Deal Alert: Get Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K for $5

Streaming services are now more popular than ever, but not everyone has a smart TV. That's where media streaming devices like Amazon's Fire TV lineup come in.

For Prime Day, Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K is $29.99, a 40 percent discount. Select Prime member can also apply at checkout to get it for the can't-beat price of $4.99.

The Fire TV Stick 4K runs Amazon’s customized FireOS software, which was developed specifically to enable easy access to streaming services. You will need a subscription to the streaming service you want to use, of course, but as long as you have that you can watch TV from Prime Video, HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+m and many others.

You can also use the Fire TV Stick 4K to watch free streaming content from sources including YouTube. Just install the app and start streaming.

The Fire TV Stick 4K ships with a remote control with a built-in microphone. This enables you to use voice commands to control the device. It can also be used with other Amazon Alexa-enabled devices such as the Echo Show or Echo Dot smart speakers.

As the product’s name suggests, a key feature of the Fire TV Stick 4K is the ability to stream content in 4K. This gives it an edge over Amazon’s regular Fire TV Stick, which is limited to 1080p.

Amazon does face tough competition from Roku; its Premiere and Streaming Stick+ are also able to stream 4K content. These Roku devices are also priced similarly to the Fire TV Stick 4K, and they have one key feature the Fire Sticks lack: private listening. This feature enables Roku devices to stream audio from a show to a mobile device such as a phone or tablet, where you can then listen to it using headphones. The idea here being the ability to watch TV without bothering others with the noise.

Overall, the best streaming stick for you comes down to a matter of personal taste. All are realistically enjoyable options for streaming content to your TV, but right now, the Fire TV Stick 4K is available with the biggest discount. The Roku Streaming Stick+ is currently on sale for $37, down from $49.99.

About Our Experts

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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Michael Justin Allen Sexton

Junior Analyst

For as long as I can remember, I've had love of all things tech, spurred on, in part, by a love of gaming. I began working on computers owned by immediate family members and relatives when I was around 10 years old. I've always sought to learn as much as possible about anything PC, leading to a well-rounded grasp on all things tech today. In my role at PCMag, I greatly enjoy the opportunity to share what I know.

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