Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)

Description. The Amazon. Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen). Is a stick style streaming player. It has an HDMI output. The player comes with a (relatively simple) remote and it doesn't require line of site to control the streamer. It has a built-in microphone for voice search. Has a built-in Alexa digital assistant.

Setup. This player is generally easy to set up. First Time setup: prompts you to setup parental controls. Ability to save wifi passwords to amazon account; restore Fire TV with current apps, privacy settings and parental control settings from another Fire TV device. Ability to create up to 6 profiles for independent users. Ability to sideload apps if you put the device in developer mode, but requires many complicated steps.

Ease of Use. This player is good for everyday use:

Interface. The layout of the apps on the home screen is customizable for easier access to your favorites. It also has a very responsive voice search function that will search across several video streaming services for content. We found this player’s response to be fast, allowing it to navigate menus and content quickly.

Remote control. Standard media remote. This unit offers an optional game controller. The provided remote has an adequate number of buttons. The size and labeling of the buttons is good. It uses wireless communication so it does not require a direct line of sight with the device for control.

Picture Quality. This player supports resolutions up to 2160p. In our tests we found that HDR was supported in the following format(s). Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG. A compatible TV is required to take advantage of those formats. In general, we found the streaming picture quality to be excellent. Streaming quality is very similar to what we see with streaming content on the best TVs. The quality of the video you’ll get is largely dependent on the speed of your network and the picture quality of your television.

Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio. Also, supports Dolby Atmos. Lacks DTS-X support.

Connections. Given its design, this player has a limited number of connections. It has one HDMI output. DLNA is supported allowing access to play music, photos, or videos directly through the player but may require App download to gain access to content. Bluetooth (5.0) is supported which can be used to pair compatible speakers, headphones and video game controllers. Supports Miracast so you can mirror and display content from compatible devices.

Miscellaneous. The Amazon. Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen). Can be paired with a game controller, including those from Xbox and PlayStation for playing compatible games. With built-in Alexa support, you can use the remote’s microphone for voice commands to search for content.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is part of the Streaming Media test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Streaming Media Devices models like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Ease of use: This score reflects how easy it is to use on a normal basis. It looks at how the remote and user interface interact for common tasks like powering on the device, navigating the menus for access to content, and how easy it is to perform common tasks like visiting websites and playing games.

Features: This score reflects the presence or absence of features, including the number of streaming video services, other internet services, and the ability to play media files

Data privacy: A measure of how the Streaming Media Player and its service provider collect, share, and use your data, and the user's ability to control the flow of their data. Analysis is based on (but, not limited to) evaluation of user interfaces and publicly-available material.