Amazon recently announced the new Fire TV Stick HD, an updated take on its entry-level 1080p streaming stick. It brings a refreshed design, a USB-C port, and improved performance — but the real headline is the software it’s running: Vega OS, Amazon’s new Linux-based streaming platform.

In terms of design, Vega OS is identical to Fire OS, the Android-based platform that Fire TV Sticks have been running for well over a decade. Though its biggest drawback? It can’t sideload third-party Android apps. That means you’re limited to apps only from Amazon’s Appstore, which the company says is “for enhanced security” and is likely also part of its broader push to curb piracy, which it’s been cracking down on with its Android-based Fire TV Sticks.

On top of that, Amazon also made another major announcement recently: going forward, all new Fire TV Sticks will run Vega OS. That means if you’re using a Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or 4K Max with Fire OS, don’t expect refreshed versions with Android. Those days are over — Amazon has made it clear that Vega OS is the future for Fire Sticks.

With all that in mind, as someone who uses a Fire TV Stick 4K Max every day for streaming, it got me wondering: how much longer will it last? Fortunately, for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and other Android Fire TV Sticks, the answer is still quite a while.

How much longer will your Fire TV Stick last?

Amazon plans to support most models until late 2030

Amazon says it plans to keep supporting Fire OS despite the shift to Vega OS, positioning itself as a “multi-OS company.” Still, with Vega OS clearly becoming the priority and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max now pushing three years old, I think it’s fair to wonder if its best days are behind it. Luckily, that’s not the case. If you already own an Android Fire TV Stick, as I do, you’ll still be able to use it for a long time.

This comes straight from Amazon’s support page for “Amazon Fire TV Software Security Updates,” which lists all supported Fire TV Stick models. Nearly every model sold in the past few years is slated to receive software and security updates through December 31, 2030. In other words, Amazon is committed to updating all its current Fire TV Sticks until then. So if you’re worried your Android-based Fire TV Stick is about to become obsolete, you’ve still got a long runway.

There’s just one exception: the Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Generation) from 2018. Its support runs through December 31, 2029 — one year shorter than the rest of Amazon’s currently supported lineup.

Here is the full list of Fire TV Sticks that are supported until December 31, 2030:

• Fire TV Stick 4K Select
• 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)

Amazon is currently facing a lawsuit over the longevity of its older-generation Fire TV Sticks, so if you’re wondering why it’s being so transparent about how long its devices will receive support, that could be one reason.

How to find out which Fire TV Stick you have

If you’re scratching your head, wondering which Fire TV Stick model you have, don’t worry. There’s an easy way to check in your device’s settings menu. Here’s how, step by step:

1. Open the Settings menu on your Fire TV Stick.

2. Go to My Fire TV > About.

3. Select Fire TV. On the right side of your screen, you’ll see all the information about your Fire TV Stick.

5. You can see which model you have by checking Device Type (as shown in the image above).

As long as your Fire TV Stick is one of the devices listed earlier in this story, it will remain supported until December 31, 2030, with the exception, again, of the Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Generation), which will remain supported until December 31, 2029.

I like my Fire TV Stick 4K Max and want to keep using it, so I’m glad Amazon is committed to updates through late 2030. I imagine there are many people in the same boat who want to keep using their Android-based Fire TV Sticks for the foreseeable future and avoid Vega OS. At least devices like the Fire TV Stick HD (2nd Generation), Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Generation), and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation) will continue to receive updates and support into the start of the next decade. Unfortunately, support for Android-based Fire TV Sticks will end once and for all in 2031. Though at least that’s still four and a half years away.

Brand

Amazon

Resolution

4K

Audio codecs

Dolby Atmos