If you already own a Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K is not an upgrade for you. It is a cheaper stick that sits underneath yours in Amazon's own line-up, runs a different operating system and drops features you are probably using.
That is the short version. The longer version depends on what you own now and what you watch, so here is an owner-by-owner guide, using Amazon's published specs rather than vibes.
The short answer
- Own a 4K Max (2nd Gen)? Keep it. Nothing here beats it except power from the TV's USB port and a new remote you can buy on its own.
- Own a 4K Plus or 4K (2nd Gen)? Keep it too. It still runs Fire OS with Dolby Vision.
- Own a 4K Select? The new stick is the more polished Vega stick, but it is the same family. Only move if Wi-Fi or the old micro-USB setup actually bugs you.
- Buying fresh for mainstream apps only? The new stick is fine at its launch price.
- Install your own player apps, use Kodi, or have a Dolby Vision TV? Do not buy the new one.
What the 4K Max (2nd Gen) has that the new 4K does not
All rows below come from Amazon's developer device specifications and announcement, checked on 1 October 2026.
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen, 2023) | Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen, 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fire OS 8 (Android 11 base) | Vega OS (OS 2.0) |
| Apps from outside Amazon's store | Yes (sideloading) | No |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8696T, quad-core up to 2.0 GHz | MediaTek MT8698E, quad-core up to 1.7 GHz |
| RAM | 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (2.4, 5 and 6 GHz) | Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | 5.3 + BLE |
| HDR | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby audio | Decodes Dolby Digital, Digital Plus and Atmos | HDMI pass-through only |
| AV1 | Yes | Yes (up to 4K60) |
| Power from TV USB | Not an official feature | Yes, Direct Power |
| US list price (Amazon graphic) | $84.99 | $59.99 |
Read that table again and the “upgrade” framing falls apart. On paper the Max has more memory, more storage, a faster chip, a newer Wi-Fi band, Dolby Vision, Dolby decoding and an open app model. Amazon itself pitches the 4K Max as the stick “for gamers and home theater fans” and the new 4K as “the best balance of speed and value”.
Amazon has not published a speed comparison between the new 4K and the 4K Max. Its speed claims compare the new stick with an unnamed rival's 4K stick, not with any Fire TV model.
What the new stick genuinely does better
- Direct Power. It is designed to run from the TV's USB port with the included 0.4 m USB-C cable. No plug socket needed if your TV's port is up to it.
- Slimmer body. 91.5 x 21.1 x 14.5 mm and 39.4 g, so it sits more easily next to other HDMI cables.
- The new remote. Customisable star button, tactile layout. But you do not need the new stick for that. The remote is sold on its own (£13.99 UK pre-order, $14.99 US) and works with the 4K Max (2nd Gen).
- Bluetooth 5.3. A small point release over the Max's 5.2. Not a reason to switch.
Owner by owner
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Keep it. You would be giving up Fire OS, Dolby Vision, Dolby decoding, half the RAM and half the storage to gain USB power. If the remote is tired, buy the new remote and stop there.
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Gen, 2021)
It is older, but it is still Fire OS with Dolby Vision. If it is sluggish, the sideways move is a 4K Max (2nd Gen) or a certified Google TV device, not the new Vega stick, unless you only use big-name apps.
Fire TV Stick 4K Plus / Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen)
Same advice: keep it. Cord Busters reports the Plus is being discontinued in the UK, with remaining stock on sale. That makes your current stick more useful to hang on to, not less.
Fire TV Stick 4K Select (2025)
You already live on Vega, so you lose nothing on apps. The new stick adds Wi-Fi 6 and USB-C Direct Power. Worth it only if Wi-Fi drop-outs or cable clutter are a daily annoyance. If the Select works, keep it.
Older non-4K Fire Sticks
If your stick is a few generations old and painfully slow, think about what you use. Mainstream apps only: the new 4K is fine. Anything else: 4K Max or a certified Google TV device.
Who should buy the new Fire TV Stick 4K
- A spare bedroom or kitchen TV that only needs Netflix, iPlayer, Prime Video, YouTube and similar.
- Travel, if your hotel or holiday TV has a usable USB port (and you pack a plug adapter just in case).
- Households on a Vega Select who want better Wi-Fi.
- Anyone whose TV does not support Dolby Vision and who does not care about installing apps from outside Amazon's store.
Who should not
- Anyone who installs player apps outside the Appstore, uses Kodi, or relies on Downloader. See what stops working on Vega.
- Owners of Dolby Vision TVs who want the stick to send Dolby Vision.
- Anyone whose sound setup needs the streamer to decode Dolby audio rather than pass it through.
- Self-hosters on Jellyfin or demanding Plex libraries.
If you need another Fire OS stick
In Amazon's new line-up, the 4K Max is the only Fire OS stick left. On 1 October Amazon UK showed it at £46.99 against a £99.99 list price (Amazon UK, Amazon US). Sale prices move, so check on the day.
Should you stockpile Max sticks? No. Buy for the TVs you have. Amazon's developer site has said since late 2025 that all future Fire TV Sticks will run Vega (first spotted by Ars Technica and AFTVnews), so a future Max may well switch too. That is the reason I wrote this piece on the last Android Fire Sticks before the launch, and why a certified Google TV device is the longer-term hedge.
On support: PCWorld reports Amazon has committed to security updates for its Android-based Fire TV devices through at least 2030, or at least four years from purchase on its site. Your Max is not about to stop working.
FAQ
Is the new Fire TV Stick 4K faster than the 4K Max?
Amazon has not said. Its speed figures compare the new stick with another brand's similarly priced 4K stick. On published specs the 4K Max has the faster chip and twice the RAM.
Can I use the new Fire TV Remote with my 4K Max (2nd Gen)?
Yes. Amazon says it pairs with Fire TV streaming players launched from 2019 onwards. It ships from 22 October according to the listings.
Does the new 4K stick support Dolby Vision?
No. HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG only. Amazon reserves Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for the 4K Max among its sticks (the Fire TV Cube also lists Dolby Vision).
Will the 4K Max get Vega OS?
Nothing announced says existing Fire OS devices will be switched.
Best IPTV boxes to buy
These are certified Android TV / Google TV media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps from Google Play. They are not pirate hardware. They do not come with channels or playlists. I am not claiming I personally lab-tested every SKU this month.
Buy one of these when: Fire TV sideload is a hassle on your model, you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS, or you want a dedicated player shell behind the sofa. No Fire Stick is on this shortlist.
- Google TV Streamer 4K – solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet on the Streamer class hardware. Amazon UK · Amazon US · Amazon DE · Amazon FR · Amazon IT
- Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) – budget Google TV stick shape when you want HDMI-simple, not a full box. Amazon UK · Amazon US · Amazon DE · Amazon FR · Amazon IT
- Strong LEAP-NOVA – Google TV certified 4K stick on Android 14 with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision, for a second telly. Amazon UK · Amazon DE · Amazon FR · Amazon IT
- Nokia Streaming Box 8010 – small Android TV box form factor if you prefer a box over a stick. Amazon UK · Amazon FR · Amazon IT
- MECOOL KM2 Plus Deluxe – Google TV box option when you want a dedicated player shell behind the sofa. Amazon UK · Amazon US
Still a Fire Stick shopper? Fine for Amazon Video and the Appstore universe. Not the shortlist above. And none of these boxes magically make unlicensed streams legal.
