audio feature to pair Fire TV with Echo speakers.
Luna is Lagging, Games are Less
Along with the Fire TV Stick 4K max, Amazon provides a $6-per-month Luna gaming service at home. It feels like playing on an Xbox 36. There are lags with the game, and it does not respond quickly. It is the same for all cloud gaming services like Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Google’s Stadia and Luna also fall under the same category.
If amazon opens up to stick 4k Max to other platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming or builds a games platform, this device will become an affordable way to play games on your television without a console.
Pros of Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- It is Affordable.
- The Picture-in-picture mode lets you access Amazon Ring home security without switching what you have been watching.
- You can control the volume function and power of the TV directly with this firestick.
- Improvements in the processor speed and memory make it a smoother and enjoyable experience.
Cons of Fire TV Stick 4K Max
- It offers limited support for Google applications and content.
- The streaming stick is compact compared to the streaming box, but it requires an extension cable for a flexible and neat installation.
- The Picture-in-picture mode works seamlessly only with an Amazon ecosystem like Ring.
Conclusion
The main selling points of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is its power and speed. Its increased processing power makes your navigation experience smoother. Other functionalities like gameplay and other fast-action content are also more enjoyable. It’s also great that you can stream anything you want. From Monday night football to the cartoons your kids love watching. In short, this streaming stick is an outright upgrade. It has lesser issues as compared to the previous firesticks of Amazon. If you are looking for a high-performance streaming stick from the Amazon ecosystem, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a good idea.
