The best Fire Stick could soon disappear ‣ Diverse Daily

Amazon recently launched its new Fire TV Stick HD, a refreshed version of its entry-level 1080p streaming stick. On paper, it doesn’t seem like a bad streaming stick. It’s got improved performance, a new slim design, and, finally, Amazon has opted to use USB-C on it after using Micro-USB on all its previous Fire TV Sticks. But there is one detail about the new Fire TV Stick HD that was left out of the announcement for it: the operating system it runs, Vega OS.

Vega OS is Amazon’s new Linux-based operating system, which debuted on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select last year. While it looks identical to Fire OS, the Android-based operating system that Fire TV Sticks have run for over a decade, the key difference is that Vega OS doesn’t support sideloading. This means you can’t download and install third-party apps on it, and you’re limited to what’s available in the Amazon Appstore.

If you’re someone who just uses your Fire TV Stick to stream and doesn’t care about sideloading, Vega OS won’t affect you at all. But if you’re an enthusiast who likes installing third-party apps on your Fire TV Stick, such as custom launchers, the switch from Fire OS to Vega OS will be disappointing.

What’s more, Amazon has recently announced that all future Fire TV Sticks will also run Vega OS. In other words, the era of getting new Android-based Fire TV Sticks is officially over. However, if you’re still looking for an Android experience on your Fire TV Stick, there’s still a chance to get it before it’s gone for good. But the clock is ticking.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max still runs Android – for now

But for how much longer is the question?

While Amazon has made it clear that Vega OS is the future of new Fire TV Sticks, that doesn’t mean Fire OS is completely out of the picture just yet. Right now, Amazon still sells two Fire TV Sticks running Android-based Fire OS: the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

If you don’t already own a Fire TV Stick but want one that runs Android rather than Linux, your best bet is to grab the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the most powerful and feature-rich model, sooner rather than later, before Amazon refreshes it and the Android version disappears.

The last time Amazon updated the Fire TV Stick 4K Max was in October 2023 with the release of the second-gen model, which is still on sale today. Since it’s now been three years, and Amazon has already launched the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and its new HD stick with Vega OS, it feels like only a matter of time before a refreshed Fire TV Stick 4K Max arrives with Vega OS too — potentially marking the end of Android-based Fire TV Sticks altogether.

…Amazon lists the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) as supported until December 31, 2030, so it will continue to receive software updates for the next 4.5 years.

Amazon hasn’t shared its future roadmap, but given that it often unveils new products in the fall, I wouldn’t be surprised if both the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and 4K Max get refreshed then. Of course, that’s just speculation on my part, and there’s always the chance Amazon will wait a little longer before refreshing the 4K Max with Vega OS. No matter what, though, it’s inevitable.

And I want to underline, too, that if you already have a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, or you’re considering buying one, Amazon still plans to support it for quite a while as part of its “multi-OS company” commitment. So it won’t suddenly become obsolete if a new version is released. On its support page for “Amazon Fire TV Software Security Updates,” Amazon lists the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) as supported until December 31, 2030, so it will continue to receive software updates for the next 4.5 years.

Brand: Amazon
Resolution: 4K
Audio codecs: Dolby Atmos
RAM/storage: 16 GB

There are other options besides Fire Sticks

Google TV delivers a solid Android experience

Understandably, if Amazon’s recent Vega OS push has left you disillusioned with Fire TV Sticks, you’re not alone. And if you’re ready to move on from Fire TV Sticks because of it, there are plenty of solid alternatives.

If you still want an Android-based experience, Walmart’s Onn streaming devices have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially the Onn 4K Pro. It’s a powerful Google TV set-top box, and Walmart recently released an updated version, making it an even more compelling alternative to the Fire TV Stick. If you’re after a reliable 4K streamer with many of the same perks as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max — like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and sideloading support — the Onn 4K Pro is absolutely worth considering.

if you’re done with Fire TV Sticks altogether, the good news is there are plenty of Google TV alternatives out there that are just as good, if not better

Onn has also recently launched its first-ever 4K Google TV streaming stick, the Onn 4K Streaming Device. So if you prefer a smaller stick-style form factor but still want the flexibility and freedom that come with Android, it could be a worthwhile option, especially at just $40.

Then there’s Google’s own Google TV Streamer, another popular Fire TV Stick replacement. As you’d expect, it runs Google TV, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and even includes a Gigabit Ethernet port — a surprisingly rare feature for streamers.

All in all, if your goal is to get an Android-based Fire TV Stick, now may be the time to grab a Fire TV Stick 4K Max before Amazon releases a new version running Vega OS. But if you’re done with Fire TV Sticks altogether, the good news is there are plenty of Google TV alternatives out there that are just as good, if not better.