Amazon is rolling out a significant free upgrade for select Fire TV Stick models to enhance the user experience. The update includes a refreshed design with a more modern interface, updated typography, redesigned color gradients, and improved layouts on the homescreen. Users can expect faster navigation with performance improvements of up to 30 percent when moving through menus.
In addition to the visual changes and speed enhancements, users will now be able to pin up to 20 apps on the home screen, an increase from the previous limit of six. Access to Games, Art & Photos, and the Ambient Experience has been streamlined through the Menu button on the remote.
Amazon has introduced a new shortcut panel accessible by long-pressing the Home button, providing quick access to various Fire TV controls, including audio and display settings. The update also introduces Alexa+, an upgraded assistant set to arrive in the UK later this year, aiming to improve content discovery.
Alongside the Fire TV Stick update, Amazon is revamping the Fire TV mobile app to allow users to browse content, manage watchlists, and play titles directly on their TVs. The redesigned app mirrors the updated Fire TV interface, turning smartphones into a second screen for easier content discovery and watchlist management on the go.
The major update will initially roll out in the U.S. and later expand to other regions. The new Fire TV update will be available on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), and Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series in the U.S., with plans for availability on more devices and in other countries later in the spring, including the latest Fire TV 4K streaming media players.