Amazon Fire TV Stick

What hackers pick instead

• Apple TV 4KRecommended as a fast, private replacement for spammy smart TV software, controllable with one remote via CEC, though Apple pushes its own promotions and it is pricey.323recommend
• Nvidia Shield TVA long-supported Android TV box that plays local 4K media well with audio passthrough and app freedom, though its 2015-era chip lacks newer codecs and the interface shows ads.113recommend
• Apple TV 4KRecommended for smooth, simple streaming, fast hardware, long software support and a privacy-friendly business model, though critics cite missing audio passthrough and a higher price than before.93recommend
• Roku streaming playerPeople recommend Roku for its slick interface and phone remote app, but critics most often cite home screen ads and viewing data tracking.20recommend
• Roku streaming devicePeople recommend it for a consistent, fast, clean interface and a cheap price; the main caveat is ads and settings changed after updates.14recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 59 comments. Each links to the original.

1. was able to sideload the open source Moonlight client app to stream 4K HDR10+ / 60fps from my server PC

   Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “My Steam Machine Is a 50ft HDMI Cable”

2. you can buy an $40 Amazon Fire Stick and use and upgrade with your TV until it physically dies

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Codex Hacked a Samsung TV”

3. the advantage is that the FireTV has a simple cute little remote control device

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids”

4. I only have to buy a new media player for $30 and not a whole new TV

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “I didn't realize my LG TV was spying on me until I turned off Live Plus”

5. we're all happy with them, as they do what they say on the box.

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Amazon won't release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore”

6. works with other services but heavily promotes Amazon stuff

   Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Fox to Buy Roku Streaming Service in $22B Deal”

7. the FireTV GUI is quite snappy thereafter

   Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids”

8. they do what they say on the box

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Amazon won't release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore”

9. My $30 firestick will play them

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “What I learned about deploying AV1 from two deployers”

10. the Amazon FireStick which just contains all the same spyware that the LG TV would've had but sends it to Amazon instead

    Criticizes · Sep 2026 · in “LG says we're fake news [video]”

11. the Firestick UI is horribly slow. Sometimes it takes 30 seconds or more for it to give any response to a button press

    Criticizes · Jan 2026 · in “Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids”

12. Aren't you just letting amazon collect and monetize your viewing habits while allowing them to push ads at you?

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features”

13. it was atrociously add-riddled and often showing things inappropriate for the kids in the middle of the day

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “CarPlay Is Additive”

14. Using a firestick means amazon collects data on what you watch regardless of the platform you view it on.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features”

15. Now, it becomes a jail break necessity for reusing and freeing locked-down corporate garbage.

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Amazon won't release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore”

16. easily replace Fire TV sticks, AppleTV boxes, Rokus and other similar proprietary garbage

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “Linux on Older Hardware: The Complete Revival Guide”

17. a fire tv stick just locks you into a "your internet is down so you're screwed" screen

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash”

18. Video ads on the home screen, but at least you can currently install custom apps.

    Criticizes · Mar 2026 · in “Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV”

19. do what firestick does and better with less ads and maybe even less tracking

    Criticizes · Nov 2025

20. It was miserable due to hotel captive wifi portals often failing to work properly with the browser of the FS

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “CarPlay Is Additive”

21. No transcoding, no weird codec issues, just the raw files direct streamed

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “LG to Ban Residential Proxies from Smart TV Apps”

22. I never seen Ads on Firestick, BUT that could be because I'm prime member

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features”

23. arguably less/different spyware, there's the Fire TV Stick 4K Max* $35

    Mixed · Mar 2026 · in “Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features”

24. unless you have a third-party streaming device like a Fire or Shield

    Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “LG denies TV spying claims, says tracking and snooping concerns 'not true'”

25. I use my monitor with a fire TV stick and it renders very well

    Recommends · Nov 2026 · in “Ask HN: Which TV do you recommend for privacy?”

26. Always putting firestick on it and call it a day.

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features”

27. neither of them bug me with such fullscreen ads

    Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “Nvidia's 10-year effort to make the Shield TV the most updated Android device”

28. I'm using mine in Europe now with no problems.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Amazon has launched a major global crackdown on Fire Stick piracy”

29. I add cheap Amazon FireStick and be done.

    Recommends · Sep 2026 · in “LG denies TV spying claims, says tracking and snooping concerns 'not true'”

30. I'm pretty happy with my Fire TV Stick

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Read This Before You Buy That TV Streaming Stick”

31. Either the HD, 4K Plus, or 4K Max.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “Amazon won't release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore”

32. Getting rid of ads on the streaming stick and various streaming services is an interesting challenge though

    Criticizes · Dec 2025 · in “Sick of smart TVs? Here are your best options”

33. both were (subjectively) worse experiences than just using the apps built into the TV

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “LG to Ban Residential Proxies from Smart TV Apps”

34. YouTube began thermal throttling on a Firestick the moment they started forcing AV1

    Criticizes · Oct 2026 · in “H.264 Is Magic (2016)”

35. the UX for their "Fire Stick" is on par with the UX for an actual "Dumpster Fire"

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “I'm never buying another Kindle, and neither should you”

36. they can just ask each-other to limit what citizens, sorry, consumers can do

    Criticizes · Apr 2026 · in “Amazon won't release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore”

37. it started boot looping right around 1yr of ownership, so it's e-waste now

    Criticizes · Oct 2026 · in “An ad-free Android TV”

38. obviously backdoored piece of sh*t from America (that was made in China)

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “Amazon has launched a major global crackdown on Fire Stick piracy”

39. Amazon crippled the ADB functionality on FireTV Sticks a while ago.

    Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “Android May Soon Restrict On-Device ADB”

40. it was not easy to sideload Kodi player onto Amazon Fire Stick

    Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “You will own nothing and be (un)happy”