If your TV is stuck in the past and you’ve been itching to modernize your setup without going all in on a new screen, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is currently $29.99, down from $49.99. It’s compact—roughly the size of a flash drive—and comes with a short HDMI extender in case your TV’s ports are not easily accessible. Setup’s a breeze, though it still uses micro USB for power, which feels a little dated in 2025. But once it’s tucked behind your screen and plugged into the wall (which it should be—TV USB ports are often too weak), you can pretty much forget about it.
Performance is where this model earns its stripes (like PCMag’s “Best Media Hub of the Year 2023“). The 1.7GHz processor and 2GB of RAM keep things moving smoothly, even when juggling heavy apps like Netflix and Prime Video. There’s Wi-Fi 6 support, too, which will benefit crowded households where every device is fighting for bandwidth. Granted, you need a Wi-Fi 6 router to actually see the benefits, but if your setup supports it, this stick delivers. Xbox Game Pass streaming also works here, which is impressive for something that looks like a chunky USB stick, and it supports Bluetooth headphones and gamepads, so you can sneak in some late-night gaming without waking the house.
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