It seems like everyone has a smart TV these days, but if you can’t afford to upgrade your set at the moment, there’s no need for FOMO: I’ve got a hack to go around it.
Amazon’s Prime Day sale is back this July, this year running for a whole 96 hours instead of the usual 48. The four-day sale - from July 8 - 11 - will span millions of products across various categories, but if its a telly upgrade you’re after, make a beeline for Amazon’s Fire Stick.
The device revolutionises the TV watching experience, allowing you to access shows from iPlayer, Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and so much more all in one place.
This streaming media player gadget comes with a remote control with built-in Alexa functions to make it even easier to use. Simply plug the Fire into your HDTV port (usually at the business end of your TV set) and you’ll be able to start streaming shows, browse the web and access music and apps in mere minutes.
You can also stream live camera feeds from elsewhere in the house, like the doorstep or nursery, with compatible smart home devices. That’s not all. You can also listen to music through Amazon Music, Spotify and Apple Music, or discover new favourites through TuneIn Radio.
Best of all, it’s highly portable too, so if you’re heading off on holiday or want your favourite shows on business trips, simply unplug and take it all with you without having to remember all your passwords. With great sound and crystal clear picture quality, it’s the perfect addition to your home entertainment kit.
Amazon’s own line of tech usually sees some of the best discounts in the entire sale, and the Fire Stick is up there as a must-buy device. But remember, if you want to take advantage of the deals on offer, you’ll need to be signed up for Amazon Prime membership.
It costs £8.99 a month or £95 annually, and students can get it for half the price, so if you’ve got a young person living under your roof, consider nominating them as the household member. But if you’re a commitment-phobe, the 30-day free trial allows you to try it out for size, risk-free.
While the sale is still a few weeks off, we’ve rounded up the best Fire Stick deals worth your attention below.
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Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (Newest gen)
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Get the best of on-demand telly with Amazon's genius Fire Stick. This one supports HD streaming and has Alexa, making it easier to find your next must-watch.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (Newest gen)
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The Fire Stick at its best, this version supports 4K and Wi-Fi 6, bringing the screen to life in your living room.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite
If a low price is what matters most, look no further than the Fire TV Stick Lite. This entry-level Amazon streamer is brilliantly cheap, while throwing in a couple of features you won’t get the the Roku Express above.
For one, the Fire TV Stick Lite supports HDR, as well as 60fps playback for smooth motion, alongside support for the Alexa voice assistant. There’s still no 4K support, mind, and the basic Alexa remote doesn’t come with volume controls, meaning you’ll have to juggle your main TV remote at the same time – but the upsides generally outway the downsides here.
Fire TV generally pushes Amazon Prime Video content, and there are a lot of ads for Amazon-owned services such as Audible – but with broad app support, even for Amazon competitors such as Netflix, this isn’t too big a complaint.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
