Streaming Devices / Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming.
Wins overall by 1.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.5-point gap makes the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) the straightforward choice here. The fastest Fire TV stick — Wi-Fi 6E and 16GB, built for cloud gaming.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is $20 cheaper than the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) ($39.99 vs $59.99). On Connectivity, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. On Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. On Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) leads (8.0 vs 6.0/10) — 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 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 Select | Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99 | $59.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2023 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | No | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8698 — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 1.7GHz | MediaTek MT8696T — quad-core Cortex-A55 at 2.0GHz |
| RAM (GB) | 1 | 2✓ |
| Storage (GB) | 8 | 16✓ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Ethernet | Adapter only (sold separately) | Adapter only (10/100, sold separately) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + BLE | 5.2 + BLE |
| Operating System | Vega OS 1.1 (Linux-based, not Android) | Fire OS 8 (Android 11) |
| Remote | Voice, TV power and volume; no backlight; no remote finder | Voice, TV power/volume/channel, Recent and Settings shortcuts; 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 6.0 — a 2.0-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 Max (2nd Gen) 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 Max (2nd Gen) 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 Max (2nd Gen) 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 Max (2nd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — a 3.0-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 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 Select does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Select is marginally ahead, 8.0 to 7.8. A gap this small rarely decides a purchase on its own, though it counts if features and performance relative to price is your priority.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Select if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $20 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is budget or travel.
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).
- • Audio Support matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through).
- • 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).
- • Video Quality matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported).
- • Platform & Apps matters most to you — the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores 7.5/10 here (operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is).
Pros & Cons
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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select or Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Select or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Audio Support, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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 Speed & Performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Speed & Performance (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond.
Which is better for Video Quality, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select or the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) scores higher on Video Quality (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported.
Is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select worth the price difference over the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the cheaper option at $39.99 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 Select is the better fit if you mainly care about budget or travel. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) is the better fit for gaming or home-theater.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)?+
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select ships with a 12-month warranty; the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) 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
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.