At an event today, Amazon announced a new way to bring Fire TV into your home: the third-generation Fire TV Cube. The company is also pushing out an update that will make Show 15 devices a little more useful around the home — if you’re a binge-watcher, that is. And there’s a new Alexa voice-controlled remote.
While the headlining feature of the Fire TV announcements was a new TV, it’s not headed our way any time soon. But here’s what is.
The next-gen Fire TV Cube
If you’d rather not replace your whole TV, the Fire TV Cube is Amazon’s third-generation streaming box. The Cube has been updated with an improved octa-core processor and Super Resolution upscaling so you can watch HD content in a 4K-like sharpness. Amazon also promises better audio quality with the Fire TV Cube, due in part to its support of Dolby Atmos audio, plus Wi-Fi 6e support.
If you’re looking for this to act as a centralised entertainment hub in your main room, the good news is that there is a USB port, Ethernet, and HDMI built into the device. Amazon says you can also use the USB port to add a compatible webcam if you want to use the Fire TV Cube connected to a display for video chat through Alexa.
The Fire TV Cube is available for pre-order today on Amazon and will be available from retailers like JB Hi-Fi for $219.
A TV update for the Echo Show 15
When we reviewed the $399 Echo Show 15 earlier this year, we were bummed that it didn’t have more TV-like capabilities. But an opt-in software update coming soon will make the smart display more like the Fire TV.
The Echo Show 15 will get an update that will add the Fire TV app to its interface, so you can stream TV, movies, news, and anything else you would want with it. The Echo Show 15 can currently handle Netflix, ABC iView and of course Amazon’s own Prime Video. But this ability will turn it into the 15-inch TV set it was meant to be. Amazon said the upgrade would bring other favourites to the smart display.
A remote to unite them all
The Fire TV Cube and Echo Show 15 will also be compatible with the updated Alexa Voice Remote Pro. The remote has backlighting, programmable buttons, and a Remote Finder feature, which is exciting because it is the Year of Our Lord 2022 and I’m still losing the remote in the couch cushions like it’s 1992. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Alexa Voice Remote Pro is available for pre-order today on Amazon for $59.
The Fire TV TV
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED series, while a highlight, is not available in Australia. It comes in 65- and 75-inch models and is the successor to last year’s Fire TV Omni, though it offers more pixel density and a wider colour gamut, since it uses Quantum Dot technology. The TV has additional contrast control zones and presence and ambient light sensors that will determine the environment in your room for optimal TV viewing using Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive tech. It’ll be able to adjust for lighting… and tell when you’re in front of it, which is pretty in character for Amazon.
This article has been updated since it was first published.