Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Plus vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Fire TV Stick 4K Plus vs Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
The value pick of the Fire TV line — Dolby Vision and Atmos decode for $50.
Wins overall by 1.2 points
Quick Verdict
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus takes this by a clear 1.2 points. The value pick of the Fire TV line — Dolby Vision and Atmos decode for $50. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Select are both current-generation streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is $10 cheaper than the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus ($39.99 vs $49.99). On Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. On Video Quality, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. On Platform & Apps, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. Overall, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 7.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.1/10 for the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. 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 Plus | Fire TV Stick 4K Select |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $39.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8696D — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz | MediaTek MT8698 — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 2✓ | 1 |
| Storage (GB) | 8 | 8 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) | Adapter only (sold separately) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 + BLE | 5.0 + BLE |
| Operating System | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) | Vega OS 1.1 (Linux-based, not Android) |
| Remote | Voice, TV/soundbar power and volume; no backlight; no remote finder | Voice, TV 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 Plus leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — 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 Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.5 — 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 Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Select are level here, at 5.5/10 each. voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Select 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 8.0 — a 0.8-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus if…
- • Audio Support matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 9.0/10 here (dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 8.5/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 7.5/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 7.0/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores 7.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Select if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $10 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is travel.
Pros & Cons
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
Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Pros
- +4K output for under $40 at list, and it is discounted hard and often
- +Snappier in use than the price suggests
- +Same TV-controlling Alexa remote as the pricier sticks
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 5 only — a step down from the 4K Plus and 4K Max, which both have Wi-Fi 6 or better
- −No Dolby Vision
- −Dolby Atmos is passthrough to an external receiver; Amazon's own documentation and hands-on reviews disagree on whether the device decodes Atmos itself
- −Vega OS means no sideloading, and reviewers found gaps including Xbox Game Pass and limited VPN options
- −1GB of RAM — the first 4K Fire TV to ship with that little
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or Fire TV Stick 4K Select better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus 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 Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores higher on Audio Support (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through.
Which is better for Video Quality, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores higher on Video Quality (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported.
Which is better for Platform & Apps, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores higher on Platform & Apps (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus scores higher on Connectivity (7.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus worth the price difference over the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the cheaper option at $39.99 versus $49.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Audio Support.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the better fit for travel.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus vs the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Stick 4K Select 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 HD (2026) — $34.99
Premium Option
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) — $59.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.