Amazon has revealed a new Fire TV Stick streaming device, adding the Alexa-powered voice remote into the mix, while keeping the price at $40.
The new HDMI dongle includes the remote as standard, which was previously $10 to buy separately. It adds the Alexa voice assistant functionality underpinning the Amazon Echo speaker to any television set with a HDMI out.
The innards have also been upgraded with a quad-core processor and support for faster 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi.
Unfortunately, Amazon has negated to add the 4K support that’s a major selling point for the new Fire TV set-top box, which costs $100.
Related: Amazon Echo – 8 Alexa Skills to try first
The new Fire TV Stick remains a rival for the existing 1080p HD Chromecast streaming device, but those seeking a visual upgrade are likely to be on the hook for $69 – the rumoured price of the Chromecast Ultra.
Amazon’s launch also comes after Roku revealed its new line-up of streaming devices earlier this week. While there are comparatively priced options in the Express range, the Premiere+ leads the way with both 4K and HDR support.
The refreshed Fire TV stick appears to be US only at present, with Amazon UK listings still showing the existing device.
Customers in the US will get a host of free trials to premium subscription content services like Sling TV and Hulu.
Which company offers the best media streaming proposition? Share your thoughts below.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.