Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: An Amazing Union of Alexa and Fire TV
Misplacing the remote happens to all of us, but the Amazon Fire TV Cube is here to fix that. This cube lets you operate your TV, audio equipment, and cable box through the Alexa command system. Our Amazon Fire TV Cube review reveals that this device also comes equipped with many of Alexa’s tricks and abilities, just like other Amazon devices. What’s more, the device adds to Alexa’s functionality, creating a fully capable streaming device and providing partial home automation.
FEATURES
- Review Price- $120
- Width – 3.4 inches
- Depth – 3.4 inches
- Height – 3.0 inches
- Micro USB
- IR Blaster
- Micro-USB-to-Ethernet for 4k TV Connection
- Alexa
DISCUSSION
On the back, you’ll find ports for power, HDMI, micro USB, and IR blaster. The included micro-USB-to-ethernet adapter is crucial for those with 4K TVs; a wired internet connection is necessary for the speeds required of UHD/4K content.
A physical remote is also part of the package, for situations where Alexa cannot be used. Amazon crafted the Fire TV Cube to be a content priority device, with the mindset that viewers focus more on what they wish to watch rather than the general content(including commercials) offered through standard television service providers. The Amazon Cube’s home screen is displayed in huge tiles that represent apps, programs, and other content selection. Just under the whirl of content that covers more than a third of the screen, there’s the “Recent” section, which lets you go back to the particular show or movie you were previously watching.
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Want to know what’s currently showing on live TV? The “On Now” section of the home screen displays live previews from your subscribed Amazon channels. However, during the investigation for our Amazon Fire TV Cube review, we discovered that the device lacks home screen arrangement tools. This is due in part to the fact that the device is designed to assimilate your preferences as you use it over time, so it may be a saving grace for the lack of manual display customization.
When a streaming device sells for $120, you would expect not to see ads, but a whole row of the home screen is unfortunately covered by sponsored content. For Alexa’s part, she proves to be a fantastic TV navigator. She does everything from downloading apps to operating them, and she does this naturally and more efficiently than manual navigation. When you’re moving from menu to menu, searching for what to watch, Alexa will also follow commands to display a trailer for a movie, remove or add the movie to your watch list, and display more options to watch content. When you’re ready to play content, saying, “Alexa watch now” gets the ball rolling. Our Amazon Fire TV Cube review also discovered that Alexa can switch back from the Fire Cube to any of your other devices. “Alexa, show me home screen,“ does the trick.
Pretty much everything is on Amazon Fire TV Cube, which is a fork of Android, like other Amazon Fire devices. The Amazon Fire TV Cube’s streaming services included Hulu (with live TV), Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV. Once you’re signed in, Netflix, HBO, and other major or select apps will suggest content tailored to your individual viewing trends. If you wish to buy a la carte channels, Amazon’s Channels Services lets you subscribe to individual channels.
Sadly, YouTube and YouTube TV aren’t on Fire as a result of a Google and Amazon disagreement. Regarding resolution, the Fire TV Cube streams video in Amazing 4K resolution, and Stunning HDR color. Regarding performance, the system transitions smoothly while being navigated by the remote or Alexa, and the menu responsiveness is particularly fast. The Fire TV Cube has eight microphones installed, which greatly enhances its listening ability. You can speak to Alexa to instigate a variety of tasks, and these microphones really allow her to understand some detailed statements. More importantly, you don’t need to yell while the TV is playing a movie or show, because Alexa can hear your commands clearly.
CONCLUSION
Previous Amazon streaming devices have barely reached top level, but the Fire Cube‘s blend of Alexa and Fire TV is a strong contender for the top list of streaming devices.
Its ability to change channels, control volume, as well as provide fantastic image quality makes it a worthy purchase for those within and even outside of the Amazon ecosystem.
However, the absence of home screen control and the YouTube App/TV are disappointing, particularly when the cube costs as much as it does; the Amazon Fire TV Cube is still an impressive device based on our Amazon Fire TV Cube review, and it paves the way for the future of home viewing and smart TV technology.
