You most likely stream all of your content. And, if you have a newer TV, it probably has a built-in streaming interface. You may be just fine with that, but if you're still rocking an older and dumber TV, or want to better tailor your experience, a stand-alone streaming device is the way to go. If your home is already using Alexa devices, an Amazon Fire Stick streamer will fit perfectly into that system.
Luckily, adding a streaming device to your existing TV isn't expensive. If you watch a lot of shows and movies on Prime Video, or use Alexa or Echo speakers in your smart home ecosystem, we recommend grabbing the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, now just $35 for Amazon Prime Days (a $25 discount from its usual price).
With the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you can access any of the major streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max, but the experience is clearly designed with Prime Video in mind. Amazon's movies, shows, live sports, and add-on channels are woven throughout the interface, making it easier to find what you're looking for without digging through apps. If Prime Video is already your streaming home base, the Fire TV Stick feels like a natural extension of your subscription.
The second-generation model has double the storage of the last—16 gigabytes rather than 8—so now you won't have to annoyingly pick and choose which apps to delete to make more room. Plus, with expanded storage and Wi-Fi 6E support, your apps will download faster and stream at higher quality with less buffering. If you're a gamer and have an Xbox Game Pass subscription and a compatible controller, you can even stream games directly to the Fire TV Stick right from the Cloud, with no middleman necessary.
One of the best features of the Fire TV Stick is how easily it integrates into Alexa smart home systems. The remote itself has voice control via Alexa, so you can give commands for other smart-home devices and ask questions without leaving your couch. It also has a built-in gallery mode called “Ambient Experience,” which displays art or photos when you aren't streaming, and you can even ask Alexa through your Fire Stick remote to give you more info.
With the Stick, you can control other smart devices straight from your TV, and you can also pull up a picture-in-picture of any security feeds while watching your shows without missing a beat.
This is the lowest price we'll see it at until Prime Days in October. For the Amazon-pilled, or Alexa-centered smart home, integrating a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, now for only $35, is the way to go.
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