If you’re looking to add smart TV functionality to a not-so-smart TV, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick has been one of the best options available for some time. On Wednesday, the company announced a new, improved version of the popular streaming stick, and it’s keeping a key feature: the $40 price tag.
“We are proud that our customers have made Amazon Fire TV the #1 streaming media player in the U.S. With more than 120,000 reviews and a 4.2 star rating, they’ve also made the Fire TV Stick the most reviewed product ever on Amazon,” Amazon Fire TV vice president Marc Whitten said in a statement. “Today, we are excited to make it even better. The new Amazon Fire TV Stick has been completely redesigned with incredible performance, powerful voice search and the included Alexa-powered remote to deliver instant access to a vast selection of movies, TV shows, games and Alexa skills at just $40.”
The new Fire TV Stick features a quad-core processor and 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi, the combination of which should generally make streaming a faster, more streamlined experience. The Fire TV Stick includes 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, which should be more than enough to load the streamer up with every app you’ll need. Resolution is still limited to 1080p, so potential buyers looking for 4K will still need to opt for the Fire TV, the Stick’s bigger, more full-featured sibling.
Amazon says the updated Fire TV Stick offers the most accurate voice search of any streaming stick, with its Alexa-powered search working across more than 90 apps and channels. Customers can currently use phrases like “find suspense thrillers” or “launch Hulu,” and if the company’s recent pace is any indication, customers can expect new voice features to be added at a decent clip.
In order to further entice customers to pick up the updated streaming stick, Amazon is offering a free bundle of services worth $65 for early buyers. Those who activate the stick by October 31 will receive one free month of Sling TV, two months of Hulu’s Limited Commercials plan, and a $10 credit for Amazon video.
The updated Fire TV Stick is available for pre-order today and will begin shipping to customers on October 20. For more information or to pre-order, see the Amazon website.
