At the end of last year, Amazon made one of its biggest Fire TV Stick announcements ever, unveiling Vega OS, its new Linux-based operating system. Since then, the company has released three new Fire TV Sticks powered by Vega OS: the Fire TV Stick 4K Select (2025), the Fire TV Stick HD (2026), and its latest model, the Fire TV Stick 4K (2026).
While Amazon has highlighted how Vega OS is faster and more efficient than Fire OS, the Android-based operating system it’s used on Fire TV devices for over a decade, there’s one major downside to the switch. Because Vega OS is Linux-based, it leaves behind several of the key features that made Android-based Fire TV Sticks so great and popular in the first place, including support for a much wider variety of Android apps.
Unfortunately, Amazon has already announced that all future Fire TV Sticks will run Vega OS. In other words, the era of Android-based Fire TV Sticks is coming to an end. But just because Amazon is no longer releasing new Android models doesn’t mean Fire OS is suddenly irrelevant. The company has committed to becoming a “multi-OS company” and continuing to update both Vega OS and Fire OS with new features, meaning older Android-based Fire TV Sticks aren’t being left behind just yet.
With that in mind, if you own an older Android-based Fire TV Stick, there are still plenty of reasons to hold on to it for years to come, even as Amazon moves forward with Vega OS.
Access to thousands of Android apps
Fire OS has far more apps than Vega OS
On newer Vega OS-powered Fire TV Sticks, the Amazon Appstore still includes all the same core streaming apps you’ll find on Android-based Fire TV Sticks, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+, Peacock, YouTube TV, and more. What’s missing, however, is the much wider selection of Android apps.
Hands down, one of the best things about owning an Android-based Fire TV Stick has always been the sheer variety of apps you can download and use. That’s thanks to the tens of thousands of Android apps supported by Fire OS, since it’s built on Android.
For example, some of my favorite apps on my Fire TV Stick 4K Max include VLC media player, Steam Link, and Downloader, all of which I’ve downloaded directly from the Amazon Appstore. Unfortunately, none of these apps, nor thousands of other Android apps, are available to download on Fire TV Sticks powered by Vega OS.
The freedom to sideload apps
Sideloading lets you install apps outside the Amazon Appstore
One of the biggest changes that quickly became apparent with the launch of Vega OS was Amazon’s decision to remove sideloading. If you’re not familiar with the feature, sideloading is a capability on Android devices, including streaming sticks, phones, and tablets, that lets you install apps directly using APK files. This allows you to install apps that aren’t available through official app stores, such as the Google Play Store or, in the case of Fire TV Sticks, the Amazon Appstore.
Because Vega OS is Linux-based, it doesn’t support the same sideloading capabilities that Android Fire TV Sticks have with Developer Mode enabled. Amazon did this intentionally, and when you go to buy one of its new Vega OS Fire TV Sticks, it displays a warning right on the store page that it doesn’t support sideloading for “enhanced security.”
The full message reads: “For enhanced security, this device prevents sideloading or installing apps from unknown sources. Only apps from the Amazon Appstore are available for download.”
For users who like to tinker with their devices and install apps that aren’t otherwise available from the Amazon Appstore, sideloading is an important feature to have, and it’s one of the core reasons a lot of users are sticking with their Android Fire TV Stick rather than buying a new one.
You can learn all about sideloading on Android Fire TV Sticks in our other Pocket-lint story here.
Custom launchers let you transform the home screen
Projectivy Launcher and Arc Launcher are two of the best
Understandably, one of the biggest complaints you often hear about Fire TV Sticks is the sheer number of ads and recommendations Amazon floods the home screen with. In all fairness, though, this isn’t just a Fire TV problem. Many other streaming platforms and smart TVs are guilty of the same thing, whether it’s Roku, Google TV, or LG and Samsung smart TVs. That’s why custom launchers have always been so popular on Android streaming devices. They let you completely transform your home screen into something much simpler and ad-free, and all it takes is downloading a launcher app and changing a few settings.
Naturally, since most of these custom launchers are Android apps, they don’t work with Vega OS Fire TV Sticks at all, and you can’t download them. So this is yet another feature that Android Fire TV Sticks have, and that is popular, which Amazon has left behind with Vega OS.
Two of my favorite custom launchers are Projectivy Launcher and Arc Launcher. Projectivy Launcher is extremely customizable, minimalist, and completely ad-free, making it a great option if you want to keep your Fire TV Stick’s home screen as simple as possible. Arc Launcher, on the other hand, is unique because it transforms the look of your Fire TV Stick’s home screen to resemble tvOS, the operating system that runs on the Apple TV 4K. It’s also ad-free and looks incredibly clean. So, if you value having the freedom to customize your home screen however you see fit, that’s another solid reason to hold on to your Android-based Fire TV Stick.
Quiz
Fire TV Stick history
Trivia challenge
From its 2014 debut to 4K streaming dominance — how well do you really know Amazon’s Fire TV Stick?
HistoryHardwareStreamingFeaturesAmazon
In what year did Amazon first release the original Fire TV Stick?
Correct! Amazon launched the original Fire TV Stick in November 2014, initially as an invitation-only product before making it widely available. It was designed as a budget-friendly alternative to the full Fire TV box released earlier that same year.
Not quite. Amazon launched the Fire TV Stick in November 2014, following the debut of the larger Fire TV set-top box earlier that year. It quickly became one of the best-selling streaming devices on the market.
Which port does the Fire TV Stick plug into on your television?
Correct! The Fire TV Stick connects directly into an HDMI port on your TV, making it incredibly simple to set up. A separate USB cable is also included to provide power to the device.
Not quite. The Fire TV Stick uses an HDMI connection to plug directly into your television. This design keeps the device compact and ensures compatibility with virtually any modern TV.
Which Fire TV Stick model was the first to support 4K Ultra HD streaming?
Correct! The Fire TV Stick 4K, released in October 2018, was the first stick-form-factor Fire TV device to support 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. It was a significant upgrade over the standard stick lineup.
Not quite. The Fire TV Stick 4K, launched in 2018, was the first in the stick lineup to offer 4K Ultra HD support along with HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos audio. Earlier stick models were capped at 1080p Full HD.
What is the name of Amazon’s voice assistant built into the Fire TV Stick remote?
Correct! Amazon’s own voice assistant, Alexa, is integrated into the Fire TV Stick remote, allowing users to search for content, control smart home devices, check the weather, and more using just their voice.
Not quite. Amazon built its own voice assistant, Alexa, into the Fire TV Stick remote. Alexa lets you search for content hands-free, control compatible smart home devices, and access a wide range of skills beyond just streaming.
What is the name of Amazon’s own free streaming service that comes pre-installed on Fire TV Sticks?
Correct! Amazon Freevee (previously known as IMDb TV) is Amazon’s free, ad-supported streaming service that comes pre-loaded on Fire TV devices. It offers a wide library of movies and TV shows at no subscription cost.
Not quite. Amazon Freevee, formerly called IMDb TV, is Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming service that comes built into Fire TV Sticks. While Prime Video requires a subscription, Freevee is completely free to watch with ads.
Which budget-focused Fire TV Stick model was introduced in 2020, featuring a simplified remote without TV controls?
Correct! The Fire TV Stick Lite launched in 2020 as Amazon’s most affordable streaming stick. Its remote omits the dedicated TV power and volume buttons found on standard Fire TV remotes, keeping costs down for budget-conscious buyers.
Not quite. Amazon introduced the Fire TV Stick Lite in 2020 as its entry-level streaming stick. The Lite version’s remote drops the TV control buttons to reduce the price, making it an attractive option for first-time streamers.
Before being rebranded, what was the original name of the Fire TV Stick’s operating system?
Correct! The Fire TV Stick runs Fire OS, Amazon’s own operating system that is based on Android but heavily customised with Amazon’s own apps, services, and interface. It has been the backbone of all Fire TV devices since launch.
Not quite. Fire TV Sticks have always run Fire OS, Amazon’s forked version of Android that replaces Google’s services with Amazon’s own ecosystem. Despite its Android roots, Fire OS looks and behaves quite differently from standard Android TV.
Which connectivity standard did the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Gen, 2021) introduce to the Fire TV Stick lineup for the first time?
Correct! The Fire TV Stick 4K Max launched in 2021 as the first Fire TV Stick to support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), offering faster and more reliable wireless connectivity compared to previous models. It also featured a more powerful processor than the standard 4K stick.
Not quite. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, released in 2021, made history as the first Fire TV Stick to include Wi-Fi 6 support. This newer wireless standard delivers improved speeds and better performance in homes with many connected devices.
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Android Fire TV Sticks still have plenty of life left
Software support isn’t going anywhere
Finally, another reason I think older Android-based Fire TV Sticks are worth holding on to is that, for many models, software support isn’t ending anytime soon. As I mentioned earlier, Amazon now describes itself as a “multi-OS company,” meaning it plans to continue updating both Vega OS and Fire OS simultaneously. So, if you own an older Android-based Fire TV Stick, such as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max or 4K Plus, you can still expect to receive software updates and new features. Your device hasn’t suddenly reached its expiration date just because Amazon is moving on to Vega OS.
In fact, according to Amazon’s own support page for Fire TV software security updates, the company is committed to continuing to provide support and security updates for several Android-based Fire TV Stick models released over the years through December 30, 2030.
This includes all the following Android Fire TV Stick models:
- Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)
- Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Generation)
- Fire TV Stick HD (2nd Generation)
- Fire TV Stick HD (1st Generation)
- Fire TV Stick Lite
- Fire TV Stick (3rd Generation)
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Generation)
- Fire TV Cube (3rd Generation)
- Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Generation)
If you don’t know which Fire TV Stick model you have, you can easily check on your device by navigating to Settings > My Fire TV > About > Fire TV. On the right side of the screen, you’ll see Device Type listed, and under that, your device name. For example, mine shows Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation).
