This Fire TV Stick HD Is Now Under $20.
A small upgrade can make an old TV feel new again, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is a plug-and-play streaming device that does just that. It’s now down to $17.99 (previously $34.99), which, according to price tracking sites, is the lowest price ever recorded.
PCMag calls it ” the best 1080p media center ” for those who prefer Full HD, and its ease of setup aligns with that. The stick plugs directly into the HDMI port, and Amazon also includes a short extender cable in case your TV’s ports are too cramped. It runs in 1080p and supports HDR10 , so HDR-ready shows and movies look a bit richer, even on older screens. I wouldn’t expect a dramatic jump in image quality, but high-contrast scenes—such as those with bright signs or dark backgrounds—look sharper. It also supports Dolby Atmos, which is useful if you connect it to a soundbar that supports it.
Using it day after day will feel familiar if you’ve used any of the recent Fire TV interfaces. You get all the usual streaming services —Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV+, even Crunchyroll and Twitch . The Alexa button on the remote works just like on other Fire devices: press, speak, and it’ll find what you want. The remote itself is easy enough to use, and the built-in volume rocker is useful if your TV remote has long since disappeared. It uses a 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. That’s enough for basic functions, but you’ll feel limited from time to time. The interface can feel choppy, especially when quickly switching between tabs or opening a large library. Reviews also note that the stick still uses Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6, which is important if you have a lot of devices vying for bandwidth at home.
This device exclusively supports 1080p resolution, so if you have a 4K TV (or are planning to get one), the Fire TV Stick 4K costs just $7 more and offers smoother playback, improved Wi-Fi, and Dolby Vision support. It also doesn’t support AirPlay or Google Cast, so streaming video from an iPhone or Android smartphone isn’t as easy. However, for owners of older TVs who want all the latest streaming apps in one place, the current price of $18 is a worthwhile, low-risk upgrade.