Unless you’ve been living “off-grid”, you will probably know a ton of folks with this amazing streaming media device, but is Fire Stick worth it?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is great value for money. It has most of the apps and premium streaming services you could ever wish for. It’s also compatible with a huge range of HDR standards right out of the box.
With Amazon Fire TV users of over 35 million, the Fire Stick is a device that plugs into the HDMI port of your TV, to replicate most of the functions of the Amazon Fire TV box.
Is Fire Stick worth it?
Built around Amazon Prime, many videos and TV shows are free for Prime members. You can also rent or buy movies, TV series, etc. All of your Amazon content is safely stored in Amazon’s Cloud for playback at any time.
You can also use the Alexa Voice Service. Just say “Alexa, find comedy movies” and you will get an instant list of great funny films to watch. The new Fire Stick is also extremely fast and just as fluid as swiping through apps on a smartphone or iPad.
With access to all of your favorite apps and channels, the Fire Stick is an amazing investment and a great way for non-techy people to get into the world of streaming movies, TV shows, news, sports, and gaming.
What is a Fire TV Stick?
The Amazon Fire TV stick is a straightforward little TV dongle that plugs straight into your TV and gives you access to lots of smart TV features.
Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote | Streaming Media Player
- Our best-selling Fire TV Stick, with the 1st Gen Alexa Voice Remote.
- Enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills with access to over 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Enjoy favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, NBC, and more.
- Our best-selling Fire TV Stick, with the 1st Gen Alexa Voice Remote.
- Enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills with access to over 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Enjoy favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, NBC, and more.
- Access millions of websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit with browsers like Silk and Firefox.
- Launch and control content with the included 1st Gen Alexa Voice Remote. Simply say, “Play Game of Thrones” or “Launch Netflix” and Alexa will respond instantly. Plus, play music, find movie show times, order a pizza, and more—just ask
- No cable or satellite? No problem. Watch the best of live TV and sports from AMC, HGTV, ESPN, FOX, and others with a subscription to DIRECTV NOW, PlayStation Vue, or top-rated primetime shows with CBS All Access.
- Amazon Prime membership unlocks thousands of movies and TV episodes, including "Thursday Night Football", Amazon Original Series, Prime Video Channels, and ad-free listening to millions of songs with Prime Music.
- Pick up where you left off. Bring hit shows and movies with you when you travel. Plug Fire TV Stick into any TV’s HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi, and continue streaming.
- Play current favorites or quickly discover what to watch next directly from the Home screen.
The hugely popular Fire Stick is the same size as a flash drive and can be plugged into the HDMI port of any TV.
The fire stick is a cheaper and more portable version of the Fire TV box and enables users to stream media using Wi-Fi.
Which channels can I watch with the Fire Stick?
The Fire Stick gives you access to thousands of channels, Alexa skills, and apps. You get access to more than 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Channels include all of your favorites including Fox News, Netflix, , and BBC News.
What’s the difference between a Fire Stick and a Fire TV box?
The main difference is that the fire stick is portable. You can simply unplug your device, put it in your pocket, and take it with you on vacation. You can then access an entire world of content wherever you may go.
The Amazon Fire TV box can be connected with Ethernet for higher speeds whereas the Fire Stick uses your Wi-Fi connection. The Fire TV box is set up for 4K and UHD whereas the Fire Stick is limited to 1080p.
If your Wi-Fi is weak, a Fire TV box might be the way to go. If your Wi-Fi is reliable and strong, you really can’t beat the convenience and portability of a Fire Stick.
Does Fire Stick need Wi-Fi?
Yes, you must have a wireless internet connection as the Fire Stick does not have an Ethernet port.
Can I replace my cable service with a Fire TV Stick?
If you do, you will be joining tens of millions of like-minded folks. However, not every single channel is available to stream with the Fire Stick (but most of your favorite channels are). If you are a huge sports or news fan, you might still be better off with your current cable subscription. You should spend a bit of time checking which channels you need before making a decision.
Should I upgrade if I have the old Fire Stick?
The new Firestick features the Alexa Voice Service and uses a faster quad-core processor. It’s equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 and has a dual antenna making the new Fire Stick much faster than its predecessor.
However, if your older Fire Stick does everything you need (and streams without buffering) then there is no reason to change.
Does the Fire Stick work on a laptop?
No, most laptops only have an HDMI output (which is the same as the Fire Stick itself). The Fire Stick is an HDMI plug and not a USB. You can access Amazon Prime with just a web browser, so no Fire Stick would be necessary in this case.
You can also access all features of Fire TV by plugging in the Fire Stick to your computer monitor.
What is a jailbroken Fire Stick?
First things first, “jailbroken” is a misnomer! What this means is that someone has added & installed media server software to the device. The most popular is KODI.
Contrary to many rumors, no modifications or hacks are required to install a media server to your Fire Stick.
Please note that if you use KODI to view media that you would normally pay for, you could be breaking the law. Therefore, due diligence is required before using a “jailbroken” fire stick. KODI is a reputable and legal software, however, misuse can land you in court if it is deemed that you have streamed pirated content.
Is a jailbroken firestick worth it?
Although there is no record of anyone getting in trouble for using a jailbroken Firestick, it certainly doesn’t mean that they are safe. Actually “jailbreaking” a Firestick is legal, streaming copyrighted content with one definitely is. In fact, you could be liable to five years in prison and a huge fine if caught.
If you still go ahead, you can get free access to premium movie videos. You can also watch premium TV shows free of cost.
The Fire Stick also paid has games. With a jailbroken Amazon Fire TV Stick, you get free access to those games.
With all that being said, we can’t condone using a jailbroken Firestick.
How to use KODI on Fire Stick?
Getting KODI on your device requires an internet connection, a little patience, and about 15 minutes of your time. You can find instructions on how to get KODI by clicking here.
Does the Fire Stick support 4K and UHD?
Unfortunately not, the Fire Stick is limited to 1080p. If you need 4K or UHD, you should consider getting an Amazon Fire TV box.
What are the alternatives to a Fire Stick?
There are tons of streaming media players available right now. Here are our top five alternatives to the Fire Stick:
Amazon Fire TV – All-new, streamlined Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and HDR support.
Apple TV 4K – 4K High Dynamic Range (Dolby Vision and HDR10) for stunning picture quality.
Roku Ultra – Brilliant 4K, HDR, and HD streaming.
Nvidia Shield – 4K HDR quality and the most immersive sound with Dolby Atmos & DTS-X surround sound.
Roku Express – Easy HD streaming at an incredible price.
Is the Fire Stick better than the Roku?
In our opinion, the Fire Stick is much faster than the Roku and the navigation features are much better and easier to use. Furthermore, with the Fire Stick, you can access an extensive collection of games, some of which are free and some have to be purchased. You can play them on the included remote controller or you can buy a specialized gaming controller.
Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device with Long-range Wireless and Voice...
- Wireless that goes the distance: Basement rec room. Backyard movie night. Bring ‘em on. The long-range wireless receiver gives you extended range and a stronger signal for smooth streaming even in rooms farther from your router
- Wireless that goes the distance: Basement rec room. Backyard movie night. Bring ‘em on. The long-range wireless receiver gives you extended range and a stronger signal for smooth streaming even in rooms farther from your router
- Brilliant picture quality: Experience your favorite shows with stunning detail and clarity—whether you’re streaming in HD, 4K, or HDR, you’ll enjoy picture quality that’s optimized for your TV with sharp resolution and vivid color
- Tons of power, tons of fun: Snappy and responsive, you’ll stream your favorites with ease—from movies and series on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Netflix, to cable alternatives like Sling, enjoy the most talked-about TV across thousands of channels
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, mute, and control your streaming all with one remote—use your voice to quickly search across channels, turn captions on, and more in a touch
- Setup is a cinch: Plug it in, connect to the internet, and start streaming—it’s that simple
- Private listening on mobile: Use the free Roku mobile app to pump up the volume on your shows without disturbing the house
- Endless entertainment: Stream what you love, including free TV, live news, sports, and more. It’s easy to stream what you love and cut back on cable bills with access to 500,000 plus movies and TV episodes across thousands of free and paid channels
- Automatic software updates: Get the most up to date software including all the latest features and available channels without even thinking about it
- Works with popular voice assistants: Enjoy easy voice control with Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google
- Share it with Apple AirPlay: Effortlessly share videos, photos, music, and more from your Apple devices to your TV
If you are still asking if a Fire Stick is worth it The answer is a resounding “YES”.
If you enjoyed this article, you might like to check out our article Should I purchase a TCL TV? from our tech section.
A big thanks for our featured image HBO Now Apple TV Flickr photo by Harrison Weber shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license.
