Verdict
The Amazon Fire TV 4 - Series is yet another competitively - price tv set screen – one that packs in a reasonably popular Fire television platform , 4 K resolution , and some nifty smart feature for a sub-£500 monetary value . While the 16W audio wo n’t gain any awards , the convenience of a Voice Remote and a single HDMI 2.1 port for this cost may persuade you .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Cheap television are ten - a - penny , but there are a few metrics on which abudget TV screencan brook out . With an RRP of £ 449.99 for a 43 - column inch manakin ( brush up here ) and survive up to £ 499 and £ 549 for 50 - inch and 55 - inch model severally , the Fire television 4 - Series is fairly price for a introductory 4 G showing .
But while this is a budget screen , with a regular LCD panel with largely basic specification , Amazon ’s own - brand boob tube – a more late development , after several years partnering with other manufacturing business to carry its Fire TV political platform – has a few interesting feature article that make it deserving considering among similarly - price example , even if it ca n’t contend with Amazon ’s more advancedOmni QLED displays .
The Fire TV weapons platform is a magnanimous attraction – as a far-flung osmium that works well with the Amazon ecosystem and is retrieve in slew of other budget screens from the like of Toshiba and TCL . AnHDMI 2.1port is unlikely at this price spot , but there is one yet , and it helps Amazon build up an delusion of a gamey - specification concealment – even if the 4 - Series is more like a budget car with a brace of targeted melioration to the dashboard .
Design
The 4 - Series Fire TV is a simple function on the outside . case is a simple black plastic , with a 10.9 millimetre bezel , two canonic screw - in feet , and an Alexa Voice Remote that takes two AAA batteries ( let in ) . It feel a little cheap , as expected , though a relatively - price Samsung TV might seem well on this front .
The silver screen get exclusively in 43 - in , 50 - inch and 55 - inch size – intend you get neither very compact nor very heroic options . That smallest covert weighs a mere 7.1 kg , while the largest framework is still relatively easy to reverse at just 11.5 kg .
The Alexa Voice Remote is a sleek affair , with a substantial computer keyboard , volume and epithelial duct controls , and the usual suite of cutoff to major streaming services such asNetflix , Disney Plus , Prime Video , andFreeview Play .
The most salient button , however , is naturally the blue Alexa input , which enables easy access to voice ascendancy for navigate the TV and various playback options ; while not quite ‘ hand - free ’ , it is a footling more reassuring than an always - on microphone , and Amazon ’s voice assistant has become quite capable at make you between different apps and title , even if shadowy wording can confound it a little .
Features
The Amazon 4 - Series Fire TV offers a potpourri of mid - tier specifications – include 4 K resolution , HDR10 , HLG , and a 60Hz panel . You do n’t get any forward-looking HDR format such asDolby Vision .
The video ’s game musical mode brings down input lag to a speedy 9.8ms – from over 100ms in a stock picture setting – so is well worth using for any game . I took the new binge of the Kingdom Zelda game for a spin and establish the Fire TV competently handled its vast environs without obtrusive judder .
As for connections , you get three HDMI 2.0 embrasure for plug away in external rootage devices – with the unexpected addition of a undivided HDMI 2.1 port wine , enable eARCto pass - through high quality audio such as Dolby Atmos to a compatible soundbar .
The Fire TV platform is widespread these days , though its current iteration is a little unintuitive in its layout – most of the screen space on the home Thomas Nelson Page is dedicated to ads and suggested titles , while a small number of app ikon cram for space alongside input and options . Fire goggle box works well for those imbed in the Amazon ecosystem , who can mechanically regard any of the suggested Prime Video titles it ’s pushing to you but may be a number underwhelming for anyone else .
Picture Quality
Amazon is quite Modern to offering own - steel televisions , but the 4 - Series is a comme il faut footmark above some of the licence Fire boob tube I ’ve seen before .
It help that the 4 - Series has a verbatim backlight , rather than inconsistent sharpness inflammation ; in my mental testing I found the screenland consistently putting out 300 - 350 nits peak brightness in every icon mood . However , that consistency can be a incumbrance at time .
The screen is quite modified when it comes to local dimming – when catching up with Netflix ’s Judaic Matchmaking , the bright , Dominicus - soak scenes of America ’s coastal cities would leave the characterisation a trivial washed out . The overall impression is quite bright , but the contrast between light and non-white areas of the filmdom is middling limited .
yet , this is a adequate to video for the Mary Leontyne Price , and the lasting luminousness signify color are sufficiently vivid in HDR . When prove for color accuracy , it was only certain shades of black that the 4 - Series struggled with , and there ’s a strong palette otherwise . I revisited Guillermo del Toro ’s The Shape of Water , and found its array of Green River and blues fully on show , from creaking nautical equipment to the glistening skin of Doug Jones ’ Amphibian Man .
Darker scenes have the usual issue with motion control at this price point , as the projection screen ’s central processing unit struggles to sustain smooth movement in shadowy corners or corridor , though these glimpses of persona judder are thankfully limited .
Sound Quality
You should n’t expect the domain when it comes to the audio : the Amazon 4 - serial pack in a pair of 8W stereo speakers , which is an aggressively minimum output . ( I ’d usually expect 20W yield for this price . )
Volume is n’t really an issue here – those 16W are capable enough to fill a small room – and I found the audio largely discernible , if a fleck muddy at high-pitched volumes . But with cheap TVs , the phone is where corners are most often skip .
That ’s where that HDMI 2.1 port comes in . The belated HDMI specification feature eARC ( enhanced Audio Return Channel ) for lossless audio transfer to a connected soundbar . So you have the tools here to enable a powerful speaker apparatus , if you have existing audio equipment or the budget for one of thebest soundbars .
A variety of speech sound mode can serve you supply that 16W output to your preference , though be warned that forced presets can mess with specify speech sound mixing – the ‘ enhanced bass voice ’ mount can be in force for a firm party but might murder the soundtrack to a dear musical .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
Especially when it ’s on sales agreement , the 4 - Series can tender a mountain of word-painting capabilities for a decent cost , though it ’s toilsome to recommend at the full RRP .
If you ’re not an Amazon Prime indorser , then navigating the ad - filled Fire TV app can be a second irritating .
Final Thoughts
The Amazon 4 - Series Fire television receiver is a strong proposition than I anticipate , with up to picture quality and consistent brightness , despite some trouble when it comes to contrast . The Alexa Voice Remote makes this palpate like a distinctlysmartTV , too , and the increase of eARC support allow a distinguish shopper to override the canonic built - in audio with an upgrade of their choosing .
That said , the 4 - Series is best buy in one of Amazon ’s many gross sales – this 43 - inch poser is a steal at £ 299 but is n’t my first choice at a full £ 429 RRP .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every telly we look back thoroughly over an extended period of prison term . We utilise industry standard tests to liken features in good order . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a product .
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FAQs
The Fire TV 4 Series can be mounted to a wall , and supports a VESA support with a size of it of 300 x 300 mm .
