Amazon's refreshed Fire TV Stick 4K is faster, but the switch to Vega OS comes with a major catch

Amazon has unveiled a new and enhanced iteration of its Fire TV Stick 4K, boasting a sleeker design and improved speed. According to Amazon, the aim is to enable users to access content more swiftly than competitors, thereby setting the device apart from similar offerings. The upgraded Fire TV Stick 4K is equipped with a quad-core 1.7GHz processor and comes with 8GB of internal storage.

It supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) wireless connectivity. The media player also handles a variety of video formats, including HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9, and AV1.

The latest iteration runs on Amazon's Vega operating system and is accompanied by Alexa+, alongside the most recent Fire TV experience. It utilizes Direct Power technology, which draws power from a TV's USB port to minimize cable clutter and facilitate a cleaner installation. According to Amazon, the device can get users to content 20-40% faster than a similarly priced stick from a leading brand, likely Roku. In testing, the new streaming stick outperformed built-in experiences from three 4K smart TVs.

The refreshed Fire TV remote that accompanies the new streaming stick features an asymmetric shape, with a flat top and a curved, weighted bottom, making it easier to discern the device's orientation without looking. Other frequently used buttons boast unique surfaces and shapes, again aimed at providing a sense of orientation through muscle memory. Moreover, there is a customizable button that can be programmed to launch preferred apps or toggle frequently used features like closed captioning or the screen magnifier.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is now available in several markets such as the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the UK, with a price tag of $60. In the US, early birds can snag the device for just $30 with an introductory coupon available, and during the upcoming Prime Big deals event next month.