Amazon unveiled a new Fire TV 4K Stick Select featuring the new Vega OS, as well as three new Fire TV OS televisions, at an event in New York. All of the devices are designed to be used with Alexa Plus, the next version of Alexa.
The televisions incorporate the latest versions of the Omni series QLED TV, the 4K 4-Series and a new 2-Series, and all include onboard presence sensors.
Fire TV Stick 4K
The Fire TV 4K Select starts at $40
Amazon says the new Fire TV Stick 4K Select runs on the new Vega OS, which will also appear on new Echo speakers. It’s designed from the ground up to hit a sub-$40 price.
Aidan Marcuss, Amazon’s VP of Fire TV, told CNET that Fire TV OS devices will be separate from Vega OS models and not upgradeable, but the two systems will coexist.
“It’s gonna be the same Fire TV experience: Regardless of the OS they’re on, they should get the same experience, they should be able to use it the same way,” Marcuss said.
He added that even though there wasn’t going to be a “convergence to one OS” that Fire TV would still receive support and updates.
Omnipresence, I mean, Omnisense
The new Omni TV will be 60% brighter than the previous generation, have double the number of local dimming zones and a 40% faster processor. The Omni TV has a built-in RGB light sensor to adjust the screen brightness according to the lighting in the room. It’s available in sizes between 50 inches and 75 inches and starts at $480.
Meanwhile, the Fire TV 4-series (4K) will have a brighter panel, a faster processor and improved sound quality and will be available in 43 inches, 50 inches and 55 inches. Prices start at $330. This line is joined by the entry-level, 1080p 2-Series, which starts at $160 and comes in 32-inch and 40-inch sizes.
All three new Fire TVs will get two new features — Dialogue Boost and an Omnisense presence sensor with farfield microphones for turning on the screen and enabling Alexa.
Watch for my review of the existing Fire TV 4-Series in the next few days, and I look forward to looking at the new Omni Series and 4-Series as soon as possible.
The new Stick is expected to go on sale in mid-October, while Amazon says the TVs will be later in October or November. All devices and TVs are available for preorder today.
