Fire TV Cube review: Time to ditch the Fire TV Stick?

Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks offer some of the best value when trying to make your television a little smarter but what if you want something with a few extra bells and whistles? That’s where the Fire TV Cube starts to shine with this diddy set-top box offering some useful extras you won’t find on any of Amazon’s streaming sticks.

The Fire TV Cube has been around since 2018 but it’s just had a major overhaul with a new design, more power and silky smooth streaming thanks to Wi-Fi 6. So should you splash out over £130 and buy one? Here’s our full Fire TV Cube review.

The new Fire TV Cube is a breeze to get up and running with Amazon doing all the heavy lifting for you via its smartphone app. A few taps on your iPhone or Android device will hook the Cube up to your Wi-Fi and link things to your Amazon account with the whole process taking a matter of minutes.

Once things are all connected you simply pop it next to your television and plug in the HDMI cable to binge content on the biggest screen in your home.

The new Fire TV Cube is a nice-looking device with it ditching the all-plastic appearance in favour of a design that’s now covered in fabric.

Its small size also means you won’t really notice it once placed alongside your telly.

Sadly, that cube shape means you definitely can’t place it in front of the TV as it will get in the way of what you are watching.

Shipping with the Fire TV Cube is a standard plastic remote control which is perfectly usable but definitely not market-leading. Apple sells its new TV 4K box with a stunning rechargeable aluminium channel changer which feels far more premium than what comes in the box with the Fire TV Cube.

Don’t get us wrong, it’s not a bad remote as it’s comfy to hold and there are plenty of buttons to help switch channels, pump up the volume and change settings. There are even four quick access keys which instantly launch apps such as Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+.

It’s fine, but we can’t help thinking that Amazon should be bundling its new Alexa Voice Remote Pro remote with its most premium streaming device.

That controller includes backlit keys, a more compact design and two extra buttons that can be programmed to access favourite apps and services. There’s even simple pairing to Bluetooth headphones and a loud alarm should it slip behind the sofa.

If you want this remote you’ll have to pay an extra £35 on top of the Cube which feels pretty rich.

The fact that Amazon doesn’t offer any way of recharging its remotes means you will also face the nightmare of tracking down those AAA batteries when things run out.

Packed inside the Fire Cube is a speedy Octa-core processor which offers some slick performance. That means whizzing around menus and launching apps is all done without a hint of a stutter.

This is definitely Amazon’s most powerful streaming device to date and it really is a joy to use.

Along with that extra power under the bonnet, there’s also full compatibility with Wi-Fi 6E technology.

For those not aware, Wi-Fi 6E is capable of faster speeds. In lab conditions, it can achieve downloads over a wireless network at speeds of 9.6Gbps – that’s almost triple the ceiling on Wi-Fi 5, which topped out at a respectable 3.5Gbps.

This all adds up to much more reliable streaming although it is worth bearing in mind that you’ll need a Wi-Fi 6 router if you want to take advantage of this speed boost.

One of the best features of the Fire TV Cube is touch-free access to Alexa. It makes this streaming box feel just like an Echo smart speaker as you simply need to say that famous name to see the smart assistant spring into action. No other Fire device has this easy accessibility and it works really well.

You can ask the Cube to play some music, set timers, read the news and launch apps on the screen such as Netflix and Prime Video.

There’s even the option to say things like, “Alexa, show me Bond films on Prime Video” and, in a flash, the screen will be full of those famous spy flicks.

Amazon’s Alexa is still one of the best smart assistants on the planet and the integration with the Cube is brilliant.

Of course, most of these features can be found on the cheaper Fire TV Sticks but to wake Alexa you need to find the remote, push the voice button and speak. There’s no such hassle on the Cube.

One of the biggest additions to the new Cube is being able to plug in other devices, such as set-top boxes or consoles, and get full Alexa support. It basically means you can switch between devices and change channels without ever reaching for the remote.

It takes a bit of time to get this feature working but if you love voice controls it’s a nice addition to the Cube.

As you’d probably expect, Amazon’s most premium streaming box is fully 4K ready and also supports Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.

There are easily accessible volume and Alexa buttons on the top and on the rear of the box you’ll find an Ethernet port to hard wire your internet and there’s also a USB socket.

This allows you to plug in external devices such as hard drives and web cameras for video calls.

When compared to a basic Fire TV Stick the new Fire TV Cube is ludicrously expensive. The entry-level Amazon dongle will cost you just £29.99 – that’s over four times cheaper than the Cube.

At £139 it is slightly less expensive than the £149 Apple TV 4K and it can also act as an Echo speaker which improves the overall value for money.

That said, if you already own a smart speaker and really aren’t bothered about speed, Wi-Fi 6E or hands-free Alexa, it’s probably not worth the price and we’d stick to a cheaper Fire TV Stick.

The new Fire TV Cube from Amazon is a brilliant little streaming box that not only beams content to your telly but also acts as a mini Echo smart speaker.

Thanks to its speedy processor and Wi-Fi 6E capabilities this device also offers a fast and seamless streaming experience plus there’s a plethora of apps and games which makes it feel far more than just a TV set-top box.

The fact it has hands-free access to Alexa is also a huge bonus as you can bark orders at it without having to reach for the remote.

Other features that impress include the simple set-up, compatibility with other devices and its neat design means it shouldn’t spoil the look of even the most luxurious living rooms.

So that’s the good stuff but there are some things that we are not so keen on. Firstly, Amazon should be shipping its Cube with the improved Fire Pro remote. Asking customers to stump up extra cash for that accessory is darn right cheeky.

Then there’s that price itself. The Fire TV Cube costs £139 which is £100 more than a basic Fire TV Stick. Is it really £100 better? We’re not totally convinced it is.

If you really want the ultimate Amazon streaming device then the Fire TV Cube won’t let you down. It’s a fabulous box that makes streaming a dream. However, if you simply want a device that will make your telly a little bit smarter you really can’t go wrong with a £29 Fire TV Stick.