Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review: Adding some zing to mediocre screens

 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max's top-notch performance, rich app library, excellent connectivity, and easy-to-use remote control breathe life in screens that otherwise disappoint due to modest hardware


I own a smart TV which I bought in 2019. It was rich in specifications and features back then, but it now seems to have aged prematurely. Not that it has a bad picture or audio quality, but it lags behind newer smart televisions in performance, connectivity, and user experience. Thankfully, there are streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max which bring to speed these otherwise mediocre televisions with their faster internet connectivity, sleek performance, and support for tons of new and updated apps.

How? Let’s find out:

What is Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a streaming device with an HDMI interface that turns any screen with HDMI input into a smart screen connected to the internet for online streaming of content available on supported apps like YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, etc. It boots Android operating system-based Amazon’s Fire OS with Amazon services like Prime Video and Amazon Music built-in, and an app store for users to download and install other supported apps, including games.

The flagship model in Amazon’s streaming devices portfolio, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max boasts sleek performance, top-notch connectivity, support for most high dynamic range (HDR) formats, Dolby Atmos audio, and Alexa voice assistant for hands-free operations and smart home set-up.

What’s inside the box?
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Remote control with dedicated Alexa button, and hotkeys for Prime Video, Netflix, and Amazon Music
HDMI Extender cable
USB-A to micro USB cable
Power adaptor
2 x AAA batteries

How to set up the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
You need Wi-Fi and an Amazon account to set up the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Plugin the stick into the HDMI port (ARC, if available) of the compatible screen – TV, monitor, projector, etc; power it up using the supplied adaptor and cable; change the screen input to HDMI; and follow the on-screen instructions – connect the stick with the wireless internet network and input your Amazon account details. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports HDMI CEC. Therefore, you can use the Fire TV remote to control the TV and other supported peripherals without needing a separate remote for each connected device. However, the controls are limited to basic functions, and you may still need the remote for the screen and other peripherals to manage and control things like screen native display and audio settings.

No comments:

Post a Comment