🚫 DO NOT Buy the New Fire TV Stick HD! Here’s exactly why…
Amazon just released the new FireStick HD for £39.99 in the UK. But for 40 quid you only get 1080p – not 4K. In a world where 4K TVs are practically being given away, this makes zero sense.
Amazon is bragging it’s their “slimmest stick yet”… but who actually cares? It’s hidden behind your TV collecting dust!
The real problem? This new FireStick runs on Vega OS – which means say goodbye to sideloading, custom apps, and all the freedom you had before. Amazon has turned it into a locked-down digital walled garden.
Even worse? Right now you can buy the Fire TV Stick 4K on Amazon UK for the SAME price or cheaper!
In this video I break down:
• The ridiculous price vs performance
• Why “slimmer” is completely pointless
• The massive downgrade with Vega OS
• Why your old FireStick is still better
My honest advice? Skip this one and keep using your current stick (or grab the 4K version instead). Save your £40 and spend it at the pub instead 🍺
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – Meet the New FireStick HD
00:25 UK Price & 1080p Only
01:10 The “Slimmest Ever” Joke
02:05 Vega OS – No More Sideloading
02:45 FireStick 4K is Cheaper!
03:20 Final Verdict & Advice
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🛒 Check Current Prices:
Amazon UK Fire TV Stick HD → [Add Link]
Amazon UK Fire TV Stick 4K → [Add Link]
Got questions about the new FireStick? Drop them in the comments!
#FireStickHD #FireTVStick #AmazonFireStick
Disclaimer: This video is based on my honest opinion.
Thanks for watching!
Best IPTV boxes to buy
These are media boxes and sticks that can run players and licensed apps. The first six are Google certified Android TV or Google TV devices with Google Play. The three Fire TV Sticks run Amazon’s own systems with the Appstore instead of Google Play: the 4K Max and 4K Plus run Fire OS, which is Android based, while the new Fire TV Stick 4K (2026) runs Vega OS, which does not allow sideloading Android apps, only Appstore apps. The last one, the Formuler, runs its own Android and is not certified. 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.
Pick a Google TV box when you want Play Store apps on a proper TV OS or a dedicated player behind the sofa. Pick a Fire TV Stick when Prime Video and the Appstore already cover what you watch. If you need an Android player from outside the Appstore, skip the Vega OS stick.
- 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
- Budget Google TV 4K player: a cheaper certified Google TV player for a second telly. The model differs by store, so each link names the one you get there. MECOOL KD3 (Amazon UK) | onn. Google TV 4K Streaming Box (Amazon US) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon DE) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon FR) | Strong LEAP-NOVA-X (Amazon IT)
- MECOOL MEon1: Google TV certified 4K box with AI upscaling and 32GB storage for a dedicated player behind the sofa. Amazon UK
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max: the most powerful Fire TV Stick, with Wi-Fi 6E, Dolby Vision/Atmos and 16GB storage. It runs Fire OS, which is Android based, so you get Appstore apps and can still sideload an Android player. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE
- Fire TV Stick 4K Plus: the older Fire OS stick with Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision/Atmos. It is being phased out, so buy it only while stock lasts. Like the Max, it can still sideload Android apps. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Fire TV Stick 4K (2026): the newest and slimmest 4K stick, with a new remote. It runs Vega OS, which does not allow sideloading Android apps, only Appstore apps, so check your player is in the Appstore before you buy. Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
- Formuler Z12 Ultra SE: the newest Formuler box, built around MYTVOnline 4 for IPTV playlists. It runs Formuler’s own Android rather than certified Google TV, so there is no Netflix in HD and no Google certification. Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon UK) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon US) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon DE) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon FR) | Formuler Z12 Ultra SE (Amazon IT)
Whichever you pick, check that the app you need is in its store before you pay. And none of these boxes or sticks magically make unlicensed streams legal.
