Amazon’s third and latest Fire TV Cube is the most capable TV streaming device it has ever made.
Although the power comes at a cost, the extra features the snappier performance allows are well worth it.
The Cube is kind of a hybrid – as well as being a TV streaming box and all that entails, it’s also a hands-free Alexa device. This means you can not only use it without a remote for all your TV needs, you can also control any smart home devices using Alexa in the usual way – just say ‘Alexa’ and ask it to do something…
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The TV side of things is as good as ever – all the major streamers are on here and set-up is simple. The menus are snappy and responsive and the 4K video streaming is handled well (or at least as well as your wi-fi allows).
Connectivity is good, too – we have the latest wi-fi spec. And an intriguing addition is an HDMI in- port as well as an out one. This lets you pass the signal from another device, like a games console for example, through the Cube to your TV– allowing the overlay of Alexa-related info on top of the output of the other device.
There are a couple of anomalies that don’t make a lot of sense – there’s no support for AirPlay or Chromecast, which means no streaming from phones of either flavour, Android or Apple.
And the remote that comes with the device is not the best Amazon makes – there’s a Pro remote you can buy for £35 that adds backlit keys and a nifty hands-free remote finder system (just ask Alexa and the remote will make a noise to help you find it). Odd that isn’t included with the Cube.
But both as a TV streaming box and a hands-free Alexa device, the Cube is a winner and this dual-use possibility makes for a compelling device you should check out if you’re in the market for a new TV streaming box with more bells and whistles than a standard smart TV.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube costs £139.99 from Amazon
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