Amazon has early Black Friday savings on its most powerful streaming stick. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is 41 percent off, bringing it close to its record low. You can get it now for $35.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of Engadget’s favorite streaming devices. The stick supports a solid mix of advanced technologies for its price: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 4K, and HDR10+. As long as the rest of your entertainment setup can handle it, you’ll get high-quality picture and sound. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E, enabling better, faster connectivity with compatible routers.
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Get Amazon’s best streaming stick for $35.
$35 on Amazon
The 4K Max has the fastest processor of any Amazon Fire TV Stick, so expect zippy navigation. It also supports Amazon’s Ambient Experience. This mode displays art (like on Samsung’s The Frame) while the device is in standby. It’s also a solid choice for gaming: it supports Xbox cloud streaming and also works well as a retro game emulator.
The UI is where Amazon appears to be subsidizing the low price of the device. Expect to see a lot of Prime Video content promos along with other commercials. But for $35 (compared to an MSRP of $60), you may find it easier to justify that tradeoff.
Also on sale is Amazon’s Fire TV Stick HD, our pick for the best budget streaming stick. This model does not support 4K; Instead, it limits you to 1080p at 60 fps. At $18 for Black Friday, it’s definitely a bargain. But if you have (or plan to get one soon) a 4K TV, you may want to consider a slightly more expensive model.
