 |
VOOZH | about |
|
VOOZH | about |
Early Prime Day deals: Shop Amazon devices up to 60% off
There is a newer version of this product available. Shop the latest Fire TV Cube.
Subscription fees may apply for certain apps and services. Dolby Atmos is available on select Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ titles when connected to compatible equipment. HDMI cable is sold separately.
With Alexa on Fire TV Cube, you can control compatible TVs, soundbars, and A/V receivers from top brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, and more. Plus, tune to live TV channels with cable or satellite boxes from providers like Comcast, DISH, DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, and more. Learn more about supported devices.
Fire TV Cube lets you put down the remote and dive straight into your favorite movies and TV shows with the sound of your voice. From across the room, just say, “Alexa, play The Mandalorian on Disney+” and Alexa will respond to your request.
Switch inputs and go from watching your favorite TV show to the big game. You can also ask Alexa to check the weather, set timers and reminders, and more—even when the TV is off.
“Alexa, tune to ESPN.”Fire TV Cube has eight microphones that hear you from any direction, making it easy to ask Alexa to adjust the volume or mute your compatible TV or soundbar. Fire TV Cube lets you control your compatible cable and satellite box. The Alexa Voice Remote is also included for those times you want to control your TV without making a sound. Brands this product is compatible with includes Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, Comcast, DISH, and DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse. With Alexa on Fire TV Cube, you can control a wide range of devices through the cloud, infrared (IR), and HDMI-CEC, with more being added all the time. Learn more about voice control compatibility. |
500,000+ movies and TV episodes |
|
Enjoy favorites from Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Peacock, STARZ, SHOWTIME, Paramount+, and others. Stream live news, sports, and must-see shows, plus thousands of titles in brilliant 4K Ultra HD, HDR, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision. Access tens of thousands of HDR titles. Plus, play millions of songs through services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio. Subscription fees may apply. |
Find content fastStreaming on Fire TV is simple and intuitive. It all starts with the Main Menu, where you can quickly access your favorite content. Search across hundreds of channels and apps to find what you want to watch. Enjoy personalized streaming using Profiles, with recommendations, viewing history, and watch lists for each person in your household. Learn more here. |
TV is just the beginningFire TV is always getting smarter with new Alexa skills and voice functionality. Make two-way video calls with Zoom and Alexa Communication, view live camera feeds, check the weather, order a pizza, and stream music. Learn more about compatible smart home devices. |
|
Size |
86.1 mm x 86.1 mm x 76.9 mm |
|
Weight |
465 g |
|
Processor |
Hexa-core (Quad-core at up to 2.2GHz + Dual-core at up to 1.9GHz |
|
GPU |
ARM Mali G52-MP2 (3EE), 800MHz |
|
Storage |
16 GB internal |
|
Memory |
2 GB |
|
Wi-Fi |
Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks. |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 5.0 + LE. Pair with compatible Bluetooth speakers, headphones, video game controllers, and more. |
|
Voice support |
Far-field and near-field voice support |
|
Voice control compatibility |
Fire TV Cube can control a wide range of IR-enabled devices, including TVs, soundbars, cable and satellite boxes, and A/V receivers. Learn more about IR-enabled supported devices. |
|
Cloud storage |
Free cloud storage for digital content purchased from Amazon. |
|
Ports |
HDMI, power, micro-USB, wired infrared support |
|
Included audio |
Built-in 1.6'' (40 mm) speaker to interact with Alexa–even when the TV is off. Fire TV Cube uses your entertainment system speakers for entertainment experiences and will turn on your TV, soundbar, or A/V receiver to play these. |
|
Audio support |
Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 5.1. Dolby Atmos is available on select Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+ titles when connected to compatible equipment. |
|
Content formats supported |
Video: Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9 Audio: AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC), Photo: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
|
Output Resolution Supported |
2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps |
|
System requirements |
High-definition television with available high-speed HDMI input, high-speed internet connection via Wi-Fi or inbox Ethernet accessory, power outlet, (compatible TV/sound/cable equipment for control by infrared or voice). High-speed HDMI cable and 4K TV with high-speed HDMI connector required for 4K viewing and more reliable device control. |
|
TV compatibility |
TV must support minimum HDCP requirements for protected content playback. Compatible with 1) 4K ultra high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 2160p at 24/25/30/50/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2 or 2) high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 50/60 Hz. Learn more about high-definition. |
|
Warranty and service |
1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2-Year and 3-Year Extended Warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately. Use of Fire TV is subject to the terms found here. |
|
Regional support |
Certain services may not be available outside the U.S. |
|
Accessibility features |
VoiceView screen reader enables access to the vast majority of Fire TV features for users who are blind or visually impaired. Watch videos and TV shows with closed captioning displayed. Captions are not available for all content. Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) supports audio streaming for select compatible Bluetooth hearing aids for a private listening experience. You can also listen to Fire TV with compatible Bluetooth headphones. Learn more about accessibility for Fire TV. |
|
Included in the box |
Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), Alexa Voice Remote (2nd Gen), power adapter, Quick Start Guide, marketing guide, 2 AAA batteries, infrared (IR) extender cable, Amazon Ethernet Adapter (10/100). HDMI cable is sold separately. |
|
Software Security Updates |
Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own a Fire TV, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
|
Size |
38 x 142 x 16 mm |
|
Weight |
43.4 g (without batteries) |
|
Batteries |
2 AAA (included) |
|
Technology |
Bluetooth |
|
Compatibility |
Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen), Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen), Fire TV Cube (1st Gen), Fire TV (3rd Gen Pendant Design) |
|
Software Security Updates |
Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own a Fire TV, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonI ordered my Mom the 50" Toshiba 4K Fire TV (1st model), because of the new technology & integration to make it easier on her (she's 68). Ever since she's owned it it's had issues with slowness (honestly it was simply under powered for what it was doing), quirky things etc. (Completely expected in a 1st Gen product). When I saw the new Fire TV Cube go on sale for $89.99, it peaked my interest! So, being a techno geek of epic proportions, I dug into the tech specs of both the Toshiba Fire TV & the new Fire TV Cube. The hardware difference is dramatic to say the least! So, I started thinking, there's nothing wrong with the 4K display features of the Toshiba TV, the problem is the essentially a 1st Gen Fire TV Stick integrated in. Also, she has a 3rd Gen Echo in the living room that she uses for the lights, getting info etc. If I get the new Fire TV Cube I resolve several issues & greatly improve everything.
It exceeded all my expectations by far! I simply plugged it into HDMI 1 & went through the Cube's guided setup. Since I selected the "link to my account" when I purchased it, setup was beyond easy. In less than 5 mins, it had joined the Wi-Fi, auto setup the switching of the Toshiba TV to the correct HDMI port, setup the remote to control the TV too & optimized the Cube for the best possible display resolution, color depth, audio output etc. All I had to do was install the apps we use (Hulu, Netflix etc) & boom! Done.
Not only is it blazing fast with everything it does, it makes everything so much easier. Now Mom just says "Alexa, turn on the TV" & it turns on the Toshiba & changes to HDMI 1. Then she says "Alexa, go to Fox News" & it opens Hulu (we have Hulu+Live) & turns to Fox News. She can tell it to turn up or down the volume etc. Additionally the Cube is a full blown Echo too! So she can still control the lights etc just as before (I removed the 3rd Gen Echo Dot so the only Echo around is the Cube). Another cool feature is, since we have a Nest Hello Doorbell & Alexa works with Nest, she can say "Alexa, show me the front door" & the view from the Nest Hello Doorbell fills the TV screen! She can also control the Nest Thermostat with it as well.
It's voice recognition is outstanding, it actually hears much better than the 3rd Gen Echo Dot that was sitting on an end table next to her chair, only the Cube is across the room on the bottom shelf of the TV stand! I was in the kitchen (our kitchen connects directly behind our living room, so think of it like an extension equal to the size of the living room, so essentially double the size) & the Cube still heard me just fine & I wasn't talking very loud either!
Amazon has hit a massive home run with the new Fire TV Cube & I honestly highly recommend it!
I'm an Amazon fanboy, I pre-ordered the 1st Gen Echo, got an Echo Spot, Echo Dot 3rd Gen, Echo Dot 3rd Gen with Digital Clock, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, 50" Toshiba Fire TV (the 1st model), Fire HDX, Amazon HD Music subscription, Prime Member for years now etc. Needless to say, I know Amazon products very well! 😇
*Disclaimer: I do NOT work for or have any affiliation with Amazon, nor does any of my family or friends, other than being regular paying customers. I have NOT received, nor been offered anything for this review. I was NOT asked in anyway, shape, nor form to write this review. This review is 100% legitimate, honest & my own thoughts, opinions and/or experiences.
Please note that I have left reviews for OTHER NON-AMAZON companies and/or products before as part of an evaluation program. However, I ALWAYS state that disclosure in the review clearly. 03/05/2020
You know I have quite a few Amazon devices and I must say that this is far superior to the fire stick. I really enjoy the hands-free controlling of the TV and it basically operates like an echo device the the only thing that I would like to express on this for Amazon to change would be the speaker itself is very crappy much like the Gen 1 echo speaker. It is an actual cube that measures approximately 3 1/2 in in all dimensions. I'm like the echo, it has one bar light on the front top of it. The app storage is much better than the fire stick I do highly recommend this to the fire stick because you can just put more on it and it does seem quite a bit faster. In addition there has been some miscommunication that I have read in regards to the physical outputs which I would like to clear up. This does have a micro USB, an infrared, an HDMI, and a power plug in the back of the unit the top of the unit is exactly like the echo and has the four buttons mimicking the echo the IR connector is for incorporating use to control an infrared device like a VCR or Blu-ray player or cable box anything that uses IR. Although this is included I do not think it's necessary if you install Kodi with the amount of free channels that are provided. Many people try and sell jailbroken fire cubes for almost double the price I do not recommend them as if you want to do it yourself there are videos on YouTube that are stupid simple. There will cause no harm to your device. What I do recommend is that you get the OTG adapter and hook up a hard disk drive for added storage. It is very simple to do and will allow you to transfer your home movies for playback on a full TV. In addition to this by holding the home button on the Alexa remote, it will bring up a menu where it will allow you to mirror a device such as a phone. I find this useful once in awhile for sharing video with others in my home streaming directly from my phone. I am currently using this with the sengled pulse audio speakers utilizing the pulse link adapter. To use the setup successfully your television must have a audio out via RCA jacks or headphone jacks so that you can plug the connection into the pulse link unit. If your television does not have any of these controls it will not hook up to this system conveniently. It can be done via Bluetooth however, you will need to disconnect the system every time you want to control the lighting which I find is rather inconvenient.
You know I have quite a few Amazon devices and I must say that this is far superior to the fire stick. I really enjoy the hands-free controlling of the TV and it basically operates like an echo device the the only thing that I would like to express on this for Amazon to change would be the speaker itself is very crappy much like the Gen 1 echo speaker. It is an actual cube that measures approximately 3 1/2 in in all dimensions. I'm like the echo, it has one bar light on the front top of it. The app storage is much better than the fire stick I do highly recommend this to the fire stick because you can just put more on it and it does seem quite a bit faster. In addition there has been some miscommunication that I have read in regards to the physical outputs which I would like to clear up. This does have a micro USB, an infrared, an HDMI, and a power plug in the back of the unit the top of the unit is exactly like the echo and has the four buttons mimicking the echo the IR connector is for incorporating use to control an infrared device like a VCR or Blu-ray player or cable box anything that uses IR. Although this is included I do not think it's necessary if you install Kodi with the amount of free channels that are provided. Many people try and sell jailbroken fire cubes for almost double the price I do not recommend them as if you want to do it yourself there are videos on YouTube that are stupid simple. There will cause no harm to your device. What I do recommend is that you get the OTG adapter and hook up a hard disk drive for added storage. It is very simple to do and will allow you to transfer your home movies for playback on a full TV. In addition to this by holding the home button on the Alexa remote, it will bring up a menu where it will allow you to mirror a device such as a phone. I find this useful once in awhile for sharing video with others in my home streaming directly from my phone. I am currently using this with the sengled pulse audio speakers utilizing the pulse link adapter. To use the setup successfully your television must have a audio out via RCA jacks or headphone jacks so that you can plug the connection into the pulse link unit. If your television does not have any of these controls it will not hook up to this system conveniently. It can be done via Bluetooth however, you will need to disconnect the system every time you want to control the lighting which I find is rather inconvenient.
I upgraded my 1st gen Fire TV small black device (not stick) to the new Fire TV Cube, hands-free with Alexa built in, 4K Ultra HD, streaming media player in Oct 2019.
PROS:
-super easy plug and play setup. Was able to get the cube setup within 10 mins.
-really love the interface of the platform
-tons of apps like HBO, Hulu, Netflix, CNN, local TV channel apps like CW in the Los Angeles area. This comes in handy when the weather is super windy and your satellite signal is terrible. I can just use the CNN or my local TV channel app to watch without any signal issues.
-best streaming experience with Netflix app compared to Apple TV. Steaming Netflix on Apple TV constantly crashes and glitches out. Especially if I fast forward or rewind a huge chunk of time like going back or forward 30 mins of the content. Fire TV cube including 1st gen Fire TV streams Netflix without any glitches even forwarding or rewinding 30 mins or more of the content.
-love that I can add other devices so I can use my FireTV remote to turn on/off and switch to other devices. For example, once I've added all of the different equipment device in the settings like my Denon amplifier, my TV, Nintendo Switch, 3rd party media streaming player. I can use the remote to speak my command like "switch to game console" and FireTV cube will switch from FireTV to my Nintendo Switch, my amp will switch to the correct input, my TV will also switch to the correct input. I only have to set this up once in the settings.
-able to set the "home" icon button on the remote to automatically take you back to the FireTV streaming interface if you are using another input mode like DVD, game console, etc. This is super handy.
-for the cord-cutters out there. There is an upgrade option...The FireTV Recast.
I purchased the FireTV Recast to watch Over The Air (OTA) local channels for free which is great. The Recast is also a DVR so I can schedule and play my local TV content saving storage room from my DirecTV DVR unit for cable recorded shows. Once you have the FireTV Recast connected to the FireTV cube, you will be able to see what is currently playing live in the FireTV home screen. This feature will be integrated with the rest of the FireTV home features like movies, recommended TV shows, etc.
CONS:
-CAN NOT RENAME EQUIPMENT DEVICE IN SETTING. This is a huge issue for me because when you have a family, they only know of the names of the actual devices being used like DirecTV, Nintendo Switch, Turntable, etc. Expecting my wife and kids to say the command "switch to satellite doesn't make sense", it's more intuitive to say "DirecTV". Allowing me to rename the equipment device will help my kids and wife to ask for commands like "switch to Nintendo Switch" instead of "switch to game console". My family will not know the Amazon equipment device default setting for DirecTV is "Satellite". Also being able to rename the equipment device will allow the possibility to add older devices like turntable and allow me to rename the default equipment device name of DVD to "Turntable". So Amazon please please please allow renaming equipment device. This will be a game-changer feature especially for anyone who has the typical entertainment setup with an amplifier, game console, DVD/Bluray player, turntable, etc.
-FireTV cube remote control is too limiting and doesn't have the number keypads. It would be great to be able to learn my other device's IR signal so I can just use the FireTV remote to switch the channel when watching DirecTV.
All and all, one of the best streaming device in the market.
I purchased the FIRE CUBE at the end of last year, but wanted to wait until I had some time working with it before I posted a review. I am giving it 4 stars when it probably deserves only 3; I am giving it the extra star as it has provided me with some entertaining challenges trying to make it do what I want it to do.
First, it is not a bad device; it sort of works as advertised and to be honest, I was able to get it setup and functioning without too much trouble. Also some of the issues I have encountered are related to the IR communications and the ‘weirdness’ one normally encounters controlling devices using HDMI-CEC. Also I have a rather eclectic mix of devices; LG OLED TV, Yamaha Sound Bar and a Samsung BluRay player.
One of my big headaches is that occasionally and for no apparent reason when I am first turning on the TV or switching devices I will have no sound from the sound bar and the only solution seems to be to unplug the sound bar for several seconds and then restore power. This happens often enough that I changed the power connection to the sound bar so I can get to it more easily. I did not have this issue prior to using the Fire Cube, and it may be an IR or HDMI communications issue.
There are also some ‘Alexa issues’. Clearly this is a ‘work in process’. Some of the more common ones that I have encountered:
Doesn’t always go where you tell her and often goes there and then back home
Stops talking – you can see the blue ring flashing but no sound from her or the TV (this is a documented problem that many people have encountered)
Often confirms that a timer is set and then it doesn’t go off (another issue that many users report)
Doesn’t hear very well – I have the cube about 6 feet away and still have to raise my voice to get her attention
Sometimes while we are watching TV, Alexa will just switch the sound over to Pandora or Prime Music and play music instead of the TV sound – this is really weird.
I am somewhat satisfied with the Fire Cube and Alexa, but I am not sure that they make my life easier, but they do make it more interesting. If you are looking for ‘Plug and Play’, I would say that this is probably not your best choice. If you like to tinker with things and try to make them work the way you expect then you can have a lot of fun with the Fire Cube and Alexa.
I purchased this device not knowing what to expect other than I have tried just about every streaming device available and have been disappointed with most of them.
I still have two Roku Ultra 2020's, the new Chromecast with Google TV, and two Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K's.
I have tried the Tivo Stream 4K, The newest Apple TV 4K, (which I though would outdistance all of them in performance but it does not) and the Nvidia Shield TV, not the Pro unit. The Nvidia's, TV & Pro, both have the same specs other than storage so performance for overall basic streaming is the same.
They all had specific problems for me that may have been just my system and their compatibility, but for what the heavy hitters cost, I would think that would be worked by someone other that the public as beta testers.
My system is a Samsung 50" 4K HDR TV, not an expensive one, and a Nakamichi sound bar which I cannot say enough good things about. I also have a Samsung Q70R sound bar and had similar problems with it testing these devices, so that helps eliminate me as the compatibility culprit.
The Fire TV Cube is simply outstanding! Thanks to my children and grandchildren, we have many services to choose from including Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Discover+ and HBOMax and of course YouTube and Pandora. The performance is incredible. When I try a new device the first app I go to is HBOMax which for some reason is the most difficult for devices to navigate without stumbling, pausing and sometimes locking up. Maybe it's due to the icon designs and the number of them, but the Cube works fine. The Nvidia would just stop moving through the HBOMax app at which time I have to unplug the device to restart. I spent a little time researching why and all I got was the he said, she said finger pointing result so I asked my self; why should it be up to the consumer to finish the testing the product?
I would rate the Roku Ultra 2020 a close 2nd and then the Amazon Fire TV stick 4K, which I got for $25.00/each! I definitely rate the Fire TV Stick 4K's as the best bang for the buck when on sale, especially the $25.00 per sale!
I have seen some benchmark testing and on paper, the Nvidia Shield Pro is rated at two times, that is 2X faster than the Fire TV Cube! All that means to me is that the Nvidia Shield Pro is rated at those numbers running on the system tested. In other words, unless you have the same components as the tester, you are still taking your chances on a device that works for you.
Some devices would not let my TV go to sleep. I just happened to notice that the led on the bottom of my tv would be blinking. I isolated it to the Apple TV and the Nvidia Shield. This was during two separate testing sessions since I did not have both concurrently. I did double check that issue by making sure all the apps were exited out of, at least the ones that give you that option.
The Fire TV Cube works great for me. I haven't had any issues that were not generated by me, and it looks as though I will be keeping it. Everything that I have works with it and it does help to have owned another Amazon streaming device so the configurations are almost the same.
I am not a huge Alexa fan, but its simplicity with the Cube may start me using it. The Voice function with the remote works great, of course all the ones I have tried worked well too. Never any buffering issues, before or now. I always hardwire when I can and leave the wi-fi for the mobile devices such as phones, tablets, family coming over using their devices and so on.
I realize that comparing $50.00 streaming device with a $180.00 streaming device is not fair at all and I agree, but, I am not comparing these devices's capabilities, I am just looking for one that works without having to troubleshoot problems and sift through things that I can and/or cannot do without.
Thanks for taking the time to read and sorry for the length. I hope this saves someone a little time finding a streaming device for themselves.
Mind you, while I do highly recommend it, the only reason that I rated the streaming quality as four stars, is because it is a bandwidth hog & when you have more than the cube on the same network, the very second you start to use a different device to stream videos or just to check your E-mail while the cube is running, it will occasionally glitch which is slightly annoying.
Granted, the technology is still relatively new so little video hiccups or temporary video freezes during the transition from streaming a movie or TV show to switch over to a commercial, it can be a little frustrating. However, I bumped up the bandwidth today when I called my ISP company so the cube is glitching much less but still not entirely free of the video freezing up for a moment when using a second device on our network.
Alternatively, my DirecTV service was too expensive to keep using it as it was for the same services now being offered on the Fire Cube & yet the cube actually requires you to have a TV service provider for some of the stations because when installing a specific application for something like Fox News or Fox sports, to sign up, you need to have a valid account sign in from a TV service provider.
So I simply told the DirecTV representative that I spoke to, that I now owned a fire cube & it was capable of showing all the same shows that DirecTV was offering but for free.
So, cutting your TV service provider out of the loop completely isn't really possible but I did manage to cut my TV bill down by more than $110.00 bucks a month.
And that is why the cube is still totally worth the price to me because next year, the bill may have been as much as $170.00 which was totally ridiculous!! Those thieving rats were even charging me fees for services that I didn't even have such as "Whole home DVR" which implies that I have more than one receiver when I didn't! The were also charging me just for the ability to pause & record live TV which costs a total of twenty bucks a month!
So, given that it has become so expensive to have something like that, I decided that a few video hiccups were preferable to all the absurd charges.
So, in spite of all the negative reviews on here, if you are currently paying as much as I was until I cut down my bill today, take my word for it! You can have a less expensive bill if you get the cube & boost up the bandwidth of your ISP as a more-than-reasonable trade off to the legalized highway robbery being done on your monthly budget!
But don't take my word for it, do the research to then decide if getting a fire cube is best for your budget.
Although, I still swear that it is AWESOME & TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!
I have always thought that the TV was the holy grail for my smart home. I have tried everything to find that hands free experience in the past few years. Pairing echos, pairing Roku with Google home, chromecasts, harmony hub, and even the first generation fire tv cube. This second generation cube is the closest I have come to what I want, which is a hands free experience with one remote control if needed. The "on board" commands are a game changer, along with the quicker processor. I have had the exact same wi fi and router throughout all my attempts. The second generation cube is connected wirelessly to the wi fi from a router upstairs in my house. However, This thing is fast! The cube is also connected to my amazon recast. Hands free, I am able to turn my tv on and off. Turning my tv "off" hands free has always been a HUGE issue for me and was never able to do it until the first gen cube. Also, I can turn volume up/down, pause, mute on/off, ask to launch netflix, Hulu, Prime, Pluto tv, etc. Ask for specific genres and even specific shows on netflix/Hulu/Prime. Being connected to my recast, I am also able to ask for specific channels like CBS, PBS, ABC, etc. and it goes right to it. I can also ask to record this show, open my DVR, go to the channel guide, scroll up/down, select this or that show...keep in mind, this is all happening quickly and frustration free! The only thing that I cannot do, and which the cube should do, is ask Alexa to go to my Apple TV. I believe this must be a bug. I researched a little and found something on reddit saying to turn off the CEC control..but this would probably kill all the functions of the hands free experience, so everything else is working brilliantly, I dont really care that much. The remote is fantastic, controls everything mentioned above, all on one remote. This also controls Alexa with a touch of the button. The cube also functions as a fullblown echo device and the speaker is loud. I have the cube positioned correctly away from the tv speakers as suggested, so the echo can hear me fine, even in a somewhat noisy environment, I have two kids. I have read reviews saying do not buy this if you have the first generation cube. I 100% disagree with this sentiment! If you are a smart home enthusiast and value speed and a frustration free experience, buy the new cube, it is worth it.
*UPGRADES from Generation 1 to Generation 2:
-added HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support
-added Bluetooth 5.0 support (Gen1 was 4.2)
-added Local Voice Control : locally processes some frequently used voice commands, executing them faster - ie "Alexa Go Home" etc.
-Fire OS 7.2.0.4
-CPU upgrade
-GPU upgrade
UPGRADE OPINIONS:
The CPU/GPU and Local Voice Control upgrades result in a pretty big difference in speed and responsiveness between Gen 1 and Gen 2. All actions are executed right away. This is the biggest noticeable difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support are nice to have if you own a TV that supports these HD formats. The BT5.0 should result in longer range for bluetooth connected devices. I find the difference in speed to be worth the cost of a Gen 2, but that is probably personal preference. To me, saving a second or two with every command, and having access to Vision and BT5.0 seemed worth it.
If you are upgrading from FireTV Stick 4K, you are getting a faster processor, 16GB storage over the Stick's 8GB, and all of the Echo functionality.
---------------
OVERALL
The Good:
-Setup is super easy. About 10 - 15 minutes of downloading updates, then up and running! There is a check box on the right side of this page here on Amazon that says "Link to my Amazon account to simplify setup." This is usually checked by default, so when you purchase this FireTV Cube it will transfer settings like saved Wifi passwords from other Echo devices in your house. This makes setup very fast and easy. (You can uncheck this option though if you are buying this as a gift for someone else.)
-FireTV Cube is great for controlling multiple devices. The ability to act as an IR blaster to control most TVs and soundbars; in addition to the regular Echo control of smart devices is very useful. Not having to use an additional remote for the TV is great.
-Some regular Echo interactions are much more useful when there is a visual component; like asking about the weather, or seeing song lyrics/album covers.
-I like the ability to use all of the newer Echo functions, like Drop-Ins/Calls, and multi room groups for music. These were not available initially on the Gen 1 FireTV Cube.
The Bad:
-Some apps have less voice control functionality than others. Navagation for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime were all pretty great; but technically some other apps might not support all of the voice commands, and you might have to use the remote.
-No included HDMI cable. This is minor, but I feel like it could've been included.
TL,DR:
Gen 2 is much faster than Gen 1, and has all the new Echo features. Get it if you want a much faster Cube, or Dolby Vision/BT5.0 support.
****
FAQ- from some of the questions on this page:
-Storage space: Specs say 16GB total. Around 3GB must be used for the OS, because my storage details indicated 12.98 GB internal storage.
-Controlling devices: The Cube has an IR blaster built in that acts a universal remote to send signals to most TVs and soundbars. You can also use the IR extender attachment if you need to to reach other devices not in line of sight of the Cube. Also in your Equipment Control settings, you can choose whether Mute, Volume Up/Down, and Power signals are sent from the Cube itself, or from the Cube's Alexa Remote.
