Amazon Upgrades Fire TV Stick With Multi-Device Alexa Remote
Amazon now ships its standard Fire TV Stick with an upgraded Alexa Voice Remote that controls multiple AV devices. The streaming player remains priced at $39.99 and includes the new free IMDb Freedive service.
Amazon upgrades its standard Fire TV Stick by including the new Alexa Voice Remote that originally launched alongside the Fire TV Stick 4K. The enhanced remote uses Bluetooth and multi-directional infrared to control not only the streaming stick, but also TVs, soundbars, and cable boxes. Despite this significant hardware addition, the price of the Fire TV Stick stays at $39.99.
The updated remote sets the Fire TV Stick apart from competing devices like Roku by offering full AV equipment control at a budget price point. Users still have access to Alexa's voice commands to search for content, check the weather, and manage smart home devices. Additionally, Amazon slashes the standalone price of the remote by fifty percent for customers who want to upgrade older Fire TV devices.
This hardware refresh coincides with the inclusion of IMDb Freedive, a new free, ad-supported streaming service that provides movies and TV shows. The move aims to build on Amazon's momentum of reaching over 30 million active Fire TV users. Consumers can pre-order the upgraded Fire TV Stick today either on its own or bundled with an Echo Dot.