Amazon’s new and refined Fire TV Stick HD is now available to preorder in Canada for $49.99. The new streaming stick is smaller and said to be 30 percent faster than its predecessor.
The Fire TV Stick HD is a refresh of the 2024 Gen-3 model. The new model continues to support all your streaming services like Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Crave, and Paramount+, all in one place. The pocket-sized streaming stick retains much of what has made it so popular on the market.
One of the most noticeable changes is its design. The Fire TV Stick HD is now thinner and lighter, making it the perfect portable streaming stick for those travelling or heading to the cottage this spring. Amazon has also slightly altered the design of the Fire TV Stick HD. Now, the streaming stick can be connected directly to your TV’s HDMI port without blocking other ports. The power cord is now placed in a way that’s far less obtrusive to other HDMI connections, like a console.
Speaking of its power supply, the new Fire TV Stick HD is the first to include Director Power. Now, using the included USB-C cable, you can connect the streaming stick directly to your TV to power it. Amazon is finally doing away with the need for a wall adapter, freeing up an outlet and ensuring your Fire TV Stick HD is always ready to use, no matter the space or the TV’s positioning.
The Fire TV Stick HD will also support the new Fire TV experience, which I recently had the chance to see firsthand. During a demo of the new Ember Artline displays, I got a chance to test out the new UI. Navigating between tabs and options feels faster and more responsive. It’s now easier to switch between Prime Video content and other media supported by partner apps like Crave or Paramount+. The new software includes the ability to increase the size of text and the UI by scaling the entire UI, making text, images, and navigational menus easier to read.
In addition to launching the new Fire TV UI on the Fire TV Stick HD, the refresh will arrive on the Ember Artline displays. Amazon will also bring the new Fire TV experience to Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Gen-2), and Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series displays in Canada this year.
Of course, Fire TV Stick HD also supports Alexa+ in Canada. With the improved AI-powered assistant, users can interact with Alexa in conversation via the remote, find recommended movies and shows to watch, and manage their smart home.
Although I only got a chance to hold and compare the new Fire TV Stick HD with the existing model, I do feel as though the suite of changes are meaningul. Especially when considering the device’s portability and use. Not having to worry about wall adapters or taking up space from another HDMI connection is a great upgrade, especially at the price point Amazon is setting.
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“Currently unavailable.
We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.”
That is what I see when I click the link in the article.
looks like the link is for the old model. The new model is for $49.99
Ya I found the new model and pre-ordered it.
Sorry guys, updated the links as it just went live this morning! cheers
You fail to mention if it runs android