Streaming Devices Review

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus Review: The Safer 4K Stick

By Updated Research-based, not tested by us

Our verdict

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is the better all-round Fire TV stick in India, with Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6, 2 GB RAM and open Android app support, though it shows home-screen ads and lacks Google Cast.

Buy it if

  • Dolby Vision TVs that deserve a matching streamer
  • Users who want Plex, VLC or other Android apps alongside OTT services
  • Homes with a Wi-Fi 6 router or a crowded Wi-Fi band

Skip it if

  • You cast from Android phones using Google Cast or from iPhones using AirPlay
  • Home-screen ads bother you

What we like

  • Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, plus Dolby Atmos
  • 2 GB RAM and Wi-Fi 6
  • Runs Fire OS with broad app support, including sideloading
  • Ergonomic Alexa remote with TV controls
  • Option to switch off HDR on weak TVs

What we don’t

  • No Google Cast or AirPlay; Miracast mirroring only
  • Ads on the home screen
  • Micro-USB power
  • About 5.3 GB of storage free for apps

Score breakdown

Performance
8.2
Display
8.4
Features
8.0
Ease of use
8.0
Value for money
7.4

The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is for anyone with a 4K TV who wants a streamer that will still feel quick in a few years. It is the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K under a new name, so it has been reviewed widely since its India launch in May 2024. It has Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6 and 2 GB of RAM, and its Android-based Fire OS keeps app choice open. You put up with home-screen ads and no Google Cast.

What is the difference between the 4K Plus and the 4K Select?

In 2025 Amazon renamed the Fire TV Stick 4K to the 4K Plus when it launched the cheaper 4K Select. Reports from Cordbusters, PCWorld and Notebookcheck confirm only the name changed. The 4K Select moves to Amazon’s new Linux-based Vega OS with 1 GB RAM, Wi-Fi 5 and no Dolby Vision. The 4K Plus keeps Fire OS, 2 GB RAM, Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision.

How fast is it in daily use?

Digit’s review found it snappy, with quick switching into 4K HDR, no noticeable lag when seeking, and faster Alexa responses than the first-generation stick. Wi-Fi 6 helps in apartments where many neighbours’ routers crowd the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, provided your own router supports it.

Will 4K HDR look good on my budget TV?

That depends on the TV more than the stick. Digit found HDR closely follows the standard, which can make films look dark on affordable TVs with low brightness, with shadow detail crushed in dark scenes. The 4K Plus lets you turn HDR off; Digit said this made such content watchable, though colours looked washed out. SDR looked slightly better than the TV’s own Prime Video app in its testing.

Which Indian apps can I use?

Fire OS has the full Amazon Appstore, including Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar, YouTube and the other major services. Digit specifically praised support for local media apps such as Plex. Because it is Android-based, you can also sideload apps the Appstore doesn’t carry.

Can I cast from my phone?

Not the way most people expect. It has no Google Cast and no AirPlay, only Miracast screen mirroring, which Digit found less seamless. YouTube and some other apps let you send videos from your phone within the app, but iPhone owners need a third-party mirroring app.

Is it worth paying more than the 4K Select?

For most buyers, yes. The price gap is small next to the gains in RAM, Wi-Fi and HDR format support, and Fire OS is the more established platform. Choose the 4K Select only if you are on a strict budget and use nothing beyond the big streaming apps.

What we could not verify

Amazon has not said how long Fire OS devices will keep getting app and security updates now that Vega OS is its new platform. We found no published date, so treat long-term support as an open question.

How we researched

We have not used the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. This review draws on Digit's review of the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K, Amazon India's Fire TV lineup announcement, reporting on the 2025 rename from Cordbusters, PCWorld and Notebookcheck, and the Reliance Digital listing.

We have not tested this product ourselves. This review is based on published specifications, the manual, other publications’ tests and owner feedback.

How does the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (formerly Fire TV Stick 4K, 2nd Gen) compare?

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select B− 7.1

    The 4K Select is cheaper and runs Vega OS with 1 GB RAM, Wi-Fi 5 and no Dolby Vision or sideloading. The 4K Plus costs more but keeps Fire OS, adds Dolby Vision and Wi-Fi 6, and has double the RAM.

Key specs

Processor MediaTek MT8696D, quad-core up to 1.7 GHz
RAM / storage 2 GB / 8 GB (about 5.29 GB free)
Operating system Fire OS (Android-based)
Video Up to 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio Dolby Atmos
Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI 2.1
Power Micro-USB with adapter
Warranty 1 year (Reliance Digital listing)

Questions buyers ask

Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus the same as the Fire TV Stick 4K?

Yes. In 2025 Amazon renamed the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K as the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus to separate it from the new 4K Select. The hardware and Fire OS software are the same.

Does the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus support Dolby Vision?

Yes. The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG, plus Dolby Atmos audio. The cheaper Fire TV Stick 4K Select lacks Dolby Vision.

Can I cast from my phone to the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?

Only through Miracast screen mirroring or apps with their own casting. The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus does not support Google Cast or Apple AirPlay, so iPhone mirroring needs a third-party app.

Can I install apps outside the Amazon Appstore on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?

Yes. The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus runs Android-based Fire OS, which still allows sideloading of Android apps after enabling it in settings, unlike the Vega OS-based 4K Select.

Also consider

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (formerly Fire TV Stick 4K, 2nd Gen) B+ · 8.0 /10
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