Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select Review: Vega OS Arrives

Amazon has been turning out streaming sticks for years, but this one marks a significant break in platform strategy. The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the first device from the brand to run Vega OS, an in-house operating system built on Linux components, where Fire OS had until now been based on a modified version of Android. For anyone following the Fire TV ecosystem, the significance stretches a long way past this small HDMI dongle.

On paper the specification is that of an unashamedly entry-level product, and it is inevitably less well equipped than the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus. The list runs to a quad-core processor clocked at 1.7 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage shared between the system and apps, along with dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac MIMO) and Bluetooth 5.0.

On the video side, the stick reaches 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second with support for HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, and it decodes AV1, HEVC/H.265, H.264 and VP9. There is no trace of the Dolby Vision found on the 4K Plus version.

The whole thing sits in a compact body weighing around 46 g. There is little to say about the design, which follows the classic HDMI dongle format and plugs straight into the television. Amazon includes an HDMI extension cable in the box, which is genuinely useful when the back of the set is cluttered or the port sits in an awkward recess.

The real surprise on switching the stick on is Vega OS, at version 1.1 at the time of testing. This is a system developed entirely by Amazon's own teams and built on Linux components, a fundamental difference from the usual Fire OS, which is an Android derivative. Amazon claims up to 30% more performance from the new environment, describing it as a new operating system designed to be responsive and efficient.

Setup was not entirely smooth. Neither of the two Vega OS sticks - the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the Stick HD - could be configured directly from a smartphone during testing. After the Wi-Fi network was set up manually, the QR code used to link the device to an Amazon account did work from the phone.

The change of operating system has one very direct consequence for more advanced users. Sideloading Android APKs, that is installing apps from outside the store as it worked on Fire OS, is now heavily restricted. It has become the preserve of developer mode, with a dedicated account, device registration and transfers through official tools. Vega OS is clearly a closed system.

Vega OS does not replace Fire OS overnight. Amazon remains multi-OS: the 4K Select opens this transition while other models continue to run Fire OS. It is hard to say at this stage how quickly the ecosystem will switch over completely.

The app catalogue covers most of the common streaming services out of the box, including Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+ and other mainstream platforms, which is enough for the majority of households from the moment the box is opened. Access to applications runs through the Amazon Appstore rather than Google Play, which mechanically limits the choice compared with an Android TV device.

Game streaming illustrates the current limits of the new environment well. The stick gives access to Amazon Luna. The GeForce Now app, Nvidia's cloud gaming service, was missing from the Vega OS Appstore at the time of testing, which is an absence worth factoring in for anyone who relies on it. The native game selection on Vega OS is particularly thin; Prime subscribers can reach a number of interesting titles, but only through cloud gaming.

On picture quality the stick holds its rank as an entry-level 4K device. It handles HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG, which covers most of the content available today. Dolby Vision is missing, however, and on a television that supports the format the absence is noticeable. That is probably the most visible compromise here for anyone with higher-end equipment.

For audio, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select works by HDMI passthrough for Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus (AC-3/E-AC-3), sending the stream on to a compatible amplifier or soundbar. There is no local Dolby Atmos decoding from the stick itself, so a dedicated audio system is the better route for getting the most out of a soundtrack.

As on its other products of this kind, Amazon uses a micro-USB port for power. It is a choice that raises an eyebrow in 2026, even if it causes no problem in use.

Beyond that, connectivity is limited to the essentials: an HDMI 2.0 port capable of carrying picture and sound up to Ultra HD HDR. There is no built-in Ethernet port, although an adapter is sold separately, and no dedicated audio output or micro-SD card reader. This is the strict minimum.

The drop from Wi-Fi 6 on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus to Wi-Fi 5 here is disappointing, and it means the device should not be placed too far from the router.

The supplied remote is the standard Alexa voice version and carries the essential buttons. It also has four shortcut keys for the most popular services of the moment, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ and Prime Video. It is not backlit, which is a drawback for evening viewing in the dark. Batteries are included in the box.

If Dolby Vision matters for your television, or if you want to install apps freely from outside the store, the Fire TV Stick 4K or the 4K Max are the better targets. Beyond those two Fire TV models, the other serious rival is the Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (Gen 2), which runs Google TV and will suit anyone already invested in Google's ecosystem.