Amazon’s fall hardware refresh includes a new Fire TV Stick 4K that is thinner and faster than before, with support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and AV1 video. Both TechCrunch and Engadget report that the device can be powered directly from a TV’s USB port, and that it will retail for $59.99, with an introductory price of $29.99. Engadget notes that discount aligns with next week’s Prime Day event.
The bigger story, according to TechCrunch, is the bundled remote. The new design drops the prominent blue Alexa button for a subtler black microphone key, adds a metallic-finished home button that is easy to find by touch, and recesses the power button to prevent accidental presses. A new programmable Favorites button can launch an app or toggle features like Closed Captions. TechCrunch says the remote is also sold separately for $14.99.
The two reports agree on the core details, though TechCrunch spends considerably more time on the remote’s ergonomics while Engadget frames the device mainly as a faster, slimmer streamer for the holiday season. Neither source suggests the stick’s performance gains are revolutionary, but both imply that the remote’s usability improvements could matter more to everyday viewers than raw speed.