Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) wins by 0.3 points, which is not enough to settle it. The value pick of the Fire TV line — Dolby Vision and Atmos decode for $50. Pick on the specs that matter to you, not the overall score.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is $10 cheaper than the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ($49.99 vs $59.99). On Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. On Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads (8.8 vs 7.8/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.0 vs 7.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. Overall, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 7.6/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | Fire TV Stick 4K Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 | $49.99 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2025 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8696T — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 2.0GHz | MediaTek MT8696D — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 2 |
| Storage (GB) | 16✓ | 8 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | 5.2 + BLE |
| Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) |
| Remote | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; no backlight; no remote finder | Voice, TV/soundbar power and volume; no backlight; no remote finder |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus are level here, at 8.5/10 each. maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Audio Support
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus are level here, at 9.0/10 each. dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Platform & Apps
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus are level here, at 7.5/10 each. operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Connectivity
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.5 — a 1.0-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K Plus are level here, at 5.0/10 each. matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads clearly here, 8.8 against 7.8 — a 1.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 8.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • Remote matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 6.5/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 8.8/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • You want to spend less — it's $10 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget.
Pros & Cons
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Fastest Fire TV stick, and the only one with Wi-Fi 6E
- +16GB of storage leaves real room for apps and games
- +Best Fire TV stick for cloud gaming
- +Ambient Experience turns an idle TV into an art frame
Cons
- −Three years old with no 2026 refresh
- −Ethernet still requires a dongle
- −Costs $10 more than the 4K Plus for the same Dolby Vision and Atmos support
- −Ad-heavy Fire TV home screen
- −Likely the last Android-based Fire TV stick, which is a plus for sideloading today and a risk for app support later
Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
Pros
- +The cheapest way to get Dolby Vision and full Dolby Atmos decoding on Fire TV
- +DTS and DTS-HD passthrough for disc-quality audio to a receiver
- +Still Android-based, so sideloading and Downloader work
- +Wi-Fi 6 and 2GB of RAM at a $49.99 list price
Cons
- −Only 8GB of storage — half the 4K Max
- −Wi-Fi 6, not the 4K Max's Wi-Fi 6E
- −Ethernet needs a separate dongle
- −Ad-heavy Fire TV home screen
- −Amazon has said all future Fire TV sticks will move to Vega OS, so long-term Android app support here is uncertain
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or Fire TV Stick 4K Plus better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Value, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores higher on Value (8.8/10 vs 7.8/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Speed & Performance (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Remote, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) or the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Remote (6.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) worth the price difference over the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is the cheaper option at $49.99 versus $59.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about gaming. The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is the better fit for budget.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) vs the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $39.99
Premium Option
Roku Streaming Stick 4K — $79.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.