Craig is a reporter for Pocket-lint based in Toronto. He earned a diploma in journalism from Seneca Polytechnic and holds a Media Foundations certificate from Humber College. Craig previously interned and wrote for MobileSyrup, a Canadian tech publication. He enjoys reading and writing about consumer technology, especially phones, tablets, and PCs.
I've been a fan of Amazon's Fire TV Sticks for years. They're easy to use, affordable, and can turn any TV into a streaming powerhouse. But over the past year, Amazon has been working to fundamentally change its Fire TV Stick lineup, and not necessarily for the better.
It all started when Amazon announced Vega OS last year, its new Linux-based operating system that doesn't support Android apps, sideloading, or custom launchers, unlike Fire OS, the Android-based operating system that has powered Fire TV Sticks for more than a decade. The introduction of Vega OS signaled that change was on the way, and Amazon has spent 2026 making it happen.
In April, Amazon released the Fire TV Stick HD, a refreshed version of its entry-level 1080p streaming stick. Then, in late September, it launched the new Fire TV Stick 4K, which replaced the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 4K Plus in its lineup.
Both the new Fire TV Stick HD and the Fire TV Stick 4K run Vega OS, which isn't surprising, since Amazon officially announced earlier this year that all future Fire TV Sticks would run Vega OS instead of Fire OS. In other words, Amazon has made it clear that it won't ever release a new Android Fire TV Stick.
That's disappointing because, despite running Vega OS, Amazon's new Fire TV Sticks still have a lot to like, especially their sleek redesign. But one of the biggest upgrades is a feature that, unfortunately, will never make its way to an Android Fire TV Stick: USB-C.
Android Fire TV Sticks are stuck with Micro-USB
USB-C is far more capable
One thing that's always frustrated me about my Fire TV Stick 4K Max is its antiquated Micro-USB port. Despite launching in 2023, when USB-C was already becoming the universal standard, Amazon stuck with Micro-USB. It's not only an older, more cumbersome connector, but it also lacks the data transfer speeds and power capabilities USB-C can offer, depending on the USB standard used.
While the USB port on a Fire TV Stick is primarily for power, adapters let you do so much more. For example, a USB OTG adapter lets you connect USB sticks and external hard drives to your Fire TV Stick, whether you want to sideload apps or watch locally stored media. You can also connect an Ethernet adapter to hardwire your Fire TV Stick instead of relying on Wi-Fi.
I'd argue that an Android Fire TV Stick could make much better use of USB-C than a Vega OS model ever could.
Micro-USB can do these things on Fire TV Sticks, but it's far more limited speed-wise than USB-C. For example, the USB-C port on the new Fire TV Stick 4K can reach up to 480 Mbps with an Ethernet adapter, but the Fire TV Stick 4K Max with Micro-USB maxes out at 100 Mbps.
Another benefit is that USB-C is reversible, making it much easier to plug in without fumbling to get the connector oriented correctly.
Unfortunately, now that Amazon has decided to call it quits on Android-based Fire TV Sticks, it looks like we'll never see the benefits of USB-C on one. That's a real shame, because I'd argue that an Android Fire TV Stick could make much better use of USB-C than a Vega OS model ever could.
There's still time for Amazon to change course
However, it's unlikely to happen
Although Amazon seems pretty set on getting rid of Android-based Fire TV Sticks altogether, I'd really love to see it step up and keep at least one Android model in its lineup.
That may not be the case in the future, but for now, it still is. Amazon's lineup includes the new Fire TV Stick HD and Fire TV Stick 4K, both running Vega OS, alongside the older Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which still runs Fire OS.
Since Amazon has already given the Fire TV Stick HD and Fire TV Stick 4K the Vega OS treatment, it's likely only a matter of time before it does the same to the 4K Max, its most powerful streaming stick.
I know this is a pipe dream, but I think Amazon would be smart to keep an Android-based version of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max around. It's the most capable streaming stick in its lineup, with more RAM and storage, plus support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Keeping it on Android would also preserve important features like sideloading apps and using custom launchers, which Vega OS doesn't support but power users and enthusiasts value.
And if Amazon stuck with the redesigned hardware it introduced with the Fire TV Stick HD and 4K, we'd finally get a slimmer 4K Max with USB-C, too. I'd also love to see Amazon go a step further and equip it with USB 3.0 rather than USB 2.0, allowing for faster data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps. I think that's a reasonable upgrade to ask for on its most expensive streaming stick.
But alas, I don't expect this to happen. Whenever Amazon releases a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, it'll likely run Vega OS rather than Fire OS, marking the end of Android Fire TV Sticks, and the dream of ever having one with a USB-C port.