When you are searching for the very best streaming units, you are most likely one thing just like the Fire TV Stick 4K or the Chromecast with Google TV. But there’s nonetheless a marketplace for choices on the upper finish of the value spectrum, which do not make you’re feeling like you need to make any sacrifices in order for you the very best of the very best.That’s the place the Amazon Fire TV Cube comes into play, taking up the likes of the Apple TV 4K (2022), Roku Streambar Pro, and NVIDIA Shield TV. This marks the third iteration of Amazon’s top-tier streaming field, following the unique Fire TV Cube launched in 2018 and the 2nd era mannequin launched in 2019. And whereas the most recent mannequin gives some invaluable upgrades, is it actually sufficient to warrant its steep price ticket?Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): Price and availability(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) was introduced in September 2022 earlier than formally launching close to the tip of October 2022. There’s just one choice obtainable, with a retail worth of $139.99, however Amazon can be providing bundles that embody the brand new Alexa Voice Remote Pro or Amazon IR Extender Cable. This choice comes geared up with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, with no larger storage configurations obtainable.Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): What you may like(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)To put it plainly, in order for you one of many quickest and finest streaming units in the marketplace, then the Fire TV Cube (2022) is well on the prime of the checklist. Part of that has to do with the shortage of competitors on this worth bracket, with solely a handful of different units being able to matching up. Going into this, I’ve had loads of expertise with the assorted Fire TV Sticks that Amazon has launched over time, however that is the primary time that I’ve had the chance to check out and even use Amazon’s top-end streaming field.In my present lounge setup, I primarily depend on final 12 months’s Apple TV 4K, which has carried out fairly effectively, even when there are some things lacking from tvOS. Because I often finish my day sitting on the sofa watching some TV with my associate earlier than hitting the hay, I made a decision to interchange the Apple TV in favor of Amazon’s answer, simply to attempt to get some extra suggestions.The very first thing that I seen was the design, because it’s just a bit field that sits on the TV stand, wrapped in cloth, which is a change from the shiny design of the final Fire TV Cube. Presumably, this was executed to assist present some continuity with the likes of the very best Alexa audio system, such because the Echo, Echo Show, and others. There’s nonetheless an LED ring across the prime, letting me know when Alexa is listening and when my Wi-Fi connection decides to randomly crap the mattress.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Besides the enhancements to efficiency, the true promoting level of the Fire TV Cube comes if you have a look at the again. Amazon added an HDMI enter port, USB-A port, and an Ethernet port, along with the prevailing energy adapter, HDMI output port, and IR extender. The HDMI In port has the potential to be fairly helpful, but when you do not have cable and simply depend on streaming providers to your TV-watching wants, you may probably find yourself simply having an empty port on the again.When it involves efficiency, I solely actually have the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Apple TV 4K (2021) to check this to, and I got here away genuinely impressed. Scrolling by way of the completely different rows of apps and options was a breeze, and having the ability to say “Hey Alexa, watch Thursday Night Football” is a handy contact if I do not really feel like reaching for the distant. I even paired a spare sport controller and fired up Amazon Luna to see how that’s dealt with, and got here away having fun with video games greater than I believed I might.It’s fantastic having the ability to ask Alexa to activate the soccer sport (or tune to another channel) when you have one thing like YouTube TV.And because of the Google Nest Alexa Skill, I’m capable of examine and see who’s at my entrance door or examine my different Nest cameras with out feeling the necessity to swap every part out for the very best Blink or finest Ring safety cameras. Alexa Skills actually assist to bridge the hole in the case of integrating with different techniques, and it is one thing I like to recommend everybody checks out earlier than changing their current units. Of course, there are some trade-offs to this, however surprisingly, I’m even in a position to make use of picture-in-picture with the Nest Alexa Skill.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Plus, you’ve got the choice to both press the devoted Alexa button discovered on the included distant, or you may simply get pleasure from hands-free management if you happen to’re doing one thing else and do not have the distant in your hand. Surprisingly, Amazon did scale back the variety of whole microphones with the brand new Fire TV Cube (2022), however I have never run into any cases when Alexa could not hear me ask it a query. So it is probably that the 4 microphones getting used are merely higher or at the very least simply nearly as good because the eight microphones discovered within the 2019 iteration.If you are like me and have minimize the twine with cable, as an alternative counting on one thing like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV, you then’ll even be joyful to know that there is higher integration with these providers. I can say “Alexa, watch ESPN” and after a couple of moments, it is going to mechanically open the YouTube TV app and tune it to the suitable channel. Provided that you’ve got the suitable app put in, this seamless expertise additionally extends to the “Guide,” making it fast and straightforward to channel surf with out really opening the app itself.Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): What you will not(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Going by way of the setup course of was largely a breeze, with the one hiccup coming once I was attempting to manage my soundbar with the included Fire TV Remote. Even after plugging within the IR extender, and following the on-screen steps to set every part up, solely to search out that I wanted to nonetheless use my soundbar’s devoted distant to manage the amount. It’s not like that is the tip of the world, however it’s undoubtedly a frustration that I did not anticipate to cope with.There are a couple of different issues in regards to the Fire TV Cube which might be value noting, particularly in the case of sport streaming by way of cloud providers. While the upgraded efficiency because of the octa-core processor are undoubtedly evident, if you happen to plan on utilizing your Fire TV Cube for gaming, your choices are a bit restricted. As it presently stands, the one service that you could even use is Amazon Luna, which is smart, however I’d actually like to see Xbox Cloud Gaming make its approach to the Fire TV Cube.And one thing that will not have an effect on too many individuals, however is value stating, is that if you happen to plug in your Xbox Series X or PS5 to the Fire TV Cube, the output refresh price is capped at 60Hz. Again, this may not be a dealbreaker, however when you have a 120Hz-compatible TV and needed the Fire TV Cube to manage every part, you are higher off taking on two HDMI ports in your TV.This development continues in the case of flexibility, because the Fire TV Cube is not suitable with both Apple AirPlay or Google Cast. So if you end up eager to toss stuff up on the TV out of your cellphone, you are just about out of luck, except you employ Amazon Photos or handle to discover a dependable third-party app.It’s relatively shocking and disappointing that Amazon is not together with the upgraded Alexa Voice Remote Pro with its “pro” streaming gadget.One of the stranger omissions from the Fire TV Cube is not something to do with the field itself, however as an alternative, that Amazon does not embody its newest and finest Alexa Voice Remote with its costliest streaming gadget. Along with asserting the Fire TV Cube (2022), Amazon additionally launched the Voice Remote Pro which incorporates customizable buttons, a Remote Finder function, and even a button that makes it straightforward to pair your Bluetooth headphones with the Fire TV.However, if you happen to have been hoping to see the Voice Remote Pro included with the up to date Fire TV Cube, you may be a bit upset. Making issues even worse, Amazon not solely elevated the value of the Fire TV Cube, however in order for you Amazon’s superior distant, you may have to attend till it arrives in November. It’s good to see Amazon providing a bundle that features the Voice Remote Pro and Fire TV Cube (2022), however it could have made extra sense to incorporate Amazon’s finest merchandise collectively.Lastly, and it is one thing that I’m going to strive to not harp an excessive amount of on this time (see my Fire TV Stick 4K Max assessment), the adverts on the Fire TV OS simply aren’t acceptable. I’m prepared to concede that adverts assist maintain the prices down for the Fire TV Sticks, even the dearer 4K Max. But my problem is that you will have to cope with the identical quantity of adverts even with the Fire TV Cube, which is twice as costly because the 4K Max.(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)You can undergo and take away a number of the completely different rows of prompt films and apps, conserving those that you really want, however not all of them. For instance, if you happen to go to the Fire TV Cube’s residence display, you may set 5 completely different apps as your “favorites” for straightforward entry. But scroll down only one row, and also you’re immediately greeted with a row named “Sponsored” with apps, films, and exhibits that probably don’t have anything to do with something that you simply really get pleasure from watching or utilizing.It’s not that I would like Amazon to create a unique interface for its higher-end streaming units, however it could be actually good if I might cease being inundated with adverts. As I stated beforehand, it makes extra sense for the cheaper choices as that is how Amazon is ready to meet that worth phase of the market. But possibly we might see a Fire Tablet method taken, the cheaper price Fire TV contains all of the adverts, however you may pay a couple of extra bucks and get a clear and ad-free interface.Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): The competitors(Image credit score: iMore)The competitors on the larger finish of the streaming gadget market is nowhere close to as cutthroat as the very best low cost streaming units. Amazon’s largest competitor is the Apple TV 4K which was simply up to date for the second time in two years, bringing with it a cheaper price, both 64GB or 128GB of storage, and quicker efficiency (in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin.) Plus, Apple contains its wonderful Siri Remote, which was additionally upgraded with USB-C charging this 12 months and is comprised of aluminum.From there, the following closest competitors comes from NVIDIA’s Shield TV or Shield TV Pro, which could appear as if they’re getting a bit lengthy within the tooth. But the reality is that as a result of these are targeted extra on gaming, the efficiency remains to be top-notch, whereas additionally offering a high-end choice for many who need Google Assistant and/or Android TV.Lastly, Amazon must be conscious of Roku with its Streambar and Streambar Pro. Unlike the Fire TV Cube, the Streambar provides you a plug-and-play answer for each your streaming providers and a soundbar, multi functional. It’s additionally suitable with Apple AirPlay and Google Assistant, together with the flexibility to immediately enhance the audio coming from no matter TV you resolve to plug it into.Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)You can purchase this if:You need the very best Fire TV streaming gadget.You’re already entrenched within the Amazon Alexa ecosystem.You wish to combine your cable field (or console) along with your streaming gadget.You should not purchase this if:You do not wish to cope with adverts for stuff you most likely do not care about.You have already got a 4K streaming gadget.You wish to use this for different cloud gaming providers in addition to Amazon Luna.I’m nonetheless going to beat the “fewer ads” drum for so long as I have to, particularly contemplating that there are rows on the house display that can’t be eliminated in any respect. I do not care that they are appropriately labeled as “sponsored,” I wish to eliminate them utterly, solely exhibiting content material for providers that I’m actively subscribed to or apps that I exploit often.That being stated, I’ve really loved my time with the Fire TV Cube (2022) greater than I anticipated to. It’s simply the quickest streaming gadget from Amazon, and if you happen to nonetheless have cable, the HDMI Input port is a pleasant contact, as is the addition of Ethernet and the USB-A port. I’m additionally a fan of the design, shifting away from a shiny block to at least one that matches in fairly properly with different good audio system, together with the corporate’s lineup of Echo audio system.I’m not 100% certain whether or not it is actually well worth the price ticket, particularly if you happen to already personal one thing just like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. But if you happen to’re out there for a brand new higher-end streaming gadget, and are already acquainted with what Fire TV OS has to supply, you then will not be upset.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)
Amazon’s finest will get higher
The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) may not convey with it a rise in storage capability, however that may be remedied with the brand new USB port on the again. If you are out there for a real set prime field alternative for streaming, that is most likely the one for you.