The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is priced at Rs 5,999.

Amazon introduced the first Fire TV Stick in India in 2017. At the time, smart TVs were expensive, few brands manufactured them and the adoption of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms was relatively low. In such a market, a streaming device that could be plugged into any TV with an HDMI port to access streaming apps as well as games was a compelling proposition.

However, things have changed a lot in 2024. On the one hand, the number of OTT platforms has increased significantly, offering a wide range of exclusive content. On the other hand, smart TVs have become relatively cheaper, with many new brands entering the market and making it more accessible to the masses. According to the report “India Internet Report 2023” conducted by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar, a massive 707 million users are on OTT platforms in India. The total number of streaming platforms has also increased to 57, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

This situation would seem to make third-party streaming devices less useful, but then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K made its debut. Priced at Rs 5,999, it supports 4K resolution content (2160p) as well as HDR10+, Dolby Vision, etc. It also offers the entire Amazon Appstore library with over 12,000 apps.

Over the past two weeks, I have been using this streaming device to find out if what it has to offer is good enough in this era when it is competing not only with other streaming devices but also with the growing number of smart TVs that offer the same experience integrated into the television.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Design and Remote Control

The basic design of the original Fire TV Stick hasn’t seen many upgrades over the years, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K continues that tradition. It’s a matte black rectangular device (now with curved edges) with the Fire TV logo on top and an HDMI port on the front. If you can’t easily plug in the HDMI port, an HDMI extender gives you more flexibility.

New Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Remote

There is a Micro-USB port on the side for power. Depending on your TV, you may be able to power the device using the USB port if it provides enough power. My TV couldn’t do that, so the charger that came in the box came in handy and allowed me to power it by plugging it into a power outlet.

The remote control has also been slightly improved over the previous Fire Stick 4K released in 2019. It now has dedicated app buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, and Amazon Music. A fourth button gives you direct access to installed apps. A Live TV button and a dedicated Alexa button have replaced the previous voice control button. The functionality is the same, but Alexa feels much better.

In a previous review, Gadgets 360 noted that at best the virtual assistant would just pop up an app if the content you searched for wasn’t from Prime Video, but now it can show title cards for Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema, and YouTube (these are the apps I use a lot.) Other than that, the rest of the remote is standard.

When it comes to installation and usage, Fire TV is very easy to use. The installation process, including OS-based updates, took about 15 minutes. All you have to do is plug it into your TV, connect it to a power source, and follow the on-screen instructions. It’s a plug-and-forget device.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Interface

It runs on Fire OS, and the user interface isn’t too different from the standard Android TV experience. You get the same tile-based layout and horizontal scrolling interface showcasing your shows, movies, and apps. There’s a Home, Search, and Live TV section, along with an easily accessible App Library. The Settings icon is also conveniently located at the top, and the placement makes it easier to switch between since there’s no Settings button on the remote.

Amazon also has a great recommendation algorithm that suggests content across various OTT platforms, even if you don’t have them installed. It shows your recently watched shows, Netflix recommendations, free movies and TV shows, and categories by genre. However, being an Amazon product, the content is biased. For example, only Prime Video content is shown as 4K on the home screen. For other content, you have to click on the content tile to find out more.

You can jump directly to Prime Video content from the Featured section on the home screen, but other apps require a description screen first, and Prime Video takes up the top half of the page where recommended content is displayed.

However, I watch quite a few shows and movies on Prime Video, so I’ve never found it an inconvenience. The integration makes it easy to discover new content to watch and play it instantly. If you’re not a fan of the Prime Video library, you might be better off with the Mi TV Stick or the default Android TV/Google TV.

Overall, the interface is snappy, responsive, and extremely reliable even over extended periods of use. I rarely encountered any glitches or issues.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Performance

Now, let’s look at the performance. On paper, this is Amazon’s most powerful streaming device available in India. It supports up to Wi-Fi 6 (both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands) and Bluetooth 5.0. It also has HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos audio support to go with 4K Ultra-HD video quality support. The device comes with 8GB of inbuilt storage.

I’ve been using the device with my Redmi Fire TV for over two weeks now and am pleased with its solid performance. Whether I was watching an episode of Shogun, enjoying the comedy drama Laapataa Ladies, or binge-watching the anime Spy x Family, the video quality was crisp and bright, with easy distinction between light and dark areas. Even dark scenes were bright and comfortable to watch. To my surprise, the OS performance on the Fire TV Stick 4K was faster than the built-in Fire OS.

However, keep in mind that 4K video support requires a fast internet connection, and an unstable or slow connection may slow down the video stream. Additionally, the overall video quality will vary depending on the TV you’re using. Needless to say, a premium TV that supports 4K will offer better visuals than one that doesn’t.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Review

As I said above, the goal of this review was to understand whether the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K really has enough features to be worth buying. After using it, my answer is yes.

Even in a world where smart TVs can be had for under Rs 15,000, not all are created equal. Some have poor memory and some offer sub-par OS experiences. With many people still using older, non-smart TVs, Amazon’s streaming device fills a gap in the need to replace trusty TV hardware due to software flaws.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is a solid performer in terms of OS interface, performance, and picture quality. But beyond that, what this device really offers is reliability. I’ve experienced glitches with my Redmi Smart TV and my parents’ Sony Bravia, but I’ve never experienced even minor issues with this device. From navigating between different apps to watching shows and movies, it was a seamless experience. In my opinion, a good streaming device should be something you don’t notice while watching TV, and the Fire TV Stick 4K delivered exactly that.

If you don’t own a smart TV, or you’re annoyed that yours is a few years old and starting to slow down, the Fire TV Stick might be a good way to extend the life of your TV without compromising your viewing experience.

The post Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Review: A Trusted Choice appeared first on Review Products.

TVs can be expensive or affordable, and if you’re shopping in the latter category, you’ll likely give Xiaomi a look. Of course, it might sound a bit strange to call a television that costs over Rs. 60,000 ‘affordable’, but everything is relative, and there’s a huge market for big-screen, feature-rich televisions that don’t cost too much. The latest in that list is the Xiaomi X Series (2023) television range, which now comes in a 65-inch size option, which is priced at Rs. 61,999 in India.

With a 65-inch Ultra-HD (3840×2160-pixel) screen, support for Dolby Vision HDR, 30W speakers, and the Google TV user interface alongside Xiaomi’s Patchwall on top of Android TV OS, this is a well-equipped big screen television that costs less that Rs. 1,000 per diagonal inch of screen size. Is this the best reasonably-priced 65-inch TV you can buy right now? Find out in this review.

Xiaomi X Series (2023) 65-inch Ultra-HD Smart TV design and specifications

Xiaomi’s older X series televisions have been available in sizes ranging from 43 inches to 55 inches, all of which are Ultra-HD (3840×2160-pixel) televisions. The 2023 series adds a 65-inch option as well, although it’s worth pointing out here that this isn’t the first 65-inch TV from the company, but it’s new for this series. The TV I’ve received for review is the 65-inch option, which is priced at Rs. 61,999 in India.

Expectedly, the design is largely along the lines of earlier X series models, and is available in a single black colour option. The borders around the screen are slim and largely out of sight much of the time when the TV is in operation, while the bottom has a slightly thicker and more prominent border. The Xiaomi logo is at the centre, just above the module which has the indicator light and power button.

It isn’t a very slim TV, but it isn’t too thick either, and will look reasonably good when wall-mounted using a low-profile mounting kit. Unlike the X Pro series which was launched earlier this year, there is no hands-free voice assistant functionality, and so no microphone built into the TV itself. You can, of course, access Google Assistant through the remote, which has a microphone to accept voice commands.

You get three HDMI 2.1 ports (one supports eARC), two USB type-A ports, an Ethernet port, an Optical audio port, and sockets for AV, 3.5mm audio, and antenna on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) TV – all fairly standard for a TV in this price segment. The fact that this is a large television with the ports close to the centre at the back makes access to them a bit difficult when the TV is wall-mounted, so you’ll need to ensure you set everything up before putting it on the wall.

Stands for the TV are included in the sales package, but not a wall-mount kit. Xiaomi’s installation team can take care of assembly and installation regardless of which mode of installation you opt for, but you’ll need to confirm with the technician about which wall-mount kit is used and whether there will be an additional cost for it.

The Xiaomi X Series (2023) is available in various size options, going up to the 65-inch version that I had for review

Other specifications worth mentioning are 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage for apps and app data, a quad-core A55 processor to run the smart functionality and Android TV operating system, and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz. The TV supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10 formats, and relies on Bluetooth 5 and dual-band Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity. For sound, the Xiaomi X Series (2023) TV has a 30W speaker system with support for Dolby Audio, DTS:X, and DTS: Virtual X, as well as Dolby Atmos passthrough support on the eARC enabled HDMI port.

Xiaomi X Series (2023) 65-inch Ultra-HD Smart TV remote and features

The remote and feature set on Xiaomi’s larger televisions doesn’t really change much, and the 65-inch X Series (2023) television sticks to this formula. The lightweight remote is compatible with various Xiaomi and Redmi TVs in the range, easily replaceable, and largely uncomplicated. Software fixes have made up for the lack of buttons for some time now, and AAA batteries for the remote are included in the sales package.

The remote has hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and YouTube, apart from the customary navigation pad and Android TV buttons, Google Assistant button, and volume button. Connectivity is only through Bluetooth, and the remote needs to be paired (through a quick and convenient pairing process) when the TV is first booted up.

Other features on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) TV include Chromecast built-in and auto low-latency mode (ALLM). The X Series (2023) is not quite as well-equipped as the X Pro launched earlier this year, but it’s a fair bit more affordable than the X Pro for models of the same size, and largely gets the core experience on point.

Xiaomi X Series (2023) 65-inch Ultra-HD Smart TV software and interface

Xiaomi has a pretty stable formula for its televisions which is arguably a bit too predictable, but I see it as a big benefit if you go by the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ philosophy. Much of that comes down to the software experience, and the X Series (2023) television range comes with the expected combination of Android TV with the Google TV user interface, apart from the ability to switch to Xiaomi’s own PatchWall UI.

The television runs Android TV 11 under the hood, but seems to struggle a bit with performance, when it comes to the UIs and smart TV functionality. Even with just a few basic apps loaded, I found the TV quite sluggish when navigating around the Google TV and PatchWall user interfaces. Rebooting the TV completely would improve things for a few hours (or maybe a day), but it would go back to being sluggish eventually.

Apart from the Google TV user interface, you can also use PatchWall on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) TV

This seems to apply only to the user interface itself; on platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube (all known for their performance reliability), there were no performance issues with anything playing. Some apps such as JioCinema did have occasional issues of lag and stutter, but at no point was the TV troublesome, once content was actually streaming.

Wall Mount or on a Stand? What You Need to Know Before Setting Up Your New TV

The Google TV user interface was introduced on the Xiaomi X Pro series earlier in 2023, and makes its way to the X Series (2023) as well. As mentioned in numerous earlier reviews, it’s a considerable upgrade over the earlier stock Android TV UI. PatchWall, on the other hand, remains largely familiar, with many of its classic features such as curated categories and recommendations present on the X Series (2023) as well.

Xiaomi X Series (2023) 65-inch Ultra-HD Smart TV performance

Xiaomi’s brand image, coupled with the fact that it’s a well-established and leading player in the smartphone segment, has made it naturally interesting to buyers of TVs in this price segment. At Rs. 61,999 for the 65-inch variant, it’s also quite competitively priced as compared to much of the competition in the segment, especially when you consider the features and specifications on offer, such as support for Dolby Vision, 30W of sound output, and the Google TV user interface.

The X Series (2023) has some minor performance-affecting differences as compared to the X Pro, but you’re unlikely to really notice these in practical use. Key features and specifications are all in place, and the performance more than matched up to most of the televisions I’ve used in this price segment. I’ve usually reviewed 55-inch TVs at this price, so getting a 65-inch option at under Rs. 65,000 is somewhat of a novelty for me.

With plenty of Ultra-HD and high dynamic range content available to stream from various platforms, there’s lots to work with on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) television if you buy one of the larger screen sizes. I watched a range of content from various streaming platforms, including episodes of Star Wars Visions and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on Disney+ Hotstar, Strange Planet (Review) on Apple TV+, episodes of Barry on JioCinema, and assorted sports and YouTube content.

Ultra-HD Dolby Vision content looks best on the TV, although the bump in brightness with HDR isn’t significant

The 65-inch screen size comes with its own impact, but this can also potentially create challenges in the picture quality for lower-resolution content. While the differences between Ultra-HD and even full-HD content are a bit more pronounced on larger screens, the actual drawbacks are handled to a reasonable extent by the Xiaomi X Series (2023) TV thanks to acceptable upscaling. Of course, you’ll want to stick to Ultra-HD content as much as possible for the optimal level of performance, and the Xiaomi X Series (2023) manages to do decently for the price when it comes to that.

Dolby Vision: What Is It, and How Does It Make Your Movies and TV Shows Better?

Support for Dolby Vision high dynamic range (but not the HDR10+ format) means that you’ll get slightly better performance with compatible content from platforms such as Netflix and Apple TV+. That said, the actual Dolby Vision effect isn’t quite as pronounced on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) as on high-end quantum-dot and OLED televisions, but you’ll still see a decent increase in the brightness and colour vibrance.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 looked good on the TV, thanks to support for the Dolby Vision format for the title. The colourful and over-the-top set pieces of Knowhere (the Guardians’ city-spaceship headquarters) looked punchy and sharp for the most part. That said, very bright colours and certain skin tones appeared a bit oversaturated.

Peak brightness was also somewhat of a concern on the Xiaomi X Series (2023) television, with HDR content not really offering much of a bump over standard dynamic range content. Fortunately, I didn’t need to do too much to darken the room for the picture to be visible; if you’re in front of the TV or just off by a small angle, you won’t have any trouble watching even with bright daylight in the room.

That said, you do need to be in front of the TV for the ideal viewing experience, and the further away from the centre you are, the more reflective the screen of the Xiaomi X Series (2023) television gets. Additionally, darkening the room as much as you can will definitely help in making the picture and colours appear as good as they can.

Ultra-HD content obviously appeared the sharpest and nicest to watch, including the deliberately hazy They Cloned Tyrone which still looked sharp despite the tone of the film itself. However, low-light scenes were sometimes difficult to watch, thanks to the fairly average black levels and noticeable grey tinge of the TV. Lower resolution content – such as episodes of Barry – looked alright, and I definitely didn’t have any trouble watching these.

That said, don’t expect it to look stunning; there were points where details seemed washed out, and the show effectively appeared a bit older than it actually is. You probably won’t mind this once in a while, but if most of your viewing is full-HD or lower resolution content such as this, you shouldn’t really be considering a 65-inch Ultra-HD TV in the first place.

Xiaomi tends to be very good with sound quality on its TVs, and that is the case on the X Series (2023) as well. Although not quite as loud as the X Pro TV series, the X Series comes with a box speaker system providing 30W of sound output. There is no support for Dolby Atmos from the speaker system, but in most cases, this isn’t something you’ll miss either.

The TV is loud, clear, and audible even at moderate volumes with plenty of room to go higher if you like. The uniformity in volume increments is excellent, and I didn’t experience too many unpleasant volume spikes. Usefully, there is Dolby Atmos passthrough, so you’ll be able to connect to a compatible soundbar or speaker system and get the benefit of Atmos, if you want.

Verdict

Although the frequent releases and somewhat overlapping product range might seem confusing for many, Xiaomi’s diversity in the sensibly-priced big screen segment is perhaps its biggest strength. The Xiaomi X Series (2023) adds to the company’s capable portfolio, this time adding a 65-inch option while sticking to the current-generation and no-frills approach of the X series.

The issues with this TV aren’t significant, save for a somewhat sluggish user interface and hassles with black levels which make dark content a bit difficult to watch. In all other ways, you get a TV that more than matches up to its price, providing a value-for-money experience that lets you enjoy the benefits of a massive TV without breaking the bank. Consider the X Pro TV series if you want a few more features and HDR10+ compatibility, but otherwise the X Series (2023) is a solid option, especially if you want the 65-inch screen size.

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