Head-to-head · spec by spec, a verdict per need

Fire TV Stick 4K vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2026

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the best pick for most 4K TVs.

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It streams in 4K with HDR10+ and runs straight from your TV's USB port, so you need no wall adapter. Want Dolby Vision, double the storage and games via the Xbox app? Buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

By Bez, Editor✓ Updated 28 October 2026

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)See it on Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)See it on Amazon

Which one is for you?

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Which pick suits which need
Ifyour TV supports Dolby Vision	Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want no wall adapter behind the TV	Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou install lots of apps and games	Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want to stream Xbox Game Pass games	Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)	See it on Amazon
Ifyou want the lower price	Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)	See it on Amazon

At a glance

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1★ Top pick
Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)Best for most 4K TVs
Sharp 4K streaming with a remote that controls your TV
See it on Amazon
2
Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)Best for Dolby Vision, storage and gaming
Get Dolby Vision 4K pictures and room for more games
See it on Amazon

Side by side

From the makers' and retailers' published factsAffiliate

The picks side by side
Pick	Best for	Price	The fact that sets it apart	Where to buy
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)	most 4K TVs	£69.99	Streams in 4K with HDR10+, supports Wi-Fi 6 and comes with a new Fire TV Remote with TV power and volume controls.	See it on Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)	Dolby Vision, storage and gaming	–	4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio, and Wi-Fi 6E support.	See it on Amazon

Prices from the maker or retailer named on each pick below, checked 26 October 2026. A dash means the price changes too often to quote: tap through for today's.

Get sharp 4K streaming on your TV, and pick the stick that fits how you watch. Most 4K TVs are happy with the Fire TV Stick 4K, which streams 4K with HDR10+ and runs from the TV's USB port with Direct Power, so no wall adapter is needed. For Dolby Vision, 16 GB of storage or the Xbox app for cloud gaming, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the one to choose. Picture, storage and power decide it.

Both in detail

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)

1★ Top pickBest for most 4K TVs

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)

Sharp 4K streaming with a remote that controls your TV.

What it is: The Fire TV Stick 4K streams in 4K with HDR10+, a format for brighter, richer colour, so films and shows look their best. It supports Wi-Fi 6, the newer and faster wireless standard.
Perfect for: This suits most 4K TV owners who want one remote for streaming, TV power and TV volume.
Why we picked it: Direct Power lets you run it from your TV's USB port, so you can skip the wall plug. It also passes Dolby Atmos surround sound through HDMI, so films can sound bigger.
What's new: Amazon's newest 4K stick, with Wi-Fi 6, Direct Power and a redesigned Fire TV Remote.
Price: £69.99 (johnlewis.com, checked 26 October 2026)

Streams in 4K with HDR10+, supports Wi-Fi 6 and comes with a new Fire TV Remote with TV power and volume controls.
Has Direct Power, using a short USB-C power cable (0.4 m) from the TV's USB port, so no wall adapter is needed.
Supports Dolby Atmos audio pass-through via HDMI, but Dolby Vision Atmos needs the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

The catch: No Dolby Vision, and Amazon says it prevents sideloading or installing apps from unknown sources.

Check today's price on Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)

2Best for Dolby Vision, storage and gaming

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)

Get Dolby Vision 4K pictures and room for more games.

What it is: The Fire TV Stick 4K Max brings 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio to your TV. It also gives you 16 GB of storage, so more apps, games and downloads fit on it.
Perfect for: This one suits you best if you want Dolby Vision, more storage or gaming on your TV.
Why we picked it: The Fire TV Ambient Experience turns your TV into a gallery, with over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality art and photography. Gamers can use the Xbox app, which streams games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Put the two together and this stick does more than stream films.

4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio, and Wi-Fi 6E support.
16 GB of storage, double that of Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon's other streaming sticks, for more apps, games and downloads.
Fire TV Ambient Experience shows over 2,000 pieces of museum-quality art and photography, and the Xbox app streams games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

The catch: Wi-Fi 6E needs a compatible Wi-Fi 6E router to benefit.

Check today's price on Amazon

How we chose

Our buying criteria

To make this list, a streaming stick had to deliver 4K (ultra HD) pictures, and both picks do. HDR10+ is a high dynamic range picture format, and both sticks support it. Dolby Vision is another HDR format, and only the 4K Max lists it. Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E are wireless standards, and storage matters too: GB (gigabytes) is the room for apps, games and downloads. We also looked for Direct Power, which runs the stick from your TV's USB port with no wall plug. Each streaming stick in this guide was checked against its maker's specs and live UK listings, and each catch is shown.

Picture: check that your TV supports Dolby Vision if you want it.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E needs a compatible Wi-Fi 6E router to benefit.
Power: does your TV have a USB port that can run the 4K through Direct Power?
Extras: decide whether you want Ambient Experience art or Xbox games with Game Pass Ultimate.

How we choose every pick

Your questions, answered

Does the Fire TV Stick 4K have Dolby Vision?

No, the Fire TV Stick 4K does not support Dolby Vision. It has HDR10+ and passes Dolby Atmos audio through HDMI, while Dolby Vision needs the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

How much storage does the Fire TV Stick 4K Max have?

Want more room for apps, games and downloads? The Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs 16 GB of storage, double the Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon's other streaming sticks.

Do I need a Wi-Fi 6E router for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max?

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max has Wi-Fi 6E support, but you need a compatible Wi-Fi 6E router to benefit from it. It also gives you 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio.

Can the Fire TV Stick 4K run from my TV's USB port?

Want no wall plug? The Fire TV Stick 4K has Direct Power. Its short 0.4 m USB-C cable plugs into your TV's USB port, so no wall adapter is needed.

Can I play Xbox games on a Fire TV Stick?

The Xbox app streams games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. For gaming, go for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which also brings Dolby Vision and storage.

Which one is for you?

At a glance

Side by side

Both in detail

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026, newest gen)

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (newest gen)

Our buying criteria

Your questions, answered

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