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.
Amazon shook up its Fire TV Stick lineup last month by announcing the new Vega OS-powered Fire TV Stick 4K, which replaces not just one Fire TV Stick but two.
With its launch, Amazon phased out both the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 4K Plus, simplifying its lineup to just three models: the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
While I like that Amazon has made its Fire TV Stick lineup less confusing, I'm more concerned about the direction the company is heading. By pushing Vega OS to the forefront and leaving Android-based Fire OS behind, Amazon risks taking away some of the freedom that has made its streaming sticks so appealing in the first place.
So, while the new lineup is certainly simpler, I'm more concerned about what comes next. Here's what's changing with Amazon's Fire TV Sticks, why I think its shift toward Vega OS could be a mistake, and what the company needs to do to get back on track.
Fire OS is on its way out for Fire Sticks
All future Fire Sticks will run Vega OS
At the end of 2025, Amazon announced Vega OS, its new Linux-based operating system, promising improved efficiency and performance. However, the biggest controversy surrounding Vega OS is that it doesn't support Android apps, sideloading, or custom launchers. Since Fire TV Sticks have run on Android-based Fire OS for over a decade, many Fire TV fans worried that Amazon would eventually phase out Fire OS entirely.
Amazon quelled those concerns by declaring itself a "multi-OS company" and promising to support both Fire OS and Vega OS simultaneously. So far, it's kept that promise, with updates like its redesigned Fire TV experience rolling out to both operating systems over the past year.
However, in April, Amazon announced the inevitable: all future Fire TV Sticks will run Vega OS. In other words, while Amazon will keep updating existing Android Fire TV Sticks, it won't release any new Android models, as shown by this year's release of the new Vega-OS-powered Fire TV Stick HD and the Fire TV Stick 4K.
If sideloading or access to Android apps doesn't really matter to you, then Amazon's switch to Vega OS isn't that big of a deal, and you'll still be able to use all your favorite streaming apps, like Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max, just fine. But for enthusiasts who appreciate Android's freedom, like installing a custom launcher and personalizing your streaming experience exactly how you like it, it's a major blow.
With the Fire TV Stick 4K Max as the last remaining Android Fire TV Stick in the lineup, it's hard not to see it getting the Vega OS treatment sooner rather than later, since Fire TV Stick HD and 4K have already gotten it, but I hope Amazon takes another path.
Amazon should keep a new 4K Max running Android
Give people the option of using Vega OS or Fire OS
While I know Amazon has already committed to running Vega OS on all future Fire TV Sticks, I think updating the 4K Max to it would eventually be a mistake.
One of the 4K Max's biggest selling points is that it's the most powerful model in the lineup, with the most RAM and storage, along with support for premium streaming features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, neither of which the new Fire TV Stick HD or 4K supports. On top of that, because it still runs Android-based Fire OS, the 4K Max offers all the freedom that comes with it.
But if Amazon refreshes the 4K Max with Vega OS in the near future, it wouldn't just be taking away Android support. It would also mark the end of Android-based Fire TV Sticks altogether, which I think would be a huge letdown.
If someone wants an affordable streaming stick for basic streaming, they could go with a Vega OS model. But if they'd rather pay extra for better hardware and Android support, that option should be available, too, just as it is today.
Admittedly, this might be a bit of a pipe dream, but looking ahead, I'd love to see Amazon keep at least one Android-based Fire TV Stick in its lineup, and the 4K Max would be the perfect choice. That way, users could choose the experience they want. If someone wants an affordable streaming stick for basic streaming, they could go with a Vega OS model. But if they'd rather pay extra for better hardware and Android support, that option should be available, too, just as it is today.
Don't get me wrong, though. I actually don't mind the new Fire TV Stick HD and Fire TV Stick 4K. Both feature slim new designs, USB-C instead of Micro USB, and can be powered entirely by your TV's USB port. Yes, they run Vega OS, but for people who want a straightforward streaming experience, they're great options.
However, for power users seeking the best hardware and software experience, Amazon would be smart to keep the 4K Max on Android and upgrade the hardware. It might even keep more users from jumping ship to Google TV, the most popular alternative for Fire TV users who want to stick with Android.
The last hope
What about the Fire TV Cube?
If Amazon refreshes the 4K Max with Vega OS, which could happen at any time, there's still one last hope: the Fire TV Cube.
Amazon hasn't said much about the Fire TV Cube lately, other than raising its price to $200 amid the ongoing memory shortage. And since it's not a Fire TV Stick, the company hasn't confirmed whether it'll eventually make the switch to Vega OS.
The last time Amazon refreshed the Fire TV Cube was in 2022, so it's long overdue for an upgrade with better hardware and more storage. If Amazon does refresh the 4K Max with Vega OS in the near future, I hope it at least considers keeping the Fire TV Cube on Android-based Fire OS, especially given its much higher price tag. Doing so would also help keep it competitive with other streaming devices, particularly the Google TV Streamer and Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Overall, Amazon's Fire TV Stick lineup has changed significantly over the past year. I like that it's now simplified to just three models, and the new Vega OS-powered Fire TV Stick HD and 4K have their advantages, including slim designs and the ability to be powered just by your TV's USB port. For anyone who wants a simple, plug-and-play streaming experience, they're great options.
However, I think Amazon would be making a mistake by eventually moving the 4K Max to Vega OS and abandoning Android altogether. I'd like to see the company keep the 4K Max on Android, just as the current model is, or, at the very least, keep any new Fire TV Cube running Android. That way, users who want the freedom of Android would still have a Fire TV device to turn to, rather than having to jump ship to Google TV altogether.