Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K Ultra HD

Hands-free entertainment – Put down the remote and dive straight into your favorite movies and TV shows with your voice with the Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K Ultra HD | Hands-free streaming device with Alexa | 4K Ultra HD.

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K Ultra HD Features

• The ultra-powerful Hexa-core processor delivers a fast, fluid 4K streaming experience with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio
• Plus, Fire TV Cube has 8 microphones that hear you from any direction, making it easy to ask Alexa to adjust the volume or mute your compatible TV or soundbar
• Switch inputs and go from watching your favorite TV show to the big game
• You can also ask Alexa to check the weather, set timers, and reminders, and more—even when the TV is off
• The most powerful Fire TV streaming media player – the ultra-powerful Hexa-core processor delivers a fast, fluid 4K streaming experience
• Control the TV with your voice – Control compatible soundbar and A/V receivers, and change live cable or satellite channels with your voice
• Just ask Alexa – With the built-in speaker, ask Alexa to check the weather, turn off the lights, and more – even when the TV is off
• Cinematic experience – Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+ and immersive Dolby Atmos audio
• Endless entertainment – Stream more than 1 million movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock, and more, plus listen to millions of songs Subscription fees may apply
• Designed to protect your privacy – Built with privacy protections and controls, including a microphone off button that electronically disconnects the microphones
• Live and free TV – Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to SLING TV, YouTube TV, and others Stream for free with Pluto TV, IMDb TV, YouTube, and more
• Alexa Voice Remote – Search and launch content with your voice Get to favorite apps quickly with preset buttons Control power and volume with one remote

What’s Included

• Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen)
• Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen)
• Power adapter
• Infrared (IR) extender cable
• Amazon Ethernet Adapter (10/100)

Amazon Fire TV Cube 4K Ultra HD Details

• 5.87″H x 5.08″W x 4.17″D
• Weight: 1.98 lbs.
• Memory: 2 GB DDR4
• Speaker: 1.6″
• Requires two AAA batteries (included)
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa
• Connectors: Power, HDMI, USB, IR Output (3.5mm jack)
• Wireless: Dual Band Dual antenna. 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Here’s what’s different

There are two main aspects of the Fire TV Cube that set it apart from anything else Amazon has released.

Hardware

The first is hardware compatibility. Not only does the Fire TV Cube run Amazon’s Fire OS for streaming shows and movies from the likes of Sling TV or Netflix (among many more), but it also works with most cable or satellite set-top boxes. Furthermore, it also works with sound bars and A/V receivers.

So, instead of having to switch between inputs or use different remotes to watch something on cable and go back to the Fire TV Cube to stream a show on Hulu, this one box controls everything.

Amazon uses a combination of cloud integration, an IR transmitter, and HDMI-CEC to control various devices. For example, if you ask Alexa to turn up the volume, Fire TV Cube will issue the command via IR to your sound bar to increase the volume.

Because the Fire TV Cube is designed to be in close proximity to your TV or sound bar, Amazon suggests placing it at least 12 inches away from the nearest speaker. This helps the microphones discern what’s coming from the TV, and any commands coming from someone sitting in the room.

Included in the box is a small IR extender, which is plugged into the back of the Cube and routed to the front of devices that the Cube can interact with, but its IR signal doesn’t reach.

According to Amazon, most consumers have a set-top box or a soundbar. Unfortunately, I have neither, so all of my testings was done using the Fire TV Cube as a streaming device only.

Software

The second aspect that makes the Fire TV Cube different from previous Amazon products is the software.

Beyond the ability to control your cable box, switch between inputs, or adjust your TV’s volume, the Fire TV Cube takes advantage of the large display it’s attached to Your TV. For example, asking Alexa on the Fire TV Cube about the weather will display the forecast on the TV screen as Alexa walks you through the highs and lows. Playing the daily Jeopardy challenge puts the giant blue boxes with white text on your TV. And, of course, asking Alexa to show you a video feed from one of its supported cameras works without a hitch.

Furthermore, the interface of the Fire TV Cube shifts and adapts to the current interaction method. If you’re using your voice to ask Alexa to search for shows on Netflix, large thumbnails with numbers are shown on the screen. However, if you use the remote to open Netflix and begin searching, smaller thumbnails that lack numbers are used.

The Fire TV team essentially incorporated elements of the interface from the Echo Show, adapting it to a bigger screen, and it works. It’s easy to read or navigate, and it doesn’t require a huge learning curve.

Enjoy favorites from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, STARZ, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, and others. Stream live news, sports, and must-see shows, plus thousands of titles in brilliant 4K Ultra HD, HDR, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision. Access tens of thousands of HDR titles. Plus, play millions of songs through services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio. Subscription fees may apply.