Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite Review: Capable Streamer, Cheap Price

Editor's Note, Dec. 2022: New releases in the $30 HD streaming category, such as the Chromecast with Google TV HD, have outpaced the Fire TV Stick Lite in terms of both features and value. We have adjusted the rating of this product from an 8.1 to a 6 in order to reflect the changing landscape. 6.0 Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite Like Dirt cheap Includes Alexa voice remote Wide range of streaming apps, including Max Integrates well with Echo speakers Don't like Voice commands don't work with every app More complex menus than Roku HDR without 4K is kinda pointless Table of Contents Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite Review: Capable Streamer, Cheap Price What is it? Lots of streaming apps What it's like to use Should you buy it? Roku is the biggest name in streaming hardware, with multiple different streaming devices available right now , and even more TVs and soundbars . Amazon has been gunning for Roku's slice of the pie ever since the first Fire TV appeared. The $30 Amazon Fire TV Lite is the company's cheapest streamer, an answer to the $30  Roku Express  and as you'd expect its biggest advantage over Roku is the Alexa voice assistant. Amazon also has a  $40 Fire Stick but I would argue that the Fire Stick TV Lite is the better deal. The main difference is that the more expensive Stick has a different remote with power, volume and mute buttons to control your TV. If you're only using this streamer on a cheap TV anyway, it's worth saving the money, unless you really want TV control. So is the $30 Fire TV Lite better than the $30 Roku Express? They mostly have the same selection of apps, now that Fire TV has Peacock , so the important differences are in the menu systems and voice support. The Lite's built-in access to Alexa is a big advantage if you like speaking instead of typing when you search for shows and launch apps. In the end, I liked the Fire TV Lite a bit better, although the Roku Express is still an excell