Amazon debuts slimmer Fire TV Stick 4K and trims streaming device lineup to four models

Hardware specifications and direct power

Amazon updated its streaming hardware on September 30, 2026, introducing a redesigned Fire TV Stick 4K priced at $59.99. The device features a slimmer profile modeled on the Fire TV Stick HD released in April, and it ships with the capacity to run directly off a television USB port using an included cable. Users retain the alternative option to connect to a standard wall socket. Internally, the streaming stick houses a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 8GB of internal storage, and connectivity modules for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and Bluetooth Low Energy. The hardware supports media resolutions of 720p, 1080p, and 2160p at up to 60 frames per second while running Amazon's Vega operating system.

Lineup consolidation and remote redesign

Alongside the new hardware, Amazon reduced its streaming player catalog from five models to four. The company eliminated the previous "Select" and "Plus" branding tiers, consolidating its offering into the $35 Fire TV Stick HD, the new $60 Fire TV Stick 4K, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and the $140 Fire TV Cube. The company also announced a redesigned standalone Fire TV Remote priced at $14.99, featuring an asymmetrical body and modified tactile controls. This remote is compatible with Amazon Ember TVs and company streaming players released from 2019 onward, with customer shipments starting in late October. An upgraded aluminum remote featuring backlit buttons and a locator tool will release early next year.

Performance claims and assistant upgrades

Amazon claimed the refreshed 4K model provides speed advantages over both predecessor devices and competing hardware on the market. Company testing measured app launch times improving by more than 35 percent and playback initialization advancing by nearly 20 percent relative to earlier editions.

Fire TV Stick 4K played content faster than all three of the TVs we tested.

Software updates across the device ecosystem introduce reasoning capabilities to Alexa+, allowing the voice assistant to synthesize user subscriptions, viewing logs, and real-world current events. The system can process nuanced commands, such as sorting films by fictional chronological timelines or identifying award-nominated productions.

Ecosystem features and deployment timeline

The Fire TV mobile application received complementary features, enabling users to upload photos for visual media suggestions or submit web article links to populate personal watchlists directly. The mobile interface also adds deep links that launch partner streaming applications on mobile devices, synchronizing playback with the television interface through a shared continuous viewing row. Fire TV now integrates live programming across more than 40 applications, including Peacock, YouTube TV, Tubi, Sling, and DirecTV, while a dedicated Games Hub aggregates cloud gaming from Xbox, Amazon Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. An updated Music application offering music videos and live event broadcasts arrives later this fall.