Buying a new streaming stick feels like the obvious move until you actually look at what you're paying for.The apps and picture quality are the same.Even the hardware hasn't changed dramatically from generation to generation.
What changes for an old firestick is the price tag.This is one of those cases where buying used may be a better idea than buying new.Buying used saves money and gives you extra value The money you save can buy a second stick for travel Close New streaming devices come with a price tag that's hard to justify when the used market exists right alongside them.
Refurbished units typically run cheaper than retail, and in most cases you're getting a device that streams video just as well as a brand-new one out of the box.You end up with the same apps, the same developer menu, the same picture quality, and the same remote.The difference is that you get more money left over.
That leftover money is actually where things get interesting.Save enough on your first purchase, and you've essentially got the budget for a second one, which opens the door to something a lot of people wish they'd thought of sooner.You can have a second Fire Stick as a dedicated travel stick.
Quiz8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeAmazon Fire TV StickTrivia challengeThink you know your streaming stick inside and out? Put your Fire TV knowledge to the test.SetupFeaturesHardwareAppsHistoryBegin01 / 8HistoryIn what year did Amazon first release the original Fire TV Stick?A2012B2013C2014D2015Correct! Amazon launched the first Fire TV Stick in November 2014, offering a more affordable alternative to the full-sized Fire TV box.It plugged directly into an HDMI port and quickly became one of Amazon's best-selling devices.Not quite.The original Fire TV Stick was released in November 2014.
It came out about seven months after the original Fire TV box and was positioned as a budget-friendly streaming option for cord-cutters.Continue02 / 8HardwareHow does the Amazon Fire TV Stick connect to your television?AUSB-A portBDisplayPortCComposite AV portDHDMI portCorrect! The Fire TV Stick plugs directly into an HDMI port on your TV.This is what gives it its distinctive stick shape, and it draws power via a separate Micro-USB or USB-C cable depending on the model.Not quite.The Fire TV Stick connects via HDMI, which is why it has that signature dongle shape.
It also requires a power cable — either Micro-USB or USB-C — to function, as HDMI alone doesn't supply enough power.Continue03 / 8FeaturesWhich voice assistant is built into the Amazon Fire TV Stick remote?AGoogle AssistantBSiriCAlexaDCortanaCorrect! Amazon's own voice assistant, Alexa, is integrated into the Fire TV Stick remote.You can use it to search for content, control playback, check the weather, and even control smart home devices.Not quite.The Fire TV Stick uses Alexa, Amazon's proprietary voice assistant.
Pressing and holding the microphone button on the remote lets you speak commands, making it easy to find shows or control compatible smart home gadgets.Continue04 / 8SetupWhat type of network connection does the standard Fire TV Stick use to stream content?AEthernet (wired)BBluetooth onlyCWi-FiDCellular LTECorrect! The standard Fire TV Stick relies on Wi-Fi to stream content.Unlike some competitors and the Fire TV Cube, the basic stick does not include a built-in Ethernet port, though adapters are available.Not quite.The standard Fire TV Stick uses Wi-Fi for its internet connection.
If you need a wired Ethernet connection for a more stable signal, you would need a separate Ethernet adapter or consider upgrading to the Fire TV Cube.Continue05 / 8HardwareWhat is the maximum streaming resolution supported by the Fire TV Stick 4K Max?A1080p Full HDB2K (1440p)C4K Ultra HDD8K Ultra HDCorrect! The Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports streaming up to 4K Ultra HD resolution.It also supports HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, delivering excellent picture quality on compatible TVs.Not quite.The Fire TV Stick 4K Max tops out at 4K Ultra HD resolution.
It also supports advanced HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, making it one of the most capable streaming sticks in Amazon's lineup.Continue06 / 8AppsWhich app store is used to download streaming apps on a Fire TV Stick?AGoogle Play StoreBApple App StoreCAmazon AppstoreDSamsung Galaxy StoreCorrect! Fire TV Stick uses the Amazon Appstore to download apps and games.Because it runs a forked version of Android, the Google Play Store is not available, though many popular streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ are still offered.Not quite.The Fire TV Stick uses the Amazon Appstore, not the Google Play Store.
While the device runs a modified version of Android, Amazon's ecosystem replaces Google's, so you browse and install apps through Amazon's own storefront.Continue07 / 8FeaturesWhich of the following audio formats is supported by the Fire TV Stick 4K for enhanced surround sound?ADolby AtmosBDTS:X ProCTHX Spatial AudioDSony 360 Reality AudioCorrect! The Fire TV Stick 4K supports Dolby Atmos, which delivers immersive three-dimensional surround sound.You'll need a compatible soundbar or AV receiver to experience the full effect, but it's a significant audio upgrade over standard surround sound.Not quite.The Fire TV Stick 4K supports Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.
While the other options are real audio technologies, Dolby Atmos is the surround sound format officially supported and promoted by Amazon on its 4K Fire TV devices.Continue08 / 8FeaturesWhat feature introduced in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd generation) allows for faster app switching and smoother performance?ATurbo ModeBWi-Fi 6E supportCDual-core processingDCloud Boost technologyCorrect! The second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max introduced Wi-Fi 6E support, which provides faster wireless speeds and reduced interference compared to older Wi-Fi standards.This results in smoother streaming and quicker load times when your router also supports Wi-Fi 6E.Not quite.The headline new feature of the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max was Wi-Fi 6E support.
This next-generation wireless standard operates on the 6 GHz band, reducing congestion and enabling faster, more reliable streaming performance than previous models.See My ScoreChallenge CompleteYour Score/ 8Thanks for playing!Try Again It is much better than having to wrestle a streaming stick off the back of your living room TV, coil up the cables, stuff it all in a bag, and then reverse the whole process in a hotel room, only to do it again when you get home.It is an annoying routine.A cheap spare that lives permanently in your travel bag, already signed in to your accounts, sidesteps all of that entirely.
Plug it in, and you're done, and then keep it in your suitcase for the next time you need it.You could likely get two for the price of one if the seller is trying to unload multiple at once.Older used sticks get the same app updates Long-term software support keeps old devices working When you're shopping for a streaming device, it's pretty natural to assume that buying used means you're getting something worse.
But that's not the case with Amazon Fire TV Sticks.A used or refurbished stick does everything a brand-new one does.Reputable sellers and refurbishment programs run them through proper testing before they go back on sale, so what you're actually getting is the same device for a lot less money.
Amazon is one of the few companies that will support its devices for a really long time.They don't reserve new features for newer hardware to push you into upgrading.Updates go out to older devices at the same time as newer ones, keeping security patches, app compatibility, and streaming performance up to date right along with them.
It may take longer for older devices to get the new updates, but they will still likely get them.Amazon has also committed to supporting these older Android-based Fire OS devices through at least 2030, which means a used stick you buy today still has years of software support left.Amazon's newer entry-level sticks run a new operating system called Vega OS, which is more locked down and has real gaps in app availability.
Older Fire OS sticks, on the other hand, still have full access to Amazon's Appstore.Skipping initial setup saves you time and headaches Used sticks let you bypass the long first updates When you buy a brand-new streaming device, the first thing you're met with is a lengthy, unavoidable setup process.The worst part is the mandatory software update that kicks in the moment you connect to Wi-Fi.
As soon as a new Fire TV Stick hits your network, it immediately starts downloading system updates and installing core apps.There is no way around it either, and it does seem to take longer every time you buy a new stick.I had the original Fire Stick and got the newest 4K version; the download process was noticeably longer on the newer stick.
I've noticed that it is even longer than Roku's 4K download.On top of that, this stage is surprisingly fragile; if your internet cuts out or the power goes down even briefly, you can end up with a corrupted device straight out of the box.So right from the start, a brand-new stick has you sitting there watching a progress bar before you can watch anything else.
A used or refurbished Fire TV Stick sidesteps all of that because someone else has already sat through it.The device has been through its initial setup, the firmware is already installed and stable, and plugging it in is a much more straightforward experience.You skip the long first-time update entirely, along with all the risks that come with it.
Used devices can come with bonus apps installed Pre-installed software takes the work out of setup When you buy a used Fire TV Stick from someone throwing it away, you expect to receive a good deal on hardware.An underdiscussed upside is that you might receive the device with several third-party apps already on it.That is something you'd never get by cracking open a brand-new box from the website.
On Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, and similar sites, plenty of sellers just list their old sticks without ever bothering to wipe them first.There's a separate crowd of sellers who actually leave everything on there on purpose, advertising the device as pre-configured or "jailbroken" because they know that's a selling point for the right buyer.Either way, the result is that the stick shows up at your door with specialized streaming software still sitting on it, ready to go.
If you're lucky enough to get one of those, it's a real time-saver.Getting a fresh Fire TV Stick set up for anything beyond basic streaming is a harder process, especially with how locked down the Fire Stick has become.Still, it's one of the better reasons to go the used route.
Best case, you save yourself hours of setup headaches.Worst case, you spend less money on a stick that does everything a new one would.You should still do your due diligence Going the used route isn't completely safe in every instance.
You're buying hardware you can't physically inspect beforehand, and not every seller is going to be upfront about the condition.Sticking to reputable platforms with buyer protection and checking seller reviews is the best move so you can avoid a lemon.However, if you absolutely need to get a new stick, make sure it is the best one around.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus has Wi-Fi 6 capabilities and Alexa+, so you can easily find your new favorite show.$50 at Amazon Expand Collapse
Read More
