Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Exact average 83.9 · 8 printed, 3 estimated · printed scores only: 85
11 professional reviewers tested the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), and 9 recommend it. Most praised: performance and picture quality. Most common complaint: software and app.
Reviewed by What Hi-Fi?, Expert Reviews, Android Central and 8 more
The catch: Very Amazon-centric menus.
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What 11 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 95What Hi-Fi?
An easy recommendation for upgrading a streaming device on a budget, with a rich picture and solid apps, tempered by a heavy ad presence and middling music timing.
Read What Hi-Fi? review - 95Expert Reviews
Called the best all-round streaming stick, with near Fire TV Cube speed, Ambient Experience and Wi-Fi 6E for only a little extra money; the Amazon-centric interface and immature AI search are minor drawbacks.
Read Expert Reviews review - 90Android Central
The reviewer finds it one of the best streaming sticks, smoother than before with more storage and faster Wi-Fi.
Read Android Central review - 80Digital Trends
The reviewer says this remains the Fire TV stick to buy, with more storage, faster Wi-Fi and a nice Ambient Experience, held back mainly by occasional lag.
Read Digital Trends review - 80Tom's Guide
A good, faster stick, but only a modest upgrade that costs more than rivals and pushes Amazon content, so the reviewer advises holding off until a sale.
Read Tom's Guide review - 80PCMag Middle East
A solid, fast streamer whose Wi-Fi 6E gain only matters with a compatible router; the cheaper standard 4K stick stays the Editors' Choice for most buyers.
Read PCMag Middle East review - 80Tech Advisor
Described as one of the best and best-value sticks for those wanting all the extras, with Ambient Experience and more storage, but too much self-promotion and a higher UK price.
Read Tech Advisor review - 80SlashGear
A recommended but unexciting update: easy setup, quick app switching and extra storage, with minor audio hiccups and upsell prompts.
Read SlashGear review - 83est.Trusted Reviews
Amazon's best stick so far, with quick performance and full HDR support, but the reviewer finds the price hard to justify as an upgrade, especially in the UK.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 83est.CNN Underscored
The reviewer recommends it as Amazon's best stick, praising the screensavers, format support and Wi-Fi 6E, while criticizing the ad-filled home screen, remote and occasional lag.
Read CNN Underscored review - 77est.Engadget
The writer likes the hardware as a bargain and especially as a retro emulation box, but finds the ad-heavy Fire OS interface frustrating as a regular streamer.
Read Engadget review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
How it compares
Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.
vs Google TV Streamer83
- What Hi-Fi? picks the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen).
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other streaming devices critics rate highly
Common questions
Is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) worth it?
Most critics think so: 9 of 11 recommend it. Very Amazon-centric menus.
Do critics agree about the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?
Broad agreement: scores range from 77 (Engadget) to 95 (What Hi-Fi?), a spread of 18 points across 11 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?
Software and app (6 of 11 reviews), Size and weight (3 of 11 reviews), Price (2 of 11 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?
The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) (critic score 87), best overall.