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Let's be real — most smart TVs have rubbish built-in software. Sluggish menus, apps that crash mid-episode, and interfaces that feel like they were designed by someone who actively hates television. That's exactly why streaming sticks like the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD exist, and honestly, they've become essential kit for anyone who wants their telly to actually work properly.
We've been using the newest generation Fire TV Stick HD for the past few weeks, and the short version is this: for £39.99, it does exactly what Amazon promises. You plug it in, connect to WiFi, and suddenly your aging TV or that budget set in the spare room becomes a proper streaming hub. Full HD picture, Alexa voice control, access to pretty much every streaming app going — it's all there.
But here's the thing we wanted to figure out: is this newest version actually better than the old one, or is Amazon just shuffling the deck chairs? And more importantly, with Roku sticks and Google's Chromecast floating around at similar prices, is the Fire TV Stick still the one to buy? We've got thoughts.
Amazon keeps things minimal here — you get the Fire TV Stick itself (about the size of a chunky USB drive), the Alexa Voice Remote, a USB power cable, a power adapter, and an HDMI extender for awkwardly positioned TV ports. That's it. No batteries included for the remote, which is mildly annoying, but also not exactly a dealbreaker.
The stick plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port and draws power from the USB adapter. Setup took us about five minutes, and most of that was waiting for it to download updates. If you've got an Amazon account already, it's basically plug-and-play.
This is where the Fire TV Stick HD earns its keep. The interface is quick. Like, noticeably quick compared to the laggy mess that most built-in smart TV software serves up. Jumping between Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video is smooth, apps load in a couple of seconds, and we didn't experience any of that frustrating buffering wheel that haunts cheaper devices.
The Alexa Voice Remote is genuinely useful once you get over the slight awkwardness of talking to your telly. Press the button, say "play Slow Horses on Apple TV+" and it just... does it. No hunting through menus, no typing with that painful on-screen keyboard. Our editor's mum — not exactly a tech enthusiast — picked it up within minutes.
Full HD streaming looks sharp on anything up to about a 50-inch screen. Obviously it's not 4K, but unless you're sitting three feet from a massive panel, you probably won't notice. For a bedroom TV or a kitchen set, it's absolutely fine.
Here's something we weren't expecting to care about: the free ad-supported apps are genuinely watchable. Tubi, Pluto TV, and Amazon's own Freevee have a surprising amount of decent content if you don't mind the occasional advert. We found ourselves watching old episodes of Hell's Kitchen on Pluto TV at 2am, which probably says more about us than the device, but still.
For anyone who's subscription-fatigued (and honestly, who isn't at this point?), having easy access to free legal streaming is a genuine bonus. It's not just filler — there's proper films and full TV series on there.
Amazon makes a big deal about using the Fire TV Stick to control your smart home, and yes, it works. We asked Alexa to dim the living room lights and check our Ring doorbell camera, and it all happened without drama. But let's be honest — if you're buying this specifically for smart home control, you'd probably be better off with an Echo device. It's a nice extra, not a reason to buy.
Right, here's where we have to be honest. The Fire TV interface is heavily weighted towards Amazon's own content. Prime Video gets pride of place, Amazon apps are promoted constantly, and there's a definite "buy this, rent that" energy to the home screen. If you're not a Prime subscriber, it can feel a bit pushy.
Also, the remote — while functional — feels a bit plasticky and light. It's not going to win any design awards. And those app shortcut buttons on the remote? You can't customise them. If you don't use Netflix but would love a button for BBC iPlayer, tough luck.
One more thing: this is the HD model, not the 4K one. If you've got a nice big 4K telly, you'll want to spend the extra tenner on the Fire TV Stick 4K instead. This one maxes out at 1080p, which is fine for smaller screens but feels like a missed opportunity on anything larger.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD hits a sweet spot for a few specific people. First: anyone with an older TV that doesn't have smart features, or has smart features that are painfully slow. This transforms it instantly.
Second: people setting up a secondary TV — in a bedroom, kitchen, or kid's room — where spending serious money on a streaming device feels excessive. Forty quid and you're sorted.
Third: anyone who's already deep in the Amazon ecosystem. If you've got Prime, use Alexa, and shop at Amazon regularly, this integrates beautifully with everything else. It just works.
If you're after 4K streaming or you actively dislike Amazon's interface, look elsewhere. But for everyone else? This is a reliable, affordable streaming stick that does exactly what it says on the tin.
For £39.99, the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is a no-brainer if you need to add smart streaming to any TV without spending serious money. It's fast, easy to use, and the Alexa integration is genuinely handy. Just don't expect 4K, and be prepared for Amazon to remind you about Prime Video quite a lot.
As an Amazon Associate, Smart Trends earns from qualifying purchases.
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