Amazon is no stranger to the TV market, with the e-commerce giant partnering with such manufacturers as Toshiba for its bargain-priced Fire TV Edition sets. But while Amazon will continue to work with third parties on Fire TV sets, it’s now churning out its own lines of Alexa-enabled 4K TVs, including higher-end models with hands-free Alexa support, Dolby Vision, tight Ring integration, and Zoom calling.
Besides its new Omni and 4-Series TVs, Amazon is unveiling a long-awaited successor to the aging Fire TV Stick 4K, which packs a new, more powerful processor and Wi-Fi 6 support.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Series 4K TVs
Available in 43-, 50-, 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes (you can pre-order them now), the Omni Series represents Amazon’s top-of-the-line 4K TVs, with the larger 65- and 75-inch models boasting slimmer, metallic silver bezels and Dolby Vision support. The smaller screen sizes lack Dolby Vision but do support vanilla HDR10 and HLG.
As with Amazon’s previous Fire TV sets, you’ll be able to ask Alexa to tee up videos, adjust the volume, and perform smart home duties. Omni Series sets add far-field microphones for hands-free Alexa, and they’ll also add some new Alexa features, such as the ability to get recommendations by asking “Alexa, what should I watch?”
Coming this fall, you’ll be able to trigger Netflix’s “Play Something” functionality by saying “Alexa, Play Something,” while you’ll also be able to dip into TikTok by saying “Alexa, play TikTok.”
The Omni Series will also be getting some handy smart home integrations. For example, Live View Picture-in-Picture will let you check your security cam feeds or see who’s ringing your Ring video doorbell without interrupting your videos. An upcoming and revamped smart home dashboard will let you control and view the status of your smart devices, while a new Fire TV row will be dedicated to your security cameras.
Amazon boasts that its Omni Series sets will be the first smart TVs with integrated Zoom calling (with the help of a webcam, of course), and you’ll also be able to initiate Alexa video calls via voice.
All Omni Series models will come equipped with three HDMI 2.0 inputs, plus a single HDMI 2.1 eARC port.
Slated to ship October 27, the Fire TV Omni Series starts at $410 for the 43-inch version, with the 50- and 55-inch models costing $510 and $560. The larger 65- and 75-inch models will go for $830 and $1,100.
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series TVs
Besides the Omni Series, Amazon is also bowing a step-down 4-Series, arriving in 43-, 50-, and 55-inch sizes.
Amazon
The Fire TV 4-Series is Amazon’s step-down line of 4K TVs. They have built-in Alexa and picture-in-picture smart cam modes, but no Dolby Vision support.
The 4-Series will have onboard Alexa, of course, but unlike the Omni Series, you’ll need to push a button to summon the voice assistant. Fire TV 4-Series users will also have to do without Dolby Vision and Zoom calling.
Pricing for the 4-Series starts at $370 for the 43-inch set, while the 50- and 55-inch models will cost $470 and $520.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Set to arrive October 7 for $55, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the long-awaited successor to the Fire TV Stick 4K, and it marks the first Fire TV Stick to support Wi-Fi 6.
Amazon
The new Fire TV Stick 4K Max boasts a new, faster processor and Wi-Fi 6 support, along with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
Equipped with a Mediatek MT7921LS Wi-Fi 6 chipset, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max promises to deliver smooth 4K streaming as well as cloud gaming via Amazon’s new Luna service.
With its new quad-core 1.8GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, Amazon says the new Fire TV Stick 4K Max is up to 40 percent more powerful than the original, which should make for smoother scrolling through the (sometimes sluggish) Fire TV interface.
The new streamer will support HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, along with immersive Dolby Atmos audio, and it will also share the new Live View Picture-in-Picture mode with Amazon’s Omni Series TVs.
We’ll have full reviews of Amazon’s new TVs and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max once we try out some sample units.