Amazon Fire TV Cube review: It’s hip to be square

There is no shortage of streaming devices. Whether Amazon, Apple, Google or Roku, there is a streaming device for you. The Amazon Fire TV Cube is the company’s most robust offering and competes directly with the Apple TV. It has top notch hardware, Amazon Alexa, and of course almost all the content you could want. While it’s the best of the best from Amazon, it still has shortcomings that are worth pointing out. Find out what they are in Android Authority Amazon Fire TV Cube review.

Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: What is it?

The Fire TV Cube is Amazon’s answer and a slide for Apple TV. It’s a streaming box that goes beyond mere access to your favorite content by containing the hardware needed to take the leap to the next level in audio and video performance.

This cube-shaped streaming device supports all of the movies and shows you want to watch, with the added bonus of a fully functional Amazon Alexa. That means you can talk to him, ask him questions, and ask about the hottest TV trends – all without a remote control. It replaces the original Cube with updated hardware, mostly a faster hexacore processor and support for 4K.

It only takes a few moments to set up. Plug it into the wall and your TV, connect to Wi-Fi, log into your Amazon account, and you’re good to go.

What is good?

Solid performance. The processor and memory / storage configuration makes the Amazon Fire TV Cube fast and responsive. Voice queries really perked up and navigating the menu system felt snappy.

Speaking of the menu system, it’s simple and vibrant. I found the software easy to learn and easy to interact with. In addition, almost all streaming content available online is available. Seriously, if you want to stream it, you can find it and watch it on the Fire TV Cube.

See also: The best video streaming services – Netflix, Hulu, and many more

The video and audio quality is all there. It supports up to 4K image quality. You have important information like HDR, HDR 10, HDR 10+ and Dolby Vision. The picture looked great on my TV. The audio includes Dolby Atmos, 7.1 / 5.1 surround sound and stereo. When patched through my soundbar, movies sounded explosive and rich.

Fast and responsive, the Amazon Fire TV Cube can stream almost any content you want.

The cube serves as a complete Amazon Alexa device. Most Amazon Fire TV Sticks require the remote to interact with Alexa. However, the cube itself has far-field microphones, a built-in speaker, and everything else you need to talk hands-free with Alexa. I found the microphones worked fine even with the TV volume turned up. Since it’s a full Alexa, she can answer questions about the weather, control smart home devices, and much more.

The ports are pretty good. On the back there is a full HDMI port for connecting to your TV, as well as a power port, an IR port, and a micro USB port. The IR port works with a supplied extender, which ensures that the remote control can interact with the cube, even if the box itself is hidden in your entertainment system. You can connect the supplied Ethernet adapter, which you strongly recommend, via the micro USB port. While the Fire TV Cube works perfectly under Wi-Fi, the stability of an Ethernet connection must not be impaired. It would be better if the ethernet port was built in like the Apple TV, but at least that’s an option.

What’s not so good?

The loudspeaker stinks. It sounds good when you interact with Alexa, but it’s not a music / speaker replacement device. It gets a lot loud, but there is absolutely no bass reproduction. You are much better off using specialized hearing aids.

Amazon’s software is not for everyone. Amazon aggressively prioritizes its own Prime Video and there are ads that run from time to time.

The speaker works well for Alexa commands, but you’re much better off using dedicated devices for music.

There is a distance learning curve. When you’re coming from one of Amazon’s Fire TV sticks, you’re used to speaking directly into the remote for voice actions. This is not the case with the Cube. You still need the remote control to navigate the screen, but voice commands are handled by the cube itself. This takes getting used to.

In addition, the voice control is not perfect. I often found that I couldn’t play Netflix content without hitting the profile screen, which meant I couldn’t just say, “Alexa, play strange things on Netflix.” Since I have multiple profiles on my account ( including child profiles), it was launched.

The lack of a USB-A port is a real bummer. This means that for your own content, e.g. B. home videos or photo albums, cannot connect a USB stick to the Fire TV Cube. There is also no HDMI cable in the box.

Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: Should I Buy It?

Whether or not you should buy the Amazon Fire TV Cube depends on your current situation. If you don’t have any streaming devices or smart speakers at all, the Cube is a breeze to use – you get both in one device. If you’re an Amazon household and want to add functionality to another room, the Cube makes a lot of sense.

If you want streaming hardware and a smart speaker in one device, the Amazon Fire Cube is a no-brainer.

If you already have an Alexa speaker, I’d forget about the Cube and buy a Fire TV Stick 4K instead. Your existing speaker will likely sound better. On the other hand, if you already have a Fire TV Stick, the cube doesn’t offer as many features. You should get yourself a dedicated Alexa speaker. If you are an Apple or Google ecosystem user, you’d better stick with the family of products you’ve already invested in.

Either way, at $ 120, the Amazon Fire TV Cube is a good deal for that combination of smart speakers and streaming devices.

For more reviews of Android AuthoritySign up below to get the latest device tests and analysis delivered to your inbox.

Source link