Our Verdict
There’s not much competition when it comes to streaming devices priced at more than $100. Amazon’s Fire TV Cube (2022) ticks all the boxes, and makes it easy for people who don’t have a cord to use a single remote to control everything.
For
Amazing Alexa: Hands-free
Supports Wi Fi 6E
Fire TV is the fastest available
HDMI passthrough input
For
Expensive
Ads litter the home screen
The Alexa Voice Remote Pro Pro is available separately
Cast or AirPlay support is not available
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If you are looking for the best streaming device, then you should consider the Fire TV Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google TV. There are still options available at the higher end of price ranges, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the best if you want the best. This is where the Amazon Fire TV Cube comes in, competing with the Apple TV 4K (2022), Roku Streambar Pro and NVIDIA Shield TV. After the 2018 Fire TV Cube and the 2019. 2nd generation models, this is the third iteration Amazon’s highest-tier streaming box. While the new model offers some significant upgrades, does it justify its high price?
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): Price and availability
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The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) was announced in September 2022 before officially launching near the end of October 2022. There’s only one option available, with a retail price of $139. 99, but Amazon is also offering bundles that include the new Alexa Voice Remote Pro or Amazon IR Extender Cable. This option comes equipped with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage, with no higher storage configurations available.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): What you’ll like
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To put it plainly, if you want one of the fastest and best streaming devices on the market, then the Fire TV Cube (2022) is easily at the top of the list. This is partly due to the fact that there is very little competition in this price range, and only a few other devices can match it. Although I have had a lot of experience with Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks over the years, this is my first chance to use or try Amazon’s highest-end streaming box.
In my living room, I rely heavily on the Apple TV 4K from last year. It has been a great device, even though there are some things missing in tvOS. To get more feedback, I replaced my Apple TV 4K with Amazon’s solution because I spend most of my day on the couch, watching TV with my partner.
The first thing I noticed about the design was its small, box-like appearance. It sits on the TV stand and is wrapped in fabric. This is a departure from the more elaborate Fire TV Cube. This was probably done to provide continuity with some of the most powerful Alexa speakers, like the Echo, Echo Show, or others. The top still has an LED ring that lets me know when Alexa’s listening and when my Wi Fi connection decides it will randomly dump the bed.
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Besides the improvements to performance, the real selling point of the Fire TV Cube comes when you look at the back. Amazon has added an HDMI input port and a USB-A port to the Fire TV Cube. This is in addition to the existing power adapter and HDMI output port. Although the HDMI In port is useful, if you don’t have cable or rely solely on streaming services, it will likely be useless.
I was impressed with the performance of both the Fire TV Stick 4K max and Apple TV 4K (2021). Scrolling through the various rows of apps and suggestions was easy. I also found it convenient to be able say “Hey Alexa! Watch Thursday Night Football!” when I didn’t feel like reaching out for my remote. To test out how Amazon Luna handles this, I even paired another game controller. I found that I enjoyed the games far more than I expected.
It’s amazing to be able to ask Alexa for the football game or any other channel if you have YouTube TV.
Thanks to the Google Nest Alexa Skill I can check who is at my door and check my Nest cameras without having to replace them with the best Blink security cameras or the best Ring security cameras. Alexa Skills are a great way to integrate with other systems. I highly recommend it to everyone before you replace your existing devices. There are trade-offs, but I was able to use picture in picture with the Nest Alexa Skill.
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Plus, you have the option to either press the dedicated Alexa button found on the included remote, or you can just enjoy hands-free control if you’re doing something else and don’t have the remote in your hand. Surprisingly, Amazon reduced the total number of microphones in the Fire TV Cube . However, I have not encountered any situations where Alexa could not hear me asking a question. It’s possible that the four microphones used in this Fire TV Cube are better than the eight microphones in the 2019 version.
If you are like me and have ditched cable TV in favor of streaming services like YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV, you will be pleased to learn that YouTube TV and Hulu integrate better with these services. After a few seconds, I can simply say “Alexa, ESPN”, and it will open YouTube TV and automatically tune me to the correct channel. This seamless experience extends to the “Guide” so that you can channel surf quickly and easily without opening the app.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): What you won’t
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Going through the setup process was mostly a breeze, with the only hiccup coming when I was trying to control my soundbar with the included Fire TV Remote. After plugging in an IR extender and following the instructions to set it up, I discovered that I still needed to use the dedicated remote control on my soundbar to adjust the volume. Although it isn’t the end of the world this is a frustrating issue that I didn’t anticipate to have to deal with.
There are some other features to the Fire TV Cube that you should be aware of, especially when it comes streaming games through cloud services. The improvements in performance due to the Octa-core processor are evident. However, there are very few options for gamers who plan on using the Fire TV Cube for gaming. Amazon Luna is the only service you can use at the moment. This makes sense, but it would be great to see Xbox Cloud Gaming come to the Fire TV Cube.
And something that won’t affect too many people, but is worth pointing out, is that if you plug in your Xbox Series X or PS5 to the Fire TV Cube, the output refresh rate is capped at 60Hz. Again, this might not be a dealbreaker, but if you have a 120Hz-compatible TV and wanted the Fire TV Cube to control everything, you’re better off taking up two HDMI ports on your TV. This trend continues in flexibility as the Fire TV Cube doesn’t work with Apple AirPlay and Google Cast. If you want to put something on the TV using your phone, it’s not possible unless you use Amazon Photos, or find a third-party app. It’s quite surprising and disappointing to see Amazon not include the upgraded Alexa Voice Remote Pro in its “pro” streaming device.
The strangest thing about the Fire TV Cube’s is not the box, but rather that Amazon hasn’t included its best and most advanced Alexa Voice Remote Pro with its most expensive streaming device. The Fire TV Cube Amazon also announced the Voice Remote Pro, which features customizable buttons, Remote Finder, and a button that allows you to pair your Bluetooth headphones to the Fire TV.
However, if you had hoped to get the Voice Remote Pro with the new Fire TV Cube, it won’t happen. Amazon has increased the cost of the Fire TV Cube. However, if you are looking for Amazon’s best remote, you will have to wait until November. Although it’s great to see Amazon offer a bundle including the Voice Remote Pro (2022),and Fire TV Cube, it would have been more sensible to include Amazon’s top products together.
Last but not least, the Fire TV OS ads are unacceptable. Ads help keep costs down on Fire TV Sticks, even more expensive 4K Max. The problem is that the ads will be the same for the Fire TV Cube as well as the 4K Max.
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You can go through and remove some of the different rows of suggested movies and apps, keeping the ones that you want, but not all of them. You can, for example, set five apps as your “favorites”, which will make it easy to access them when you go to Fire TV Cube’s homepage. Scroll down one row and you’ll be greeted by a row called “Sponsored”, which contains apps, movies and shows that have little to do with what you enjoy actually watching or using.
I don’t think Amazon should create a new interface for its streaming devices. But it would be great if I could get rid of the constant bombardment with ads. It makes more sense to go with the lower priced options, as that’s what Amazon does to be able meet the needs of that market. Perhaps we will see the Fire Tablet approach. The lower-priced Fire TV does not include ads. However, you can spend a little more and get an interface that is clean and free from ads.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): The competition
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The competition at the higher end of the streaming device market is nowhere near as cutthroat as the best cheap streaming devices. Amazon’s biggest competitor is the Apple TV 4K which was just updated for the second time in two years, bringing with it a lower price, either 64GB or 128GB of storage, and faster performance (compared to last year’s model.) Apple also includes the Siri Remote, an upgraded version of last year’s model that supports USB-C charging and is made out of aluminum.
Next in line is NVIDIA’s Shield TV and Shield TV Pro. It might appear that they are getting old. These are more focused on gaming and offer a superior option for those who need Google Assistant or Android TV.
Last but not least, Amazon must be aware of Roku’s Streambar Pro and Streambar Pro. The Streambar is a plug-and play solution that allows you to stream your streaming services as well as a soundbar. You can also use it with Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay. It can also instantly enhance the sound from any TV that you plug it into.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022): Should I buy it?
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You should buy this if:
You want the best Fire TV streaming device.You’re already entrenched in the Amazon Alexa ecosystem.You want to integrate your cable box (or console) with your streaming device. You shouldn’t purchase this if you:
Don’t deal with ads about things you don’t care.
I will continue to drum the “less ads” drum as long as necessary, especially since there are rows of ads on my home screen that can’t be removed. They’re not sponsored, but I want them to be removed completely. I will only show content from apps or services I am actively subscribing to.
I actually had a lot more fun with the Fire TV Cube (2022) than I thought. The Fire TV Cube is Amazon’s fastest streaming device. If you have cable, the HDMI Input Port is a great addition. Also, it has Ethernet and USB-A ports. The design is also very appealing. It has moved away from a shiny block and now fits well with the other smart speakers, such as the Echo speakers.
I’m not 100% sure whether it’s really worth the price tag, especially if you already own something like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. If you are looking for a higher-end streaming device and you already know what Fire TV OS can do, you will not be disappointed.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)
Amazon’s best gets even better
The Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) may not offer an increase in storage, but this can be rectified with the new USB port at the back. This is the set-top box that will replace your streaming set top box.
Senior Editor – Chromebooks, tablets, and wearables
Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He loves all things technology, from smartphones and tablets to everything in between. His favorite pastime is probably collecting headphones, even though they end up in the exact same drawer.