Which Fire TV Stick should I buy?
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for most people: it's on NOW's supported device list, with Dolby Vision and Wi-Fi 6E. The cheaper Fire TV Stick 4K (2026) runs Amazon's new Vega system and isn't yet on NOW's list; the Fire TV Cube adds hands-free Alexa and an Ethernet port.
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The picks
Best for most people
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen)
Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB of storage, and NOW lists it as supported.
Worth knowing: It isn't on Freely's device list, so it won't give you live free channels without an aerial. NOW memberships cost extra each month.
Cheapest
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026)
4K with HDR10+ and Wi-Fi 6 for less. It runs the new Vega system, and NOW's device list doesn't name it yet.
Worth knowing: It runs Amazon's new Vega OS, and NOW's device list doesn't yet name it. If you want Sky channels on NOW, the 4K Max is the safer choice.
Main TV, wired
Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd gen)
Hands-free Alexa, Dolby Vision, an Ethernet port and an HDMI input for another box.
Worth knowing: It isn't on Freely's device list, and it costs more than a stick.
Side by side
| Model | Freely (live TV over broadband) | NOW (Sky channels) | ITVX | Netflix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026) | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd gen) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
From Freely’s, NOW’s and the makers’ own lists. “Not confirmed” means they don’t say, so we don’t claim it.
How to choose
- Want NOW for Sky's channels? Choose the 4K Max or the Cube, which NOW lists.
- Weak Wi-Fi behind the TV? The Cube has an Ethernet port; for a stick, Amazon sells an Ethernet adapter.
- No aerial? No Fire TV device has Freely. A Freely box or a Freely TV gives the live channels over broadband.
Questions
- What's the difference between the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max?
- The 4K Max adds Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6E and twice the storage (16GB), and NOW lists it as supported. The 2026 4K stick runs Amazon's new Vega system.
- Does a Fire TV Stick work on any TV?
- Any TV with a spare HDMI socket. For 4K and HDR, the TV needs to support them too.
Related guides
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd gen)Best for most people
See it on AmazonDesk research by Tely from the makers’, Freely’s and NOW’s own pages, checked 4th November 2026. We haven’t tested these ourselves; each product page lists its sources. Prices are the makers’ listed starting prices; shops often charge less. How we check.