Amazon's New Fire TV Stick 4K: What's Different and Should You Upgrade?

Michael Bennett · 2026-09-30

Amazon just dropped its latest streaming stick, the Fire TV Stick 4K, and it's causing quite a stir. The brand promises faster performance, a more intuitive remote, and—finally—a simpler product lineup. But here's the thing: Amazon's Fire TV lineup has been a mess lately. They quietly renamed the Fire TV Stick 4K to Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, leaving many of us scratching our heads. So, what's actually new with this year's Fire TV Stick 4K? And if you bought last year's Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, is it worth upgrading? Let's break it down. ### Price and Availability The new Fire TV Stick 4K is available now in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Australia, and several European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. It comes with the remote control and costs $59.99. Meanwhile, last year's Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is still hanging around on Amazon's website. Its official list price is $79.99, but it's been heavily discounted—currently just $34.99. That's a steal if you don't mind the older model. ### A Remote That Finally Makes Sense The new Fire TV Stick 4K comes with a redesigned remote that's easier to hold and use. Amazon gave it an asymmetric shape—flat on top, curved on the bottom—so you can tell which way to hold it without looking. The buttons are more tactile, too, making navigation feel more intuitive. The home button now has a metal surface, which makes it easier to find. And there's a new customizable star button that can be set as a shortcut to your favorite app or to jump into settings. Like the older model, this remote can also control your TV, soundbar, and receiver. ### Vega OS: A New Brain Instead of the original Fire OS, the new Fire TV Stick 4K runs on Amazon's Vega OS. It also comes with Alexa+ installed. We haven't reviewed Vega OS yet, but Amazon says it supports over 2,000 apps, including Spotify, Xbox, and a range of VPNs, plus the usual suspects like Prime Video, Disney Plus, YouTube, and Netflix. That's not to say Fire OS was bad—we found it simple to navigate, though it did tend to prioritize Amazon content. > "The new Fire TV Stick 4K is a solid upgrade, but the lack of Dolby Vision is a head-scratcher." ### Dolby Vision and Atmos: The Plus Still Wins Both devices support HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, but only the older Fire TV Stick 4K Plus supports Dolby Vision. That means you'll get enhanced colors, vibrancy, and brightness when streaming compatible content. The Plus also supports Dolby Atmos Audio for clearer, more optimized sound. Just remember: you'll need a TV and speakers that support Dolby Vision and Atmos to take advantage. ### What's the Same? In other respects, the two sticks are quite similar. Both support Wi-Fi 6 and have a 1.7GHz processor. So if you're deciding between them, the choice comes down to price, remote design, and whether Dolby Vision matters to you. ### Should You Upgrade? If you already own the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, upgrading probably isn't necessary unless you really want the new remote and Vega OS. But if you're buying your first streaming stick, the new Fire TV Stick 4K is a solid choice—especially if you can live without Dolby Vision. And at $59.99, it's competitively priced. Just keep an eye out for sales on the older model. At $34.99, it's a fantastic deal for a device that still holds its own.