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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select problems & complaints

Is it worth it? The downsides first: what owners report, and who should skip it.

Compiled by the ConsFirst editor · Updated · 6 sources · How we research

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Buying on sale? Check this first: “Match HDR and audio formats to your TV.” What to check →

#9 of 10
$StickScore 2.5/5
17%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-14)17,744 ratings; the listing's ASIN predates the 2025 Select, so it may pool reviews of earlier Fire TV Stick models. Amazon shows a 'newer model' notice.

Tom's Guide's #4 pick for Alexa users: easy setup, speedy navigation and good 4K HDR10+ picture. But it lacks Dolby Vision, Atmos and Wi-Fi 6, its Vega OS relies on cloud apps and blocks sideloading, 17% of Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, and Amazon is phasing it out until stock runs out.

Common Fire TV Stick 4K Select problems

What owners like

Good for
  • Alexa+ fans on a tight budget
  • A basic 4K stick for a second TV
  • Tight spaces (HDMI extender included)

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: #4, best for Alexa users (updated 2026-10-13), with the caveat that the restrictive HDR and audio options and half-baked Vega OS keep it at the bottom of the list.
  • Tom's Guide: Review: nails the basics and is worth it for Alexa+ fans, but the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is better value for everyone else.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select worth it?

Tom's Guide's #4 pick for Alexa users: easy setup, speedy navigation and good 4K HDR10+ picture. But it lacks Dolby Vision, Atmos and Wi-Fi 6, its Vega OS relies on cloud apps and blocks sideloading, 17% of Amazon ratings are 1-2 stars, and Amazon is phasing it out until stock runs out. It ranks #9 of the 10 streaming devices we compared.

The deciding question: is “Missing formats and modest hardware” a deal-breaker for you? If not, still compare it with higher-ranked streaming devices before buying. If it is, look elsewhere — see the alternatives below.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked streaming devices whose biggest complaint is a different kind of problem.

#1 in streaming devicesApple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 2022)

The fastest box testers have used, with clean tvOS, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Atmos, and a HomeKit/Thread hub. Apple raised its price to $199 in June 2026, it puts Apple's own content first, and the touch remote can be finicky. Apple announced a new $299 Apple TV 4K (A19 chip, hands-free Siri) on Oct. 13, 2026, and Tom's Guide suggests holding off until it's tested.

Its catch: expensive, and now pricier#2 in streaming devicesGoogle TV Streamer (4K)

Wirecutter's top pick: very fast, with the best cross-app home screen and search, plus a Google Home and Matter hub built in. It's Wi-Fi 5 only, has no hands-free voice or AirPlay, and Google's store now lists it at $149.99, up from the $99 most reviews were written at.

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

Fire TV Stick 4K Select: questions people ask

Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select worth it?

It ranks #9 of the 10 streaming devices we compared. Good for: Alexa+ fans on a tight budget · a basic 4K stick for a second TV · tight spaces (HDMI extender included). Skip it if: you have a Dolby Vision TV or Atmos soundbar · you sideload apps or use a VPN app · you want a stick with long-term support.

What is a good alternative to the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?

If “Missing formats and modest hardware” is a deal-breaker for you, consider the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen, 2022) (#1 in streaming devices). Its main complaint is a different one: expensive, and now pricier.

See all 10 streaming devices ranked →

Common problems with other Amazon products (27 more) →