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What’s the difference between the Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max?

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a new streaming stick released by Amazon in 2021. So, how does the new product compare against the similar Fire TV Stick 4K, which was released in 2018?

You can find out in this comparison guide between these two media playing sticks.

Quick Summary

When compared to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, the newer Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max adds support for HDMI ARC, Wi-Fi 6, Live View Picture-in-Picture and Auto Low Latency Mode.

The Max version also comes with an updated remote that adds a guide button in addition to shortcuts to several streaming services.

So, if you want to use any or all of the aforementioned features, then you should get the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

If you don’t mind missing out on the new features, then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the more affordable option.

Fire TV Stick 4K vs. Fire TV Stick 4K Max Comparison Chart

You can take a look at Seeking Tech’s comparison table for the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max below.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4KAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max
What’s in the BoxFire TV Stick 4K

2nd Generation Alexa Voice Remote

USB cable and power adapter

HDMI extender cable

2 AAA batteries

Quick Start Guide
Fire TV Stick 4K Max

3rd Generation Alexa Voice Remote

USB cable and power adapter

HDMI extender cable

2 AAA batteries

Quick Start Guide
Remote ButtonsPower

Microphone

Voice Button

Navigation

Select

Back

Home

Menu

Fast Forward

Play/Pause

Rewind

Volume Up

Volume Down

Mute
Power

Microphone

Alexa Voice Button

Navigation

Select

Back

Home

Menu

Fast Forward

Play/Pause

Rewind

Mute

Volume Up

Volume Down

Guide

Amazon Prime Video Preset App Button

Netfilx Preset App Button

Disney+ Preset App Button

Hulu Preset App Button
Weight53.6 g48.4 g
Dimensions99 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm for only housing

108 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm with USB connector included
99 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm for only housing

108 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm with USB connector included
CPUQuad-core 1.7 GHz processorQuad-core 1.8 GHz MT8696 processor
GPUIMG GE8300IMG GE9215 at 750 MHz
RAM1.5 GB2 GB
PortsHDMI output

micro-USB for power only
HDMI ARC output

micro-USB for power only
Storage8 GB8 GB
Cloud StorageFree for contents directly purchased from AmazonFree for contents directly purchased from Amazon
Wi-Fi FeaturesDual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO)

802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO)

802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0 + LEBluetooth 5.0 + LE
Refresh Rates and ResolutionsUp to 60 frames per second at 720p

Up to 60 frames per second at 1080p

Up to 60 frames per second at 4K
Up to 60 frames per second at 720p

Up to 60 frames per second at 1080p

Up to 60 frames per second at 4K
HDR FeaturesDolby Vision

HDR10

HDR10+

HLG
Dolby Vision

HDR10

HDR10+

HLG
Video CodecsDolby Vision

H.263

H.264

H.265 (HEVC)

MPEG-2

MPEG-4

VP8

VP9
Dolby Vision

H.263

H.264

H.265 (HEVC)

MPEG-2

MPEG-4

VP8

VP9
Audio CodecsAAC-LC

AC3 (Dolby Digital)

AMR-NB

Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC)

eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus)

HE-AACv1 (AAC+)

HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+)

FLAC

MIDI

MP3

Opus

PCM/Wave

Vorbis (Ogg and Mkv)
AAC-LC

AC3 (Dolby Digital)

AMR-NB

Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC)

eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus)

HE-AACv1 (AAC+)

HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+)

FLAC

MIDI

MP3

Opus

PCM/Wave

Vorbis (Ogg and Mkv)
Image FormatsBMP

GIF

JPEG

PNG
BMP

GIF

JPEG

PNG
Voice ControlAlexa Voice Remote

Fire TV Smartphone App

Linked Echo Device
Alexa Voice Remote

Fire TV Smartphone App

Linked Echo Device
Live View Picture-in-Picture?NoYes
Miracast?YesYes
DRMHDCP 2.2

PlayReady 3.0

Widevine L1/L3
HDCP 2.2

PlayReady 3.0

Widevine L1/L3
System RequirementsHDTV or 4K TV with HDMI input

Wi-Fi internet connection
HDTV or 4K TV with HDMI input

Wi-Fi internet connection

Wi-Fi 6 router for Wi-Fi 6 connection

TV with HDMI 2.1 port for Auto-Low Latency Mode
Warranty1-year limited warranty and service

Optional 2-year or 3-year extended warranty for US customers
1-year limited warranty and service

Optional 2-year or 3-year extended warranty for US customers
PricingCheck price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned)Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned)

What’s in the Box

In addition to the stick, both products also come with a HDMI extended cable, quick starter guide, two AAA batteries along with an USB cable and power adapter.

The Fire TV Stick 4K comes with a second-generation Alexa Voice Remote while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max comes with a third-generation Alexa Voice Remote.

You can check out a breakdown of the content included inside each box for both products below:

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K:

  • Fire TV Stick 4K
  • 2nd Generation Alexa Voice Remote
  • USB cable and power adapter
  • HDMI extender cable
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Quick Start Guide

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max:

  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max
  • 3rd Generation Alexa Voice Remote
  • USB cable and power adapter
  • HDMI extender cable
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Quick Start Guide

Remote Buttons

The 3rd Generation Alexa Voice Remote that comes with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max has an additional guide button in addition to shortcut buttons to various video streaming services.

You can check out the available buttons for both remotes below:

Fire TV Stick 4K:

  • Power
  • Microphone
  • Voice Button
  • Navigation
  • Select
  • Back
  • Home
  • Menu
  • Fast Forward
  • Play/Pause
  • Rewind
  • Volume Up
  • Volume Down
  • Mute

Fire TV Stick 4K Max:

  • Power
  • Microphone
  • Alexa Voice Button
  • Navigation
  • Select
  • Back
  • Home
  • Menu
  • Fast Forward
  • Play/Pause
  • Rewind
  • Mute
  • Volume Up
  • Volume Down
  • Guide
  • Amazon Prime Video Preset App Button
  • Netfilx Preset App Button
  • Disney+ Preset App Button
  • Hulu Preset App Button

Weight

The newer Fire TV Stick 4K Max weighs a little less than the older Fire TV Stick 4K.

You can find the weight specifications below:

  • Fire TV Stick 4K: 53.6 g
  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max: 48.4 g

Dimensions

The two streaming sticks in this comparison are the same when it comes to the physical size.

You can check out the measurements for both below

  • 99 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm for only housing
  • 108 mm x 30 mm x 14 mm with USB connector included

CPU

For the CPU, the Fire TV Stick 4K is equipped with a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is equipped with a quad-core 1.8 GHz MT8696 processor.

GPU

As for the GPU, the Fire TV Stick 4K uses IMG GE8300 while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max uses IMG GE9215 at 750 MHz.

RAM

The Fire TV Stick 4K comes with 1.5 GB of RAM while the Fire TV Stick 4K Max comes with 2 GB of RAM.

Ports

When it comes to ports, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max features a HDMI ARC output while the Fire TV Stick 4K features a regular HDMI output.

Both sticks come with a micro-USB port that is only used for power.

You can find a breakdown of the ports below:

Fire TV Stick 4K:

  • HDMI output
  • micro-USB for power only

Fire TV Stick 4K Max:

  • HDMI ARC output
  • micro-USB for power only

Storage

The two 4K streaming sticks have 8 GB of internal storage.

Cloud Storage

The cloud storage for both devices are free for contents that were directly purchased from Amazon.

Wi-Fi Features

With the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Amazon added support for 802.11 ax, which is known as Wi-Fi 6.

You can find the Wi-Fi features for both media players below:

Fire TV Stick 4K:

  • Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO)
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Fire TV Stick 4K Max:

  • Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO)
  • 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax

Bluetooth

For Bluetooth connections, both of these devices utilize Bluetooth 5.0 + LE.

Refresh Rates and Resolutions

The two sticks are capable of displaying the following refresh rates and resolutions:

  • Up to 60 frames per second at 720p
  • Up to 60 frames per second at 1080p
  • Up to 60 frames per second at 4K

HDR Features

Both also support the following HDR features:

  • Dolby Vision
  • HDR10
  • HDR10+
  • HLG

Video Codecs

The Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max are compatible with the following video codecs:

  • Dolby Vision
  • H.263
  • H.264
  • H.265 (HEVC)
  • MPEG-2
  • MPEG-4
  • VP8
  • VP9

Audio Codecs

The following audio codecs are also supported by both of the streaming devices in this comparison:

  • AAC-LC
  • AC3 (Dolby Digital)
  • AMR-NB
  • Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC)
  • eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus)
  • HE-AACv1 (AAC+)
  • HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+)
  • FLAC
  • MIDI
  • MP3
  • Opus
  • PCM/Wave
  • Vorbis (Ogg and Mkv)

Image Formats

The Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max can display the following image formats:

  • BMP
  • GIF
  • JPEG
  • PNG

Voice Control

You will be able to use your voice to control both streaming media players with the following methods:

  • Alexa Voice Remote
  • Fire TV Smartphone App
  • Linked Echo Device

Live View Picture-in-Picture

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the only one to support Live View Picture-in-Picture, a feature that lets you conveniently view other video feeds without having to interrupt what you are currently viewing.

Miracast

The two sticks support Miracast, a feature that lets you mirror the screen of a compatible Amazon Fire device to your television screen.

DRM

The Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max have the following DRM protections:

  • HDCP 2.2
  • PlayReady 3.0
  • Widevine L1/L3

System Requirements

For the system requirements, you will need either a HDTV or 4K TV with HDMI input in addition to Wi-Fi internet connection.

To use Wi-Fi 6 with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, you will need a Wi-Fi 6 router. To use ALLM with the Max version of the Fire TV Stick, you need a TV with a HDMI 2.1 port.

You can find the system requirements below:

Fire TV Stick 4K:

  • HDTV or 4K TV with HDMI input
  • Wi-Fi internet connection

Fire TV Stick 4K Max:

  • HDTV or 4K TV with HDMI input
  • Wi-Fi internet connection
  • Wi-Fi 6 router for Wi-Fi 6 connection
  • TV with HDMI 2.1 port for Auto-Low Latency Mode

Warranty

The 1st Generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and 1st Generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max each comes with 1-year limited warranty and service. US customers can also purchase an optional 2-year or 3-year extended warranty for both these products.

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