Cord cutters looking for the latest hardware at an affordable price will be happy to know that Amazon recently announced a gamechanger. Just in time for the holiday season, the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite looks to bring the best streaming experience you can get for under $30. Here’s a breakdown of how it stacks up against the competition and other Amazon Fire TV devices.
What is the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is Amazon’s entry-level streaming device and allows cord cutters to enjoy streaming their favorite content in Full HD.
How much does the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite cost?
At the low price of $29.99 (currently on sale for $17.99!) the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite is Amazon’s lowest-priced streaming device to date. You can order the Fire TV Stick Lite on Amazon’s website.
How does the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite compare to other Fire TV devices?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite includes many of the same features as other Amazon Fire TV devices that millions of users love. Effortlessly set up the Lite by plugging it in behind your TV. Once you turn on the TV and connect to the internet then your device is ready for setup. Since it’s plugged in behind your TV, it stays hidden and out of sight.
Even at its affordable price, the Fire TV Stick Lite includes the Alexa Voice Remote Lite. Simply press a button and you can use your voice to ask Alexa to search and launch your favorite shows and movies across multiple apps. Cord cutters will still have access to thousands of channels and your favorite apps like Netflix, YouTube. Disney+, and more.
The entry-level device also gives you access to over 20,000 free movies and TV shows from apps like IMDb TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, and more. If you need help thinking of ideas for your next meal, the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite comes with a 1-year complimentary Food Network Kitchen subscription that includes Live Q&A with culinary experts and more. On top of that, if you have a Prime membership, then you can enjoy thousands of movies and shows with Prime Video and listen to your favorite tunes via Amazon Music.
With an internal storage of 8GB and a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, the Amazon Fire Stick TV Lite doesn’t skimp out on the hardware. Amazon says the Lite is 50% more powerful than the previous-generation Fire TV Stick and includes the most processing power of any streaming media player under $30.
Like the other Amazon Fire TV devices, the Amazon Fire Stick TV Lite comes with a 90-day limited warranty with service included. For those who are looking for an extended warranty, Amazon has you covered with an optional 2-year and 3-year extended warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately.
How does the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite stack up against the competition?
One of Amazon’s biggest competitors in the streaming device market is Roku with the Roku Express being a comparable device to the Fire TV Stick Lite. Both devices have the same type of users in mind as they are both entry-level devices and priced at $29.99. Content-wise, there isn’t much difference between both devices because they both offer most of the same apps and streaming services. However, aesthetically, the Amazon device wins because there isn’t a need for an HDMI cable as it plugs right into the TV, unlike the Roku. Roku Express has 512MB of RAM, whereas the Stick Lite clocks in with double the RAM at 1GB. With that kind of memory, the device should have fewer hang-ups, and its fast processor should lead to a better overall user experience.
For an entry-level device, the Stick Lite has an advantage when it comes to picture quality as it offers up to 1080p Full HD with support for HDR, including HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The Roku Express offers a max playback resolution of 1080p, but it does not offer support for HDR. Both devices offer remotes with batteries included. Amazon’s device allows you to voice search with Alexa. While the included Roku remote doesn’t offer voice search, you can download the Roku app on your smartphone and turn your phone into a second remote with voice search. Plus, the Roku remote does offer buttons for quick access to popular streaming services in the U.S.