Amazon Fire TV Cube (Newest gen) | Hands-free streaming media player with Alexa, Wi-Fi 6E, 4K Ultra HD

This was a replacement by Amazon for an earlier 2nd Generation which failed to boot, possibly after an update. I noticed it was faster than the previous one with more internal storage (16GB). In addition, it has a full HDR capability (Dolby Vision, plus HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG) which is very noticeable on Netflix. A slight downside is that it doesn't come with either an IR Extender or an Ethernet adaptor. A Remote Control and Power Adapter was included and it now has an HDMI Pass Through option. --- Pitcher quality, response plus range of apps is good. The Operating System, unlike Amazon's own, is still based on Android so it is still possible to sideload other, non-blocked apps. I use Kodi (currently 21.3) as a media server combined with network NAS storage for the saved media. This is excellent and don't see why Amazon can't include the with other apps, without have to sideload? --- Although expensive, with increased performance, storage and versatility, highly recommended if you want this speed and increased storage. --- Thanks again to Amazon for replacing the previous non-bootable Cube.

There is so much that is great about the all new Cube and with continuing regular updates it is one of the best streaming devices on the market... it's lightning fast with a USB interface and Ethernet, although it is disappointing that these connections are somewhat outdated. Ethernet is only 10/100 so it could be a struggle to stream your own content from a home server (Plex, Emby, Kodi etc.) without transcoding the video/audio. However, the WiFi 6 implementation is a welcome addition and bypasses the problem, assuming you have the Network capability so it's something to bear in mind when buying. I think my advice to amazon going forward would be anyone paying £140 for the device would have probably paid £160 for Gigabit ethernet and Superspeed USB. The new look is great, and it's now uniform with the rest of the Echo range (No more fingerprints to clean!!) Prime Video has seen lots of updates, I'm now experiencing excellent streaming quality with the correct resolutions and adaptive HDR setting activating with the correct refresh rates and audio bitstreams. I've seen a few negative postings about the super resolution upscaling. However, when I play a native 1080p and the screen resolution of the content video matches the native video display resolution - the upscaling really kicks in and works brilliantly!! All apps I have tried are now bit-streaming Dolby signals at DD+/Atmos, but under the guise of pcm/multi dds. A very welcome recent update has allowed True HD signals to be encoded and I'm getting Dolby signals and DTS X Bit-streamed from these audio codecs. I'm hearing a clarity of sound I've not experienced on a Fire device before and it will suit most cinephiles with half decent AV/Soundbar setups!! Tip for anyone wanting to pass through... Be aware that the cube is quite capable of processing all the codecs while keeping the voice assistant audible and features when watching on plex/vlc/kodi. You're going to see PCM-multi on your display but from my most recent experience and testing it's because the cube takes it all in and outputs it at a raw (pcm multi level) format to be able to cooperate with the alexa voice responses but I've noticed no difference when passing through directly except alexa responses won't happen when doing it this way.... brilliance from the amazon team and more people need to be aware of its function. The Cube Prime music is pretty decent although casting from the mobile app will play through an Alexa screen card as opposed to the native music app, which makes sense since different devices will have different audio capabilities in a group speaker setting... Although if I send music to the group where my TV cube is from somewhere else it plays through the the music app and all becomes a little confusing and disparate at times. It’s worth noting that there has been some customer pushback about the new way music selection/playback for prime subscribers now works with certain caveats on listening choice so research this if buying. It’s not personally an issue as I have always subscribed to prime music in addition, and may I say it's worth every penny if you have an Atmos/Spatial audio setup as more and more tracks are being added in these formats). I'm experiencing 24/192 playback Ultra HD when available in the music app and atmos/3d tracks sound amazing. It would be nice if I could add a song to my playlist via voice in the amazon music app... but apparently no music is playing when attempting the command... even a button selection to add the current song to playlist would be helpful in the app. On that note, the ability to play Amazon music from the mobile phone app to devices/multiroom music groups can now can be minimised for background play... so you can still browse other content of some apps without it stopping playback and is a welcomed feature. When using this playback mode, you can also add songs to playlist via voice command. It also behaves this way for multi-room music which is great if someone is also listening somewhere in the house while you're browsing around content, although again some apps do take control of the system audio on launch which will cut the music off (such as BBC Iplayer, ITVX, and Channel 4 Apps..... however, browsing home screen content, prime video, YouTube and silk web browsing is fine). Hopefully, Amazon is aware of this and going forward they could request app publishers not to take audio control on app launch, but rather on selecting an item for playback within their app. The HDMI IN for a set-top cable/satellite TV box or other HDMI Device is brilliant. I have a PC going through and is comfortably handling 4K resolutions @ 60HZ - it's an amazing feature that really makes it stand out from other devices and Alexa overlays for info cards/cameras is such a great feature. I only wish it had perhaps even an extra one or two HDMI In ports, but who's to say Amazon couldn't introduce their own HDMI switcher to add additional ports, maybe? Since the device is compatible with Hdmi 2.1 it would also be great to see 120hz vrr handled in the future of the device. On balance, I really recommend this product, especially if you have an existing Alexa ecosystem in your smart home. It is regularly maintained and updated by the Fire TV team, who have listened to feedback and responded with some great work and it has really gone from strength to strength - so well done guys! Would be nice to see the fire TV ambient screen option come to this device since the new 2023 fire TV 4k stick will be getting it, I'm sure this device is capable. Keep up the great work!

Amazing piece of kit, can sideload apps and run them efficiently. Comparing this to my old Google Streamer it was night and day. The Streamer had a pretty UI but bad performance and would crash constantly. There is a slight price difference but if price is not an object this is the better piece of kit. Would prefer the OS to be less tv-like and better automation to open on certain apps (Alexa Automations) as this currently used for my mother in law. The simplier the better.

This is a great device, much faster than earlier models, the integrated speaker is a plus to save a plug space for fire stick and echo dot. I was really happy with in till... I wanted to play Atmos on Audible and enjoy the new Harry Potter Books... Sorry you lost a star as it was my main reason to pay so much to get this and unfortunately Amazon didn't deliver, only stereo also while Disney Plus, Netflix does Atmos this is considered extra with Prime 'no ads'. It's not well advertised but wanted to warn customers incase they fell into the same trap ) misconception as me.

Dearest fire tv offering but worth every penny! We were juggling 3 remotes for tv, cable box and soundbar. Cube has replaced them all with one remote and when I can't be bothered to use even that there's voice control. Only disappointed that it wouldn't work with Virgin 360, but it's made that virtually redundant anyway.

Massive upgrade from my 1st generation fire stick 4k picture quality outstanding and sound in atmos. Set-up quite easy changed from wifi to ethernet much better and stable on eero router. This is a no brainer just aquire it. Only one problem stuttering when using 4k 2160 p 60hz uhd so changed to a audio quest vodka hdmi cable now perfect 👌

My Home Cinema System consists of a BenQ 4K HDR UST Projector, the Amazon 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube (Since Nov 2019) and a Denon 4K HDR Receiver. I turn all my Home Cinema Equipment ON & OFF using a Backlit-LCD Logitech Elite Remote / Hub setup. Despite my previously submitted, lengthy Amazon Post on why I am staying with my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube (now removed), I just couldn’t resist upgrading to Amazon’s Latest 3rd Gen Cube. As usual, the Device was delivered the next day, well Packaged, with a nice Finish & Build Quality of the Cube, Remote (not used) and Power Supply. It may be worth mentioning that when I recently added a Nvidia Shield TV Pro Streaming device to my Home Cinema System, I was informed by one of my Subscription Services, that I had reached my Licence Limit. Mindful of this and just to be on the safe side, I De-Registered my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, having first signed out of all my Subscription Services, prior to setting my new 3rd Gen Cube. Pairing my Alexa Remote PRO (purchased separately), was straight forward as was signing into my Amazon Prime Account. As previously stated, I use a Logitech Remote to turn all my Home Cinema Equipment ON & OFF. This is because most Remotes, including Amazon Remotes cannot be setup to turn my Projector OFF. My Projector has a quirky feature that requires the OFF button to be pressed twice before it turns OFF (even with its Original Remote). My Logitech Elite Remote allows me to program the 4K Projector, as a Device, with 2 OFF Commands, having a 1 second delay between each which works fine. My Logotech Remote is paired with the Fire TV Cube allowing full control of the Cube. However, once started, I prefer to use the more conveniently sized Backlit Alexa TV Remote PRO whilst viewing the Fire TV Cube Streaming Services. Obviously, I want the Amazon Remote to control my Denon's Volume / Mute, but the Cubes setup process requires that a TV is selected before you can add a Soundbar / Receiver Equipment. Generally, TVs are straight forward to setup with the Fire TV Cube but the same cannot be said for my Projector. The process involves the Cube turning the Connected TV OFF then ON again. Following the onscreen instructions, for Projectors, you need to press the Amazon Remotes Menu Key. Then you are confronted with a selection of IR Codes to switch the Projector OFF and then ON again. Obviously, as already stated, no single IR code would ever work for the OFF Command. Personally, I’m not keen on the idea of quickly turning a Laser Projector OFF-ON again, before the Lamp has had time to cool down. I decided to Select BenQ as a TV and told Alexa that this TV did turn OFF and ON again, which was not true. Now I was given the option to add a Soundbar / Receiver to my Cubes Equipment list. Setting up Alexa Remote PRO Volume / Mute buttons to work with my 4K Denon Receiver was straight forward. Having Logged back into all my Subscription Services, I completed the setup process by programming Buttons 1 & 2 on the Alexa Remote PRO, allowing instant access of 2 Apps (ITVX & Freevee) not visible on the Amazon Prime Start-Up Screen Banner. All in all, I am very pleased that I have Upgraded my Home Cinema System with the latest 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube from Amazon. The truth is, I cannot really detect any significant Performance improvement over my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube, but everything is Fast, Smooth and Responsive. Two of the additional features that this 3rd Gen Cube includes are Wi-Fi 6E and the HDMI 2.1 Input. Upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6E Network seems to be quite an expensive undertaking, whilst I currently have no interest using the Cubes HDMI Input for other devices. I believe the Image Quality of the 3rd Gen Cube looks better than its predecessor. I did notice, whilst drilling down the various 3rd Gen Cube Menus, under Display & Audio / Display that the last option allows you to turn, “Super Resolution” ON or OFF, which when turned ON produces a Sharper Picture. This may explain my perceived Image Quality Enhancement over this Cubes predecessor. My 2nd Gen TV Cube sounded very tinny and unpleasant. To get around this, I redirected the 2nd Gen Cubes audio output to my 3rd Gen Echo Dot (Fabric version), the sound quality being very much on par with the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube. Having upgraded to the 3rd Gen Fire Tv Cube, I no longer need the 3rd Gen Echo Dot, meaning one less power socket is being used. To Summarise, the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube is a Superior Device over its predecessor, including a couple of additional, worthwhile features, which I may come to appreciate sometime in the future. This Fire TV Cube’s Processors have also been upgraded from a Hexi-Core to an Octa-Core, offering a higher level of technical performance than its predecessor. These days Voice Control of Hi-Fi & Domestic equipment is a feature that really does need to be included, with Streaming Devices, to remain competitive. I find the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube's Voice Control, every bit as capable as its 2nd Gen predecessor. I have a couple of Smart Sockets to operate Audio equipment using Alexa Voice Control and most of the rooms in my home use Alexa Voice Control to switch Lighting On-Off. Although the initial novelty factor has worn off somewhat, Voice Control is a still a cool feature. Alexa Voice Control through the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube, does work well, but being Old-School, I prefer to use the Alexa Remote Pro / Logitech Elite for my Home Cinema Device Control / Navigation. I am pleased that I have upgraded to the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube which I purchased at an Amazon reduction of £20 on the normal selling price. This effectively reduced the price of the Alexa Remote PRO which I had purchased previously for use with my 2nd Gen Fire TV Cube. I would Recommend the Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen, with a Big-Thumbs-Up, hence this 5 Star Review. ***** REVIEW UPDATE – 7th June 2023 **** At this moment in time, my BenQ 4K Projector is being repaired, so I’m using my old LG 55” 4K OLED TV (with Screen-Burn). The BIG plus is, because I’m not using the BenQ Projector (2 OFF Commands), I can use the Amazon Remote Pro to Switch my LG TV, Fire TV Cube & Denon Receiver ON & OFF. This means I do not need to use my Logitech Elite Remote at all. Another change I have made, which I initially shunned, is to connect my Nvidia Shield TV Pro into the Fire TV Cubes HDMI 2.1 Input. This has freed up one Denon 4K HDMI Input, allowing me to quickly switch between the Amazon Cube and the Nvidia Shield. This makes Audio-Visual Comparison between the two Devices much Easier and Effective than having to change Denon Inputs to select each of the Streaming Devices. So, the 3rd Gen Fire TV Cube’s HDMI 2.1 Input is a very worthwhile addition. My Home Cinema preference is to turn each required Hi-Fi Device On-Off without using HDMI CEC Auto-Sensing. This, I believe, made the detection of the Nvidia Shield’s HDMI Signal via the Fire TV Cubes HDMI Input, somewhat more challenging than expected but with perseverance was achieved. Nvidia Shield TV Pro Amendment 21.09.2023 Since connecting my Shield TV Pro to the Fire TV Cubes 2.1 HDMI Input, I have been experiencing regular 1 second Audio Drop-Outs. It would seem that this Audio Drop-Out issue has been flagged many times since 2019 by Shield TV Pro owners. I think this may have something to do with HDMI Pass-Through compatibility. As I’m fully conversant with the Pros & Cons of the Cube and the Shield Streaming Devices, I no longer require the previously mentioned, efficient Audio-Visual comparison switching. My Shield TV Pro is now connected to its own dedicated Denon HDMI Input, whilst I now use the Fire TV Cubes HDMI 2.1 Input, with my FreeviewPlay SD/HD Player/Recorder. This has sorted the Shields Audio Drop-Outs, whilst Switching between the Cube and the TV Set-Top Box makes far more sense and is a more convenient setup.

December 2022 update: A customer service rep from Amazon called me having seen my review. We tried on the phone to sort the Virgin Media issue out. We came to the conclusion that the Cube can switch HDMI to Virgin via Alexa- but ONLY if the HDMI cable from the Virgin Media box is connected to the TV directly. However, with the HDMI cable from the Virgin Box in to the Cube, Alexa does not know how to switch to Virgin. You have to manually scroll across to the Input setting and a preview of Virgin TV comes up before you select it. The Customer service rep has assured me that the issue will be passed on to their technical team. So hopefully there is an update in regards to this. Other than this- the Cube has been working brilliantly. As this was reduced to £119 on the Black Friday deal, I upgraded from the 4K Max Fire Stick. Having said that I sold my 4K Max Firestick for £21 and a Google Chromecast 4K for £20 (which Google sold for £10 to me). So essentially, I guess I only paid £78. I doubt I would pay £119 for this let alone £139! It is undoubtedly faster and smoother. The difference in terms of speed from the 4K Max is probably a couple of seconds. If saving a couple of seconds loading/scrolling time improves your life in anyway, then yeah- go for it! However, is it worth upgrading from the 4K Max Fire Stick? I would say no. So why did I? This is where I am 'sitting on the fence' (at present) The product description says that the Fire TV Cube is compatible with Virgin Media. I think this is a half baked truth. When you want to set up cable or satellite, the only options at first are Sky. You cannot select Virgin Media. It is only when you go in to the Add Equipment setting on the Cube that a whole list of other providers show up including Virgin Media. You can then set it so you can change to Virgin Media via the home screen HDMI option but not via Alexa. You also cannot change the Virgin Media channels with either the remote or via Alexa. When I read that this Cube is compatible with Virgin Media, I thought it would control it too. It does however seem to be able to control Sky TV channels but not Virgin Media. So technically, the product description is not fully accurate. Even when I do change to Virgin Media, it sometimes takes about 10 seconds for the sound to kick in. I spoke to 4 agents via chat, and 3 via phone, with the 3rd one confirming at present the Cube cannot control channels for Virgin yet. Amazon says: "Fire TV Cube lets you control your compatible cable and satellite set top box with your voice and Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote" Any person reading this, incuding myself would assume this works with Virgin Media (especially when u click the link after that quote and see Virgin Media listed. The fact it doesn't, I think this is a bit misleading. Apart from the above, the sound and picture quality is amazing and crystal clear. Streaming quality (Netflix, Disney etc)- excellent and very fast. Basic remote is included but no HDMI cable. I purchased a 2.1 HDMI cable which gives a stunning picture on both Virgin and the Cube. I have also two echo 5th Gen dots as my speakers. It also works flawlessly with my Ring Doorbell Pro 2. If you have a 4K Fire Stick already and are not fussed about connecting your sky or virgin, then no need to upgrade at all. If you just need the latest tech or want to connect sky/virgin, then get this while it is £119. I would not have got this at full price. If you want to get it to connect your PlayStation or Xbox, then don't - lags terribly. I think with a few software updates it will get better.