Among the few gadgets that every member in a family really cares about is Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, which basically allows you to stream digital content on your TV. Basically, watching Netflix, Hotstar, Prime Video and the lot. There are two versions of the third generation Fire TV Stick available in the market, one is the Lite version and the other is the full-fledged version. Yet another version is available, though from 2018, the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is slightly costlier.

Personally, the remote to my old FireTV Stick had been playing up for five-six months while the TV remote is approaching its end. So having this loner unit has encouraged me to purchase a new one instead of upgrading the TV, which seems to be strong enough for two-odd years.

Let’s go step by step as to how to install the device and also ask if it is worth your wallet.

More controls at your fingertips

There are two ways to power up the Fire TV Stick. First, simply connect the USB cable to the TV’s USB port, which works but the device may not be able to draw enough power. We recommend that you attach it using the power brick, which is in the box. The Stick also needs to connect to any of the HDMI ports and there is a helpful extender included in the box. In case the placement of the HDMI port on the TV is such that there is not enough space to accommodate the Stick, the extender offers a bending angle.
Next, go through the instructions on the TV screen and select the apps you want installed. The selection can also be done at a later time. So far it seems like the old Sticks but bear with us.

The processor on the Stick is faster, which means the lag you may have felt earlier while switching between apps has reduced. There is 8GB of storage, which is fine for most users.

The question is why pay Rs 500 extra for the Fire TV Stick over the Lite version. There are a few things. First, the remote control. On the Lite version, there is no volume control button . Yes, you can control the volume of the TV directly from the Fire TV Stick without having to sit around with the TV remote.

The other difference is direct access to Dolby Atmos audio which on the Lite version comes using pass-through HDMI. In fact, the difference is so subtle that we would strongly recommend that you spend Rs 500 extra for the features on the remote control. One wonders why did Amazon even launch the Lite version! There is a third option, which is Fire TV Stick 4K that was released in 2018 and it allows — like the name suggests — 4K Ultra HD.

Also good to see is how casual games are easier to access using the Fire TV Stick. All you have to do is go to the ‘App’ tab and select ‘games’, which will list some basic titles, like old-fashioned car racing. But it’s not at all comparable to Apple Arcade.

Obviously Alexa is on the Stick once again and she can help beyond streaming needs — like, controlling lights and other home devices.

What about alternatives?

Of course, there are a few options. You can buy a Google Chromecast for around Rs 3,000 from Flipkart. But what if you want to access the streaming service, Apple TV+?! Then there is Apple TV 4K. Yes, this is different from Apple TV+, which is a streaming service. Now, Apple’s device wins on two fronts — interface and the remote control, which comes with a wonderful trackpad (and a gorgeous finish). Plus, access to Apple Arcade becomes so much easier. Meanwhile, the Fire TV Stick is cheaper… way cheaper… but the interface will appear slightly off in case you have seen Apple TV 4K in use. There is also the new Chromecast with Google TV but it is yet to launch in India.
Yet, the Fire TV Stick is the clear winner because the remote offers just about enough control, plus the Stick is easy to install.

Does it make sense?

In case you have been using an old Fire TV Stick and its remote control is about to give up on you, get the new version (and not the Lite). What we want to see in the future is more storage on the Stick and also a couple of programmable buttons for easy access to, say, Prime Video and Netflix. Otherwise, the innards of the new Stick is sufficient to make streaming accessible. Amazon has used its secret sauce yet again on the new Fire TV Stick — keep it accessible for all the favourite apps out there.

At a glance

Device: Fire TV Stick (2020)
Processor: Quad-core 1.7 GHz
Storage: 8GB
Voice support: Alexa
TV compatibility: High-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 60/50 Hz
System requirements: High-definition television with available HDMI input, Internet connection via Wi-Fi
Video formats: HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, Vp9
Price: Rs 2,499