Amazon Fire TV Stick HD Is Now $20
If you’re looking to breathe new life into an old HDTV, or even just want an affordable way to stream your favorite shows, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD makes a compelling case. It’s currently $19.99 on Amazon.
For $20, you get access to almost all major streaming services , Alexa voice control, and support for HDR10 and Dolby Atmos. Sure, it’s a budget option, but it doesn’t feel like a stripped-down version of something better. PCMag gave it its Editors’ Choice award for Best 1080p Streaming Center , an accolade that doesn’t come lightly.
The drive itself is a small black strip that plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port and is powered via the included micro USB cable. And if your setup is a little tight on space, Amazon includes a short HDMI extender to help with setup. As for the remote, it handles everything you might need: volume controls, shortcut buttons to popular streaming apps including Netflix and Prime Video, and voice commands through Alexa. You’ll still have to press the microphone button to use voice search (no hands-free commands), but it works well enough and isn’t always listening, which some people might prefer.
However, it’s not the fastest Fire TV Stick on the market. It handles the basics fine, but you may notice some lag when navigating between menus or loading large libraries. It also doesn’t support Apple AirPlay or Google Cast, so screen mirroring from an iPhone or iPad isn’t supported. Also, since it runs on Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6, streaming speeds may be slower if your network is already busy. And while it supports HDR10 and Dolby Atmos pass-through, you’ll need a compatible TV or soundbar to really benefit from it, PCMag’s review notes. If you have a 4K TV or want better performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K —about $10 more—might be a smarter choice. But for those who just want to stream in HD with a familiar interface and some reliable features, this is a cost-effective way to achieve it.