The New Fire TV Remote Explained: Star Button, Compatibility and Prices in the UK, US and Europe

The part of Amazon's 30 September launch that most Fire TV owners can actually use is not the stick. It is the new Fire TV Remote. It ships with the Vega-based Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen), but it is also sold on its own and works with most Fire TV players back to 2019, including the Android-based 4K Max.

Here is what is new, what the star button does, which devices it works with (and the ones it does not), what it costs in each country, and whether it is worth buying.

What is new on the remote

• Asymmetric shape. A flat top and a curved, weighted bottom, so you can tell which way round it is without looking.
• Metal home button. Amazon says the home button is pressed over 100 million times a day across Fire TV devices. It now has its own metal surface.
• Tactile layout. Other buttons are indented or shaped differently so you can find them by feel.
• Customisable star button. Previously only on Amazon's premium remote (the Alexa Voice Remote Pro).
• TV controls. Power, volume and mute for compatible TVs, soundbars and receivers.
• Alexa. A mic button for voice search and control, per Amazon's listing.
• App buttons. The UK listing mentions dedicated buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube, plus Live TV and shortcut-panel buttons.

What the star button can do

Amazon says you can set it to open your favourite app, or toggle settings such as closed captions (subtitles) or Screen Magnifier. AFTVnews adds that it can run a frequently used voice command, like the programmable buttons on the Pro remote.

One limitation to expect: AFTVnews says Amazon does not let the Pro remote's custom buttons open sideloaded apps, and expects the same here. On the Vega stick that is moot because there is no sideloading. On a Fire OS stick, assume the star button is for Appstore apps and settings.

What you lose

• Dedicated fast-forward and rewind buttons. AFTVnews notes they are gone. Most apps use left and right on the navigation ring for the same thing.
• The Recent button found on the Fire TV Enhanced Remote is not there either.
• One programmable button instead of two. If you own the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, it has two. AFTVnews' advice to Pro owners: unless you prefer the new shape, there is no reason to switch.
• No remote finder on this model. “Alexa, find my remote” is a Remote Plus feature (see below).

Which Fire TVs it works with

Amazon says it pairs with all Amazon Ember TVs and all Fire TV streaming media players launched from 2019 onwards. AFTVnews lists that as including:

• Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen, 2020) and Fire TV Stick Lite (2020)
• Fire TV Stick HD (2024, Fire OS) and Fire TV Stick HD (2026, Vega)
• Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023), Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the new Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen)
• Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Gen, 2021) and 4K Max (2nd Gen, 2023)
• Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen, 2019) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen, 2022)
• Amazon-branded Fire TV smart TVs, plus Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21

Amazon's UK listing is explicit about exceptions. It is not compatible with the Fire TV Stick 4K (1st Gen), Fire TV Cube (1st Gen), Fire TV (3rd Gen, pendant design) and Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen). It works with Amazon Ember or Fire TV branded smart TVs, but not with other brands' TVs that have Fire TV built in. AFTVnews says Amazon often understates remote compatibility, but officially that is the line.

Price and release date by country

Amazon's announcement says “late October” for shipping. AFTVnews reported 23 October for the US; the store listings I checked say 22 October. Treat the exact day as Amazon's to change. Other countries were not priced in anything I could verify.

Listings: Amazon UK · Amazon US · Amazon DE · Amazon FR · Amazon IT.

For context, AFTVnews says previous official Fire TV replacement remotes were $29.99 in the US. Halving that is overdue.

Fire TV Remote Plus: early 2027

Amazon also announced a Fire TV Remote Plus for early 2027. It adds an aluminium housing, backlit buttons and a built-in Find My Remote feature: say “Alexa, find my remote” and it plays a sound. Amazon says that works with any compatible Alexa device, the Alexa app, or the Remote Finder button in the Fire TV mobile app. It replaces the Alexa Voice Remote Pro. No price yet. AFTVnews says the buttons are otherwise the same as the standard new remote.

A quick note on reports: at least one Italian outlet described Find My Remote as part of the standard remote. Amazon's own announcement puts it on the Remote Plus.

Should you buy one?

• Your Fire TV remote is lost, broken or chewed: yes, if your device is on the compatible list. At £13.99 / $14.99 it is cheaper than old official replacements.
• You want a one-press shortcut to your main app: the star button is the reason to buy.
• You own the Alexa Voice Remote Pro: skip it, unless you prefer the new shape.
• You have a non-Amazon TV with Fire TV built in: officially not supported. Do not buy on hope.
• You want a backlit remote with a finder: wait for the Remote Plus.

The nice thing about this launch is that you do not need the Vega stick to get the remote. If you are keeping a Fire OS stick (my reasoning is in keep your 4K Max for now), a new remote is the cheap upgrade.

FAQ

Does the new Fire TV Remote work with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max?

Yes, both the 1st Gen (2021) and 2nd Gen (2023), according to AFTVnews' compatibility list, in line with Amazon's “from 2019” statement.

Does it work with my Hisense or TCL Fire TV?

Amazon's listing says it is not compatible with other brands' smart TVs with Fire TV built in. Only Amazon Ember or Fire TV branded TVs are supported.

Can the star button open any app?

It can open an app or toggle settings like captions. AFTVnews expects it will not open sideloaded apps on Fire OS.

Does it have a remote finder?

No. Find My Remote is on the Fire TV Remote Plus, due early 2027.

When does it ship?

Late October. Listings for the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy show 22 October 2026.

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.

• NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro: the premium pick, a certified Android TV player with AI upscaling, Dolby Vision/Atmos and Gigabit Ethernet for the main living-room telly. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Google TV Streamer 4K: solid Google TV living-room default with Ethernet, 32GB storage and Dolby Vision/Atmos. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen): Google TV box with 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos, the cheaper box route than the Streamer. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): budget Google TV stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos 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 DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
• MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK

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.