Amazon already sells three Fire TV Stick models — the 4K Max, 4K, and HD — so when the company announced a fourth, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, it raised some eyebrows. Do we really need another one? On paper, it looks like a budget-friendly version of the 4K, but then come the “wait, it doesn’t do what?” details: it supports 4K UHD and HDR10+, but skips Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos entirely.
Vega OS: Amazon’s New Streaming Platform Behind the Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Unlike Amazon’s other Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select runs on a brand-new operating system called Vega OS — not the familiar Android-based Fire OS found in Amazon’s existing streamers, TVs, and soundbars. Vega is Linux-based, marking a major shift in Amazon’s software strategy as the company plans to phase out Fire OS in future products.
Pro Tip: Amazon has reportedly been quietly testing Vega OS in select Echo devices as well.
While Vega OS supports the upcoming Alexa+ AI voice assistant, its current feature set remains a work in progress, with some inconsistencies compared to the tried-and-true Fire OS experience.
To start, Vega OS launches with a smaller app library than Fire OS. Amazon must rebuild or port every Fire TV app into a Vega-specific format, meaning many popular apps aren’t yet available — and some might never make the jump. This includes future Smart TVs from both Amazon and partner brands that will also run Vega OS.
Another major change is limited app sideloading. Fire OS allowed users to manually install apps via APK files, but Vega uses a new .vpkg format. That means only apps officially published to the Amazon Appstore and marked Vega-compatible can be downloaded and run on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select or any upcoming Vega-based device.
To make matters worse, reports indicate that Netflix and Disney+ won’t even be available for download at launch — though, as always with Amazon, there’s a twist coming.
Cloud Streaming: The Fire TV Stick 4K Select’s Surprising Power Move
It turns out the Fire TV Stick 4K Select can launch apps directly from the Cloud — no downloading or installation required. It works much like Cloud gaming, streaming the app interface and content in real time. If Amazon can make this work reliably, it could sidestep one of Vega OS’s biggest hurdles: the need to rebuild every app from scratch.
According to Amazon spokesperson Melanie Garvey, “Select developers will have their existing apps cloud-streamed while they develop a version of their app for Vega.” In other words, the Cloud could be Amazon’s bridge between the familiar Fire OS experience and its new Linux-based ecosystem.
Amazon Fire TV Sticks Comparison
Pro Tip: All Amazon Fire TV Sticks have the same visual look and similar dimensions and weight.
Amazon Fire TV Stick Model 4K Select (2025) 4K Max (2023) 4K (2023) HD (2024) Product Type HDMI Plug-in Media Streamer HDMI Plug-in Media Streamer HDMI Plug-in Media Streamer HDMI Plug-in Media Streamer Price $39.99 $59.99 $49.99 $34.99 OS Vega OS Fire OS Fire OS Fire OS Processor Quad-Core 1.7 GHz Quad-Core 2.0 GHz Quad-Core 1.7 GHz Quad-Core 1.7 GHz GPU Not Indicated 850 MHz 650 MHz Not Indicated Storage 8 GB 16 GB 8 GB 8 GB WiFi 5: Dual Band, Dual Antenna MIMO, 802.11 a/b/c/g/n/ac 6E: Tri-Band, 802.11 a/b/c/g/n/ac/ax (2.4, 5, 6 GHz) 6: Dual-Band, 802.11 a/b/c/g/n/ac/ax (2.4, 5 GHz) 5: Dual Band, Dual Antenna MIMO, 802.11 a/b/c/g/n/ac Bluetooth Ver 5.0:LE Ver 5.2, BLE Ver 5.2, BLE Ver 5.0:LE Voice Support Yes, with Alexa Voice Remote or Fire TV App (iOS, Android) Yes, with Alexa Voice Remote or Fire TV App (iOS, Android) Yes, with Alexa Voice Remote or Fire TV App (iOS, Android) Yes, with Alexa Voice Remote or Fire TV App (iOS, Android) IR Device Control (with Alexa Voice Remote) Yes Yes Yes Yes Cloud Storage Free for digital content purchased from Amazon Free for digital content purchased from Amazon Free for digital content purchased from Amazon Free for digital content purchased from Amazon Ports HDMI for Audio/Video, micro USB for power HDMI 2.1 for Audio/Video, ARC, micro USB for power HDMI 2.1 for Audio/Video, ARC, micro USB for power HDMI for Audio/Video, micro USB for power Audio Support HDMI pass-through of Dolby-encoded audio Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound
2-channel, stereo
HDMI pass-through up to 5.1Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound
2-channel, stereo
HDMI pass-through up to 5.1HDMI pass-through of Dolby-encoded audio Photo Support Not Indicated JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP Not Indicated Input Resolution Support Up to 4K UHD Up to 4K UHD Up to 4K UHD Up to 1080p HDR Support HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG HDR10, HDR10+, HLG Video Format Support H.265, H.264, VP1, AV1 H.265, H.264, VP1, AV1 H.265, H.264, VP1, AV1 H.265, H.264, VP1 Output Resolution Support Up to 4K UHD Up to 4K UHD Up to 4K UHD Up to 1080p System Requirements Any TV with an available HDMI input, Hi-Speed Internet Any TV with an available HDMI input, Hi-Speed Internet Any TV with an available HDMI input, Hi-Speed Internet Any TV with an available HDMI input, Hi-Speed Internet TV Compatibility HDCP 2.2
4K UHD TVs with 24/25/30/50/60 Hz
1080p and 720p TVs with 50/60HzHDCP 2.2
4K UHD TVs with 24/25/30/50/60 Hz
1080p and 720p TVs with 50/60HzHDCP 2.2
4K UHD TVs with 24/25/30/50/60 Hz
1080p and 720p TVs with 50/60Hz1080p and 720p TVs with 50/60Hz Warranty and Series 1-Year (Extended Warranty Optional) 1-Year (Extended Warranty Optional) 1-Year (Extended Warranty Optional) 1-Year (Extended Warranty Optional) Content Availability Apps and Series are subject to change or withdrawal. Some apps may require a separate subscription payment Apps and Series are subject to change or withdrawal. Some apps may require a separate subscription payment Apps and Series are subject to change or withdrawal. Some apps may require a separate subscription payment Apps and Series are subject to change or withdrawal. Some apps may require a separate subscription payment Accessibility Features Voice View
Screen Magnifier
Text Banner
Closed Captions
Audio Description
Bluetooth HeadphonesVoice View
Closed Captions
Audio Description
Bluetooth HeadphoneVoice View
Closed Captions
Audio Description
Bluetooth HeadphoneVoice View
Screen Magnifier
Text Banner
Closed Captions
Audio Description
Bluetooth HeadphonesDimensions 3.9 x 1.2 x .06 inches
99 x 30 x 14 mm3.9 x 1.2 x .06 inches
99 x 30 x 14 mm3.9 x 1.2 x .06 inches
99 x 30 x 14 mm3.4 x 1.2 x 0.5 inches
86 x 30 x 13 mmWeight 1.5 oz / 42 grams 1.53 oz / 43.5 grams 1.53 oz / 43.5 grams 1.1 oz / 32.0 grams Included in the Box Fire TV Stick 4K Select
Alexa Remote
2 AAA Batteries
Power Cable
Power Adapter
HDMI Extender Cable
Quick Setup GuideFire TV Stick 4K Max
Alexa Remote
2 AAA Batteries
Power Cable
Power Adapter
HDMI Extender Cable
Quick Setup GuideFire TV Stick 4K Max
Alexa Remote
2 AAA Batteries
Power Cable
Power Adapter
HDMI Extender Cable
Quick Setup GuideFire TV Stick HD
Alexa Remote
2 AAA Batteries
Power Cable
Power Adapter
HDMI Extender Cable
Quick Setup GuideSoftware Security Updates Yes – Up to 4 Years after the last available product availability date Yes – Up to 4 Years after the last available product availability date Yes – Up to 4 Years after the last available product availability date Yes – Up to 4 Years after the last available product availability date
Pro Tip: The Fire TV Stick 4K Select will soon support Alexa+, Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, and Amazon Kids+, expanding its functionality beyond the current app limitations.
The Bottom Line
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is Amazon’s bold, if messy, experiment with Vega OS. While the Linux-based platform promises more control, better performance, and cloud-based app access that could sidestep Vega’s limited app library, it comes with clear compromises. No Dolby Vision, no Dolby Atmos, and limited app sideloading make it feel like a half-step compared to the existing Fire TV 4K and 4K Max, which remain the smarter picks for most users. Vega is intriguing, and the cloud strategy has potential, but right now the 4K Select is a mixed bag — ambitious, yes, but not fully baked.
Price & Availability
- Fire TV Stick 4K Select – $39.99 at Amazon
- Fire TV Stick 4K Max – $59.99 at Amazon
- Fire TV Stick 4K – $49.99 at Amazon
- Fire TV Stick HD – $34.99 at Amazon
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Freddie
October 20, 2025 at 4:19 pm
The Android apps that are streamed from the Amazon servers will only be free for 9 months and if an app for the VEGA operating system is not made, then Amazon will charge a monthly fee per active user and if the developer does not pay this fee, then the app will no longer be available. People will feel like they have been misled when the app is no longer available.