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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen): the downsides first

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#5 of 8
$$StickScore 3.5/5
5%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)83,430 ratings; the listing may include reviews of the earlier 4K Max.

CNET's fastest streaming device: quick app loading, Wi-Fi 6E and every major HDR format. Reviewers dislike the Prime-first home screen and its ads, there's no AirPlay or Chromecast, and Amazon raised its list price from $59 to $84 in August 2026.

Top complaints

  • Ads and Prime-first home screen

    CNET lists ads as prevalent on the home screen and screensaver and calls search results wonky. Wirecutter says it's still too Prime Video-centric with an annoying amount of ads, though it found Amazon's revamped interface (rolling out since Feb 2026) much less Prime-centric.

    Source: CNET review (1st-gen Max), Wirecutter (NYT)
  • Freezes and remote failures for some

    Amazon's review summary says reliability and the remote are mixed, with some owners reporting the remote stops working after a month and the stick freezing and needing frequent restarts.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • No AirPlay or Chromecast; small upgrade

    CNET lists no Chromecast or AirPlay support, and its roundup calls the 2023 model only slightly improved over the previous one.

    Source: CNET review (1st-gen Max), CNET best streaming devices

What owners love

Good for
  • Alexa, Echo and Ring households
  • Fast app switching on a stick
  • Busy Wi-Fi 6E networks

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • CNET: Fastest streaming device, 8.4/10. Fast with the latest playback standards, but only slightly improved from the previous model.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick: impressive specs, but too Prime Video-centric with too many home-screen ads. Its new interface, tested on this stick, is a big improvement.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

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Its catch: price went up#3 in streaming devicesAmazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)

PCMag's pick for hands-free Alexa: a fast box with Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E and an HDMI input that puts Alexa over your cable box. It's expensive at $199.99, Prime-first like other Fire TVs, has no AirPlay or Cast, and 1 in 10 Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, with crash and Wi-Fi complaints.

Its catch: expensive

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