Amazon has a history of announcing new Fire TV devices in September. In 2025, it announced the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, the new Fire TV 2-Series and 4-Series, and Omni QLED TVs. And back in 2023, it announced the Fire TV Stick 4K (now called the 4K Plus) and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, arguably two of its most popular Fire TV Sticks ever.
Given that it’s been almost three years since new versions of the 4K Plus and 4K Max were released, speculation is growing that Amazon could finally launch updated versions of both, possibly in September or before the end of the year, especially since it already refreshed the Fire TV Stick HD in April. And based on a recent FCC filing, that could very well be the case.
First spotted by Janko Roettgers of Lowpass, the FCC filing reveals that Amazon has a new Fire TV remote in the works that could be included with an upcoming Fire TV Stick. While the listing is heavily redacted and no manual or photos have been made publicly available just yet, it does reveal a few interesting details. The new remote is roughly the same size as the Alexa Voice Remote Amazon first started including with Fire TV Sticks in 2024, uses AAA batteries, and connects via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). It’s also slightly thicker than the existing remote, measuring 18mm compared to 16mm.
The fact that this new remote now exists certainly raises the possibility that Amazon could be preparing to launch a new Fire TV Stick alongside it. And with the 4K Plus and 4K Max now long overdue for a refresh, and September right around the corner, we could find out sooner rather than later.
However, there’s one major problem: any new Fire TV Stick Amazon releases will be missing one of the things that made its streaming sticks so appealing in the first place.
Amazon is saying goodbye to Android Fire Sticks
All future Fire Sticks will run Vega OS
When Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick 4K Select last September, it also unveiled Vega OS, its new Linux-based operating system. Amazon touted Vega OS as being much more efficient than Fire OS, the Android-based operating system it has used on Fire TV devices for well over a decade, requiring less memory and fewer system resources.
But the problem with Vega OS quickly became apparent shortly after Amazon announced it. Because it’s based on Linux rather than Android, devices running Vega OS won’t be able to sideload apps or install custom launchers. Rightfully so, this upset a lot of Fire TV enthusiasts. And while Amazon has said it’s now a “multi-OS company” and is committed to updating both Fire OS and Vega OS, which it’s technically doing, the company confirmed earlier this year that all future Fire TV Sticks will run Vega OS rather than Fire OS. In other words, the end of Android-based Fire TV Sticks is near.
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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The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and 4K Max are now Amazon’s last remaining Fire TV Sticks that still run Fire OS, since the new Fire TV Stick HD was released with Vega OS in April. That means if Amazon does release new versions of either device this September alongside its new remote, both will run Vega OS instead of Fire OS, officially marking the end of Android-based Fire TV Sticks.
For everyday users who don’t care about sideloading or custom launchers, this won’t be a huge deal. But for enthusiasts who have long enjoyed the flexibility and freedom that Android provides, it has a much bigger impact. It’s also likely to push many of those users away from Fire TV altogether, something we’ve already started to see as more users move over to Google TV.
So while it’s exciting that Amazon could potentially have a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max or 4K Plus on the way this September, Vega OS will undoubtedly take some of the excitement out of the launch for many people. If these new devices do arrive, they’ll mark the beginning of a new era for Fire TV Sticks — one that leaves Android behind.
- Brand
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Amazon
- Resolution
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4K
- Audio codecs
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Dolby Atmos
- RAM/storage
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16 GB
