What is the difference between the new and old Fire TV Stick HD? A thorough explanation of the features of the new model with upgraded performance

On April 15, Amazon announced the new Fire TV Stick HD.

Although it has the same name as the one released in 2024, the internals have changed quite a bit, so in this article I will explain the differences between the new and old models in detail.

Improvements in the new model

The new Fire TV Stick HD announced by Amazon is the successor to the model with the same name released in 2024, and its usability has been improved compared with the old model.

In the new model, the port has been changed from USB microB to USB Type-C, and it is on average 30% faster while communication capabilities have also been strengthened.

Rather than being a model with dramatically improved picture quality, this new model improves small aspects of usability.

30% faster and 30% smaller

Compared with the old model from 2024, the new Fire TV Stick HD is on average 30% faster in areas such as device startup and the speed of opening apps.

This increase in speed can be expected to reduce the stress of everyday operation.

In addition, the device design has also been improved.

It is about 30% slimmer than the previous model's width of 30 mm, and Amazon says it is now about the same thickness as a standard HDMI cable.

If the HDMI ports on the back of your TV are crowded together, the Fire TV Stick HD can be expected to interfere less with other cables.

Supports direct power from the TV and Type-C

With the old model, you connected the device's USB microB port to the power adapter, then plugged the power adapter into an outlet to use it.

With the new model, the power supply method has been revised, and on TVs with a USB Type-A port, the Fire TV Stick HD can be powered directly from the TV.

Because there is no longer any need to connect a power adapter to an outlet, it has become easier and more compact to use.

In addition, the power terminal on the device itself has been changed from USB microB to USB Type-C, and the included cable has been changed to a 30 cm L-shaped cable.

With the move to USB Type-C, versatility has increased, and the L-shaped cable makes it less likely to interfere with the neighboring HDMI port.

The UI and OS have been revamped

The new Fire TV Stick HD is equipped with the Linux-based Vega OS.

Vega OS is the new OS that has been installed since the Fire TV Stick 4K Select released last year, and it differs from the Android-based Fire OS that had been used in conventional Fire TV devices.

Vega OS is not compatible with Fire OS, and some apps do not run on Vega OS, so caution is required before purchase.

In addition, the new model features a revamped home screen and tab structure, and an anime tab for Japan has also been added.

You can now look for content from the Movies, TV Shows, Anime, and Live tabs at the upper left of the screen, and the number of favorite apps that can be placed on the home screen has been expanded from a maximum of 6 to a maximum of 20.

In the shortcut panel that can be called up by pressing and holding the home button, you can change picture and sound quality even while a video is playing.

As for the UI revamp, it is also planned to be rolled out to the current Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Select, and current smart TVs with Fire TV built in (made by Panasonic and JVC).

Communication capabilities have also been strengthened

This is a part that is harder to notice in practice than the other improvements, but communication capabilities have also been strengthened.

Wi-Fi has been upgraded from Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), and Bluetooth has been upgraded from Bluetooth 5.0 + LE to Bluetooth 5.3 + LE.

You probably will not notice a difference in general use cases, but these finer details have also been steadily improved.

How can you tell the new model from the old model?

Because both the new and old models are called "Fire TV Stick HD," you cannot tell whether it is the new or old model from the name alone.

The easiest way to tell them apart is the power terminal on the side of the device.

In the old model released in 2024, the power terminal is USB microB, whereas in the new model it is USB Type-C.

Conclusion

The new Fire TV Stick HD announced by Amazon on April 15 has the same name as the model released in 2024, but small aspects of usability and performance have been improved.

References

• Amazon announces the new Fire TV Stick HD
• Amazon revamps the home screen and launches a new Fire TV experience in Japan - Press Center