Amazon today launched its Fire TV Stick in India that lets you stream content from Amazon Prime Videos and other apps directly to your HDTV. Amazon Fire TV costs 3,999 INR in India, and if you think that’s way too expensive, there are a few exciting launch day offers that should reduce the effective cost.
On the hardware front, Amazon’s Fire TV dongle is power by 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage, which makes it capable of streaming 1080p or 720p content at 60/50 Hz.
Also Read: Google Officially Brings Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio to India At 3,399 INR
It supports a wide range of content formats, Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass-through up to 7.1.
Other connectivity options include Dual-band 802.11ac WiFi s 2×2 MIMO, and Bluetooth 4.1. Fire TV Stick also comes with a remote control which, perhaps, should prove as a more conventional and convenient way of controlling playback when you are in front of a TV as against using your smartphone as a remote. The remote also lets you search using voice commands.
Fire TV Vs Chromecast VS Smart Set-top Boxes
The main competition here is Google’s Chromecast, which can also be used to stream content to your HDTV, including Amazon Prime Videos andJio TV, (using screen mirroring), and Smart Set-top boxes like the recently launched Airtel Internet TV that have the advantage of streaming linear TV Channels too.
On the face of it, Amazon Fire TV doesn’t seem to have much leverage here, but if you have had experienced Amazon Prime, you can appreciate how well Amazon’s service run even on relatively slow data connections. That efficiency coupled with features like voice search through remote and parental control could lend it some traction.
Amazon Launch Offers For Fire TV include:
- 499 cashback as Amazon Pay balance for Prime members (For purchases before May 31)
- 3 months of Eros premium subscription
- Ad-free streaming on Gaana for 6 months
- One month ad-free streaming on Voot and Voot Kids
- 80GB/month data for 3 months for YOU Broadband users (Total 240GB)
- 35GB/month data for 3 months for Airtel Broadband users (Total 105GB)
Amazon Fire TV Stick Features and Specifications
| Product Name | Amazon Fire TV (Buy) |
| Processor | 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Storage | 8GB |
| Ports | HDMI output, micro USB for power |
| Audio support | Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass-through up to 7.1 |
| Video Formats support | H.264 1080p30H.265 1080p30, Audio: AAC-LC, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (eAAC+), AC3 (Dolby Digital), eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MIDI, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, AMR-NB, AMR-WB |
| Connectivity | Dual-band 802.11ac WiFi s 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Price | Rs. 3,999 |
Amazon’s fire stick is a pretty stable streamer and also gives great connectivity with its mediatek integration