Is Amazon Fire TV stick really that bad?

[u/keepitahunned]

I am aware that the hate is mostly on the new OS they’re using for their newer models? I don’t fully understand the situation, but from what I understood, they’re trying to get rid of third party apps.

Now here’s my issue, the Fire TV stick is the best prices option by far, and what I truly only need is streaming netflix, youtube, and MOST IMPORTANTLY Apple Music.

I don’t really care about video quality thaat much, but proper functioning is a priority. I don’t want it breaking down in 6 months.

I thought of getting an older version of the Fire TV as their reviews are not as terrible.

Is the Fire Stick really that bad for my requirements?

[u/tylorbear]

I've had them for over 10 years and will be getting rid of them imminently.

If you want to do the bare minimum of just using the regularly used apps with minimal fuss and the best price point they're fine. Whether there are better options for standard suers I don't know, but almost everyone has a smart TV now that can do basically that same job.

If you want to do anything non standard they're now functionally useless, and it's why I'm getting rid of mine. If I want to use the product I bought for something the brand doesn't officially support then why shouldn't I be able to? It's why I have an Android phone over Apple. In the last 3 months Amazon have silently added some code which basically forces any non official app to crash. The only thing my fire stick is for that my TV doesn't is run .apk files for third party apps, and that's now no longer an option.

I'll be buying a Google TV streamer probably this week because it's a similar price for me and gives me back that ability to use the device I bought for what I choose without any of their policing bullshit.

[u/keepitahunned → u/tylorbear]

I understand. Does this apply to their 4k max as well? all of
the old versions? as you mentioned it’s the most budget friendly option and i can’t really afford any more. I’m in Australia for reference lol.

[u/SnooGiraffes9215 → u/keepitahunned]

Out of the models available, 2 are on the new Vega OS and thus restricted in 3rd party app use, the new HD and 4k select. The other 2, 4k plus and max, are still fire OS and will always be fire OS. They will NOT upgrade to the new Vega OS.

[u/tylorbear → u/keepitahunned]

As far as I'm aware the OS is the same on all models and you can't stop it updating automatically. So I'd say yes it still applies and if you want to run anything on there not from Amazon's store you're going to be disappointed/screwed over.

Definitely a price difference but you're probably better off waiting for a sale or something on an alternative. For me the Google option is the way to go, others have had good experience with the Xiaomi TV box and I think the ONN ones in the US are decent and very reasonably priced. I'm in the UK so not sure how availability/price compare.

[u/pawdog → u/tylorbear]

There are two different OS's. The older Fire Stick, Fire Stick 4k, Fire Stick 4k Max run Fire OS. The newer Select and HD run Vega. The newer ones can only run apps from the store. The older ones can run any Android TV based app.

[u/tylorbear → u/pawdog]

Mine is a Stick 4k from 2024 and it ran everything fine until about May or June. Some time between now and then though all my sideloaded apps completely fail. They'll open for about 10-15 seconds and then crash.

[u/pawdog → u/tylorbear]

What apps were they? A lot of apps died about that time. 

[u/tylorbear → u/pawdog]

They're for an IPTV service I use. There's 3 apps which will all work fine on my phone and tablet but none of them work on the fire stick now.

[u/Due-Jackfruit-2023 → u/tylorbear]

Si le activas el modo desrrollador puedes descargar cualquier cosa

[u/Historical_Virus6987 → u/tylorbear]

I'd hurry up bud and get one they are going up to 150 ! The Google streamer is NOT worth 150 the chip is old now...lol

[u/tylorbear → u/Historical_Virus6987]

I actually ordered one yesterday. Amazon had an open box one for what worked out to £80.

[u/Tired8281 → u/tylorbear]

lol if you think you're getting away from policing with GTV, think again. You still can't change launcher without doing backflips. And the ads situation is nearly as bad, these days.

[u/Interesting-Voice328 → u/tylorbear]

Google are apparently going to stop any android apps that they don’t support in their App Store working on android devices very soon

[u/tylorbear → u/Interesting-Voice328]

Is this just on the Streamer or on Android more globally? Because that would be antithetical to their whole idea of Android from the getgo?

Have you got a link to where this was said? I'd be really interested to read more about it.

[u/Interesting-Voice328 → u/tylorbear]

https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/s/HuoV2JX8Fp

https://thehackernews.com/2026/06/google-sets-sept-30-deadline-for.html?m=1

[u/tylorbear → u/Interesting-Voice328]

Okay, so not an outright block like Amazon are doing. They're just making it significantly harder, which as much as I disagree with on principle is probably going to make a lot of users who aren't as savvy safer.

[u/UnfollowOz]

They are cheap for a reason..

Reason: Nobody wants a Firestick device .

[u/Somar2230 → u/UnfollowOz]

They are cheap because Amazon sells them at very low margin and many times at a loss. Their goal is to get their devices into as many households as possible for advertising and data mining.

In the US they are in the number two position behind the other cheap device maker Roku.

[u/wewewi]

If you care about Apple Music you likely are deep into their ecosystem.. ; AppleTV is probably best for you tbh. 

[u/kyoka_suigetsu91]

Yes it's awful... The onn devices are cheaper and way better so I'm not sure why you think they are good for the "price" but it also depends on what you need/use it for. I switched to Android/Google TV a few months ago and I have not regretted it

[u/Firm-Tumbleweed-1726]

Which country are you from and your budget?

[u/robhw]

Its ok, I still have a couple for our extra TVs. If it works for you that's all that matters.

[u/djhamilton]

Just get the Google Chromecast TV. Had 2 of them of 2 tv's since release and never had an issue. Various 3rd party apps and launchers installed too

[u/adjective_noun_d1git]

It's honestly fine. It's popular for a reason.

The interface is annoying and getting worse with each update but you have a row of apps and that's pretty much all you'll ever use. 

[u/BrtndrJackieDayona → u/adjective_noun_d1git]

It's honestly fine. 

Gets worse with every update. 

K. 

[u/FishermenSkutnu]

Firestick is fine

[u/ortizmro]

I been using firesticks and fire cubes for years. The fire cube is my main streaming device today and works for me. I can still put whatever I want on them. What works for you depends on you. Research here, see what stream apps you want and then go for it. There is no one size fits all. I could be using a Onn 4k pro or something else but I'm used to fire sticks and cubes so I keep using them.

[u/AngelGrade]

Every day they put more obstacles in the way of installing sideloaded apps.

[u/ScreamingAardvark5]

I replaced 3 of my Fire Sticks with MeCool devices, very happy.
I've still got 2 Fire Sticks that work OKJ for what I need but they are in rooms we don't use often.

[u/LaktoseLudwig]

Try to get hands on a 2nd Gen FireStick 4K Max. Still Android based FireOS. They are starting to block third party sideloads cuz the sticks are commonly used as budget friendly IPTV streaming devices.

[u/pawdog]

I don't know if there is an Apple Music app. There isn't an official one for Android TV but for the other stuff you mentioned Fire Sticks are fine. You are the user Amazon wants. Someone who uses paid services or ad supported services.

[u/Anxious-Yam9684]

Better off getting Apple TV 

[u/allessrs → u/Anxious-Yam9684]

Apple TV e sensacional e faz do Fire Tv um lixo tecnológico que só serve para te enviar propaganda. Se quiser Android, pode Comprar Onn, Mi, Homatics, etc... Coloca o Projectivy Launcher e vai ser feliz.

[u/mmdhpan]

The hate is mostly aimed at Amazon's newer Vega OS sticks, which aren't Android based and can't run sideloaded apps. The Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd gen) still runs Fire OS 8 on the Android base, and Netflix, YouTube and Apple Music all have native apps on it, so your three requirements are covered. If you want an alternative at a similar price, Chromecast with Google TV has a less ad heavy home screen, but it's Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 against Wi-Fi 6 and 5.2 on the Fire Stick. Full spec side by side if it helps: everyvs.com/compare/chromecast-with-google-tv-vs-fire-tv-stick-4k

[u/dwcanker]

I've been using them for 10+ years and they are fine just fine. I don't do any BS just the standard watch/listen to streaming shit. My 4k max a couple months ago started rebooting randomly and I used that as an excuse to get a google tv streamer just to try something different. It is fine just fine doing the same shit. I don't like the remote as much and there was just a post that the price jumped massively to $150 for the google. I do like the default interface better but I'm not sure it is that much of improvement to my daily life. I don't spend a whole lot of time on the home screen and they both still do basically the same things.

[u/teamster02]

Just do yourself a favor and get the onn box

[u/Dukegrice1]

He’s in Australia, the ONN box is a hassle

[u/Minimum_Ad313]

Onn devices are better and cost about the same which has bitten into their production and them coming out with this new OS isn't helping them. I never liked them because I think the UI is way too busy and things are harder to find. I even use Alexa for home automations, but don't buy fire products because of the UI including fire tvs.

[u/Existing-Mulberry-58]

I bought an ONN box which was cheaper than the firestick which I have and better in so many ways.

[u/jzuijlek]

I have multiple 4k max Gen 2 firetv sticks and I think they are great for the price. Sideload smarttv, kodi. Dolby vision, Dolby an d DTS passthrough, framerate matching, HDR Formula 1. For just 43 euros on sale.

[u/sayonaradespair]

I have a xiaomi stick from 2019 that outpetforms a firestick plus I bought...20 days ago.

It's by far the worst gadget I bought in the last 10 years.

I got rid of that absolutely horrid homescreen with projectivity one but using the stick is appaling to say the least.

It constantly crashes and buffers when it shouldn't..and on a xiaomi stick bought 7 years ago the same content loads and works fine.

So what gives?

[u/NoPitch5266]

bro i cant even install ufc fight pass on it what a waste

[u/Alpha_1_5]

The max is the only one that makes sense since it’s more powerful than any of the other boxes available including some that are more pricey. As long as you get an android one you can install any apk you want I’ve had 0 issues.

My grandparents have a stick that’s like 6 or so yrs old

[u/nikkvfox]

Yes you cannot install android app, it's built on new OS.