Amazon Prime Day 2024 sale will start in India on July 20 and will last through July 21. A variety of items will be available at discounted rates, considerably lower than their usual prices. Products like personal electronic items such as smartphones, earphones, tablets and more will be available at lower prices, as well as with some lucrative bank and exchange deals. Some of these offers will also be available on smart home appliances like speakers, streaming devices and more.

Amazon Prime Day 2024 sale deals on Amazon products

Amazon announced in a press note that a number of its self-branded smart home appliances will be available at significantly discounted rates during the upcoming Amazon Prime Day 2024 sale. People can get Fire TV Stick, Echo smart speakers with Alexa support, and other Alexa smart home combinations with up to 55 percent discount.

Customers can buy the Amazon Echo Pop at the lowest effective price of Rs. 2,449, while the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) can be bought at the lowest effective price of Rs. 3,999. These are currently retailing in the country at Rs. 3,999 and Rs. 8,999, respectively. Offers and deals on the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Generation) can bring down the effective price to Rs. 8,999 during the sale. This is currently priced in the country at Rs. 13,999.

The e-commerce site is also extending offers on combo deals on Amazon smart home products. An Echo Dot (5th Generation) and a Wipro Simple Setup 9W LED Smart Bulb can together be bought at a price of Rs. 4,749, while the combination of an Echo Dot (4th Generation) with clock and a Wipro 9W LED smart colour bulb can be purchased at Rs. 3,749 during the upcoming sale.

People can also get the Echo Pop alongside a Wipro Simple Setup 9W LED Smart Bulb for Rs. 2,749 and the Echo Pop together with an Amazon Smart Plug at Rs. 2,948.

During the sale, customers can also get the Fire TV Stick at the lowest possible price of Rs. 2,199, down 56 percent from its usual price of Rs. 4,499. The Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa Voice Remote Lite can be purchased at the lowest effective price of Rs. 1,999, while the Fire TV Stick 4K can be bought with a 43 percent discount at Rs. 3,999, down from its retail price of Rs. 5,999. Interested buyers can also get smart television with inbuilt Fire TV with discounts of up to 50 percent.

Amazon introduced its first Fire TV Stick in India in 2017. Back then, smart TVs were expensive, fewer brands were manufacturing them, and the proliferation of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms was relatively low. In such a market, a streaming device that can be plugged into any television with an HDMI port to access not only streaming apps but also games was a lucrative proposition.

Things, however, have changed significantly in 2024. On the one hand, OTT platforms have massively grown in number and offer a wide range of exclusive content. On the other hand, smart TVs have become relatively cheaper, and many new brands have entered the market, making them more accessible to the masses. As per a report by the Internet in India Report 2023, conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar, a massive 707 million users in India engage with OTT platforms. The total number of streaming platforms has also grown to 57, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

In conditions like these, where it would appear that the usefulness of a third-party streaming device might be reduced, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K made its debut. Priced at Rs. 5,999, the device supports 4K resolution content (2160p) along with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and more. It also offers the entire Amazon Appstore library with more than 12,000 apps.

For the last fortnight, I have been using the streaming device to find out whether what it offers is enough to make it relevant at a time when it faces competition not only from other streaming devices but also from the growing number of smart TVs that offer the same experience integrated within the television. So, let’s get down to the brass tacks.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Design and Remote

The basic design from the first generation of the Fire TV Stick has yet to see many upgrades over the years, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K continues the tradition. You get the same matte black rectangular device (which now gets curved edges) with the Fire TV logo on the top and an HDMI port at the front. If the HDMI port doesn’t easily plug in, an HDMI extender gives you that extra bit of flexibility.

The new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K remote

 

On the side, there is a Micro-USB port for power. Some TVs might be able to power the device using the USB port if it provides enough power. Mine could not, so the charger in the box came in handy, and I was able to power it by plugging it into a power source.

The remote has also seen minor improvements compared to the previous Fire Stick 4K that came out in 2019. It now features dedicated app buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, and Amazon Music. A fourth button directly takes you to the installed apps. A live TV button and a dedicated Alexa button replace the older voice control button. The functionality remains the same; however, I found Alexa much more capable.

In the previous review, Gadgets 360 found that if the searched content was not from Prime Video, the virtual assistant would only pop up the app at best. However, now, it can bring up the title card from Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema, and YouTube (these were the apps I frequently used). Apart from that, the rest of the remote is pretty standard.

In terms of installation and usage, Fire TV is very easy to use. The installation process, including all the OS-based updates, took me about 15 minutes. All you have to do is plug it into your TV, connect the power source, and follow the instructions on the screen. It is a device that is meant to be plugged in and forgotten.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Interface

Running on the Fire OS, the user interface is not drastically different from the standard Android TV experience. You get the same tile-based layout and horizontal scrolling interface showcasing shows, movies, and apps. There are Home, Find, and Live TV sections and an easy-to-access app library. The Settings icon is also placed conveniently on top, and since the remote does not have a Settings button, its placement helps switch around stuff.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K interface

 

Amazon also has a good recommendation algorithm that suggests content from different OTT platforms, even if you have not installed them. You will see recently watched shows, recommendations from Netflix, free movies and TV programmes, and genre-wise categories. However, being an Amazon product, there is a bias for its content. For example, only the Prime Video content is labelled 4K on the home screen. For everything else, you will have to click on the content’s tile and check the details.

You can also directly jump to Prime Video content from the recommendation section on the home screen, but for any other app, you’ll encounter a description screen first. Also, Prime Video dominates the top half of the page where featured content is shown.

However, I did not find any of it an inconvenience since I watch a fair bit of shows and movies on Prime Video. The integration helped me discover newer content to watch and allowed me to play it quickly. Those who are not fans of the Prime Video library might be better served by Mi TV Stick or the default Android TV/Google TV.

Overall, the interface is snappy, responsive, and quite reliable over extended usage. I rarely encountered any glitches or issues.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Performance

Now, let’s get to the performance. On paper, this is the most powerful streaming device by Amazon available in India. It supports up to Wi-Fi 6 (both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands) and Bluetooth 5.0. It also gets up to HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos audio support to pair with the 4K Ultra-HD video quality support. The device offers an inbuilt storage of 8GB.

IPL 2024 finale using Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

 

I have been using this device for more than two weeks on my Redmi Fire TV and have been pleased with its consistent performance. Whether I was catching up on episodes of Shogun, enjoying the comedy-drama Laapataa Ladies, or binge-watching Spy x Family anime, the video quality was crisp and bright, and the lighter and darker areas could be distinguished very easily. Even the darker scenes were well-lit and made for delightful viewing. Surprisingly, the OS performance of the Fire TV Stick 4K was snappier than my inbuilt Fire OS.

However, note that 4K video support will require faster internet connectivity, and the video stream may struggle if the connection is not stable or slow. Further, the overall video quality depends on the TV you’re using. It goes without saying that a premium TV with 4K support will present better visuals than a TV without it.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Verdict

As stated above, my goal with this review was to understand if the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K really offers enough to make the device a relevant and necessary purchase. After using it extensively, my answer is a resounding yes.

Even in a world where smart TVs can be found for less than Rs. 15,000, they are not all built equally. Some have poor memory, while others are affected by sub-par OS experience. With many people still using TVs with old-smarts and no-smarts, Amazon’s streaming device fills the gap of needing to replace reliable television hardware for software deficiencies.

The Fire TV Stick 4K offers solid performance with its OS interface, performance, and picture quality. But even more than that, what it truly offers is reliability. While I have experienced glitches with my Redmi smart TV and even my parents’ Sony Bravia, I never faced even a small issue with it. From navigating across different apps to watching shows and movies, the experience was seamless. A good streaming device, in my opinion, should be unnoticeable when watching the TV, and the Fire TV Stick 4K did exactly that.

If you do not own a smart TV or are struggling with a few-year-old smart TV that has started slowing down, the Fire TV Stick could be a good way to extend the TV’s life without compromising the viewing experience.

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The Amazon Prime Day 2023 Sale will end at 11:59pm on Sunday, July 16. As it draws to a close, this might be your last chance to take advantage of some super deals on the company’s own Echo smart speakers. You can get great prices on a variety of Echo models including the new Echo Dot (4th Gen), and there are also bundles that include an Echo speaker and some compatible products to help you get started turning your house into a futuristic, voice-controlled smart home. The Amazon Alexa assistant can recognise multiple commands and you can even program scenes and sequences of events, for example you can change the lighting if you add smart bulbs or lamps. Here’s what Amazon is offering:

This deal makes the previous-gen Echo Dot incredibly affordable. You can get started with smart home control, media streaming and using the Alexa voice assistant to manage tasks. This compact smart speaker can sit in any room of your house and will pick up your voice commands. Dozens of “skills” mean that you can integrate Alexa with popular services to check the news, order products, and get information. Apply the coupon to get an extra Rs. 250 off during the Prime Day sale.

Buy now at Rs. 1,699 (MRP: Rs. 4,499)

This interesting combination gives you two Echo devices for different rooms, plus one LED smart bulb. The 3rd Gen Echo is more compact, while the 4th Gen model delivers improved sound quality for music. Place one next to your bed and one in the living room or kitchen, so you’ll have access to the Alexa smart assistant wherever you go. The Wipro smart bulb can be controlled with voice commands, so you can choose your ambience and set up schedules for convenience.

Buy now at Rs. 3,698 (MRP: Rs. 7,399)

The 4th Gen Echo has a smart spherical design that will look great in any setting in your home. It’s available in three colours – black, blue, and white. In addition to its utility as a smart speaker, the Alexa voice assistant is one of its main draws. This bundle gets you a Wipro 16A Smart Plug adapter for just Rs. 899 extra. With a device like this, you can make heavy appliances such as an AC or water heater part of your smart home setup. Control power through an app or voice command from anywhere in the world, set schedules, and monitor power usage.

Buy now at Rs. 3,148 (MRP: Rs. 6,789)

The Echo Show 5 combines the features of Echo speakers with a touch display. You can check information at a glance on the screen as well as hear it read out to you, and you can control your smart appliances as well as streaming media. It’s even compatible with security cameras, and can act as a clock when in standby. The Fire TV Stick plugs into an HDMI port on your TV and gives you access to Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service as well as several others, including free ones. Find content using Alexa voice search and enjoy Dolby Atmos audio.

Buy now at: Rs. 7,198 (MRP Rs. 13,998)

One great way to take advantage of the display on the Echo Show series of smart displays is to hook them up with Alexa-compatible home security cameras. You can check your video feed from wherever you are, to make sure things are safe and secure. You can even use it to monitor visitors arriving at your home, or check footage on your smartphone when you’re away. The Mi Smart Camera has AI-powered motion detection and is capable of night vision using infrared. It features two-way audio and a 360-degree swivel base. 

Buy now at: Rs. 8,098 (MRP Rs. 13,448)

 

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