Amazon has begun pre-orders for its new Fire TV Stick HD streaming device and Ember Artline televisions, both featuring updated designs and features. The $35 Stick HD is 30 percent narrower and powers directly from a TV's USB port, while the art-display TVs start at $900. Shipping begins later this month in select countries.
Amazon announced the Fire TV Stick HD on April 15, pricing it at $35 with pre-orders available immediately. The device is 30 percent narrower than its predecessor, according to the company, making it easier to fit behind TVs. It includes a short USB-C cable that plugs into a TV's USB port for power, eliminating the need for a separate adapter. Amazon described it as “optimized for Direct Power through a TV’s USB port, so it fits more neatly behind a TV without requiring a separate power adapter.” It supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and is more than 30 percent faster on average, with Alexa+ built in and a redesigned interface previewed at CES in January. Shipping starts April 29 in the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. An Adaptive Display setting for accessibility will arrive in coming months, scaling text and menus while balancing artwork sizes. The Ember Artline, Amazon's matte 4K QLED TVs in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, double as digital art frames with over 2,000 free pieces, including Impressionist works by Monet, Degas, and Renoir, plus 60 exclusive motion videos by Sam Nuttmann. Pre-orders opened April 15, with shipping on April 22 in the US and Canada, followed by the UK and Germany. Ten frame color options are available, and a “Match the room” AI tool suggests artwork by analyzing room photos via QR code scan. Users can display personal photos from Amazon Photos or use Alexa+ commands like “play a slideshow of us biking in the mountains.” Amazon also introduced a Fire TV feature allowing US customers to transfer Prime Video content between devices by saying “Alexa, move this to the living room,” with plans to expand to more services.
