Years ago, when I was looking to buy a streaming stick for my 4K TV, it was hard to choose anything other than the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Compared with Amazon’s other Fire TV Sticks, it offered the best performance, the fastest Wi-Fi, and the most storage. And while it’s the most expensive option, it’s almost always on sale, which makes the decision even easier.
That has largely remained the case since the current second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max launched three years ago, in September 2023. But now that the 4K Max is three years old, it’s due for a refresh, and with Amazon’s history of announcing new products in the fall, it’s entirely possible we could see a new version launch sooner rather than later.
However, a lot has changed with Fire Sticks over the past year, with Amazon launching both the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the refreshed Fire TV Stick HD. As a result, what a new 4K Max might have looked like a year ago could now be vastly different, both in terms of software and design.
So, with a new 4K Max possibly coming soon, here’s what it could look like, given everything that has changed over the past year, including both the good and the bad.
The good
A sleek redesign of the 4K Max may be incoming
Before I get into the negatives, let’s start with the one good thing a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max could have: a new design.
When Amazon unveiled its refreshed Fire TV Stick HD earlier this year, one of the highlights was its sleek new design, which Amazon called its “slimmest” ever. It has a substantial reduction in both width and volume compared with all other Fire TV Sticks.
In my experience with the new slim design of the Fire TV Stick HD, it not only looks great, but also makes it easier to plug into your TV. So, seeing this new design potentially carry over to a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max would be great.
But beyond being slimmer, Amazon also introduced two other substantial design changes with the new Fire TV Stick HD. First, it has a USB-C port instead of the archaic Micro-USB port found on all other Fire TV Sticks. This opens up the potential to use more powerful adapters, such as Gigabit Ethernet and USB OTG (On-The-Go). Second, the new Fire TV Stick HD can be powered entirely by a TV’s USB port, meaning you don’t have to worry about plugging it into a wall outlet like you do with other Fire TV Sticks. Again, since Amazon has already made these changes to the Fire TV Stick HD, it would make a lot of sense to carry them over to a new 4K Max as well.
To be clear though, it’s not guaranteed that a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max will get all of these changes, given that it’s a much more powerful device than the Fire TV Stick HD. Still, seeing some version of them on a new model would be fantastic, particularly a sleeker design and USB-C. It would also be great if a new 4K Max could be powered entirely off a TV’s USB port, as the new HD stick can. But again, given that it’s a much more powerful device, I wouldn’t be surprised if it still requires a wall outlet.
The bad
To be blunt: Vega OS
Undoubtedly, the biggest drawback of a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max will be its software, specifically Vega OS.
Amazon unveiled Vega OS, its new Linux-based operating system, a year ago and launched it with the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. The biggest benefit Amazon touts over Fire OS, the Android-based operating system it has used on its Fire TV devices for more than a decade, is improved efficiency and performance.
While that sounds great, Vega OS has one huge downside, and it’s also the aspect that has drawn the most criticism: It doesn’t support sideloading or Android apps. Since Vega OS is Linux-based, Android apps designed for Fire OS won’t work on it. For years, the ability to sideload apps and install Android apps has been one of the biggest appeals of Fire TV Sticks, so taking that away — something Amazon says it has done for “enhanced security” — is obviously a huge bummer. That’s particularly true for enthusiasts who like to tinker with and customize their devices, such as by using custom launchers.
…when a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max eventually arrives, it’s all but certain to run Vega OS rather than Fire OS.
When Vega OS first launched on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, it was unclear which devices it would eventually come to. But when Amazon launched the Fire TV Stick HD with Vega OS in April, the company also announced that all future Fire TV Sticks would run Vega OS.
So, in other words, when a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max eventually arrives, it’s all but certain to run Vega OS rather than Fire OS. That means if you enjoyed sideloading apps and using custom launchers, you won’t be able to do that anymore.
The next major downside for a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max could be its price. Amazon recently raised the prices of all its Fire TV Sticks amid the ongoing global memory shortage, which has caused the cost of components such as storage and RAM to soar. The current Fire TV Stick 4K Max was hit the hardest, jumping $25 from $60 to $85. So, when a new 4K Max eventually launches, it could potentially keep that same higher price tag.
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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When will a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max arrive?
It could be soon
Amazon has not officially announced any plans to launch new devices yet, but given the company’s history of releasing new products in the fall, including Fire TV Sticks, Fire TVs, Kindles, and more, it’s quite possible we could see a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max launch before the end of the year. That would make sense given that the 4K Select came out last October and the new HD launched in April, leaving the 4K Plus and 4K Max as the only two Fire TV Sticks that haven’t been updated recently. And speaking of the 4K Plus, if it gets refreshed soon as well, it will likely share many of the same positives and negatives I’ve discussed here for the new 4K Max.
To be clear, this is all speculation on my part, based on Amazon’s history of announcing new devices. It’s entirely possible we won’t see any new Fire TV Sticks until next year if Amazon skips new Fire TV releases this fall. Hopefully, the company will soon confirm whether it has any new products coming this fall.
Overall, I’m excited to see what Amazon has in store for a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max whenever it arrives, and I hope it borrows some design cues from the new Fire TV Stick HD. But as much as I’m looking forward to a new 4K Max, it’s hard not to be bummed out by the move to Vega OS, which will undoubtedly put a damper on things when it eventually launches.
