Did you know that Amazon makes its own TVs? For years, the company’s Fire OS has been in wide use on smart TVs by the likes of Hisense and TCL, as well on Amazon’s own lineup of streaming devices. But since 2022, Amazon has also been releasing first-party QLEDs and regular LED-LCDs. As it stands, you have your choice of an Omni QLED or a traditional Omni Series model.
At day’s end, the point is that there are numerous Fire TV options to choose from, and we put together this roundup to help you decide which set is best for you and yours.
Amazon Fire TVs for an exceptional entertainment experience
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series
Best Alexa TV
Amazon’s Fire TV Omni QLED Series brings quantum dot technology, HDR support, full-array local dimming, VRR technology, and four HDMI 2.0 ports, including an eARC port. It also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to reduce screen-tearing while playing games but is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and no HDMI 2.1 ports.
- Dedicated gaming mode
- Alexa voice integration
- Great picture quality and compatibility
- Brightness a little low
- Max 60Hz refresh rate
- Expensive
The Fire TV Omni QLED Series is Amazon’s current flagship and the best Fire TV you can buy if money is no bar. It builds upon the company’s original Fire TV Omni television and brings several improvements, including quantum dot technology. The quantum dot technology helps the TV display richer and more lifelike colors than you’ll find on the regular Fire TV Omni. Amazon has also expanded the HDR support, and the Omni QLED Series can display every HDR format you’ll find, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Plus, as the TV supports the newer Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, it can adjust its HDR brightness depending on the ambient lighting conditions.
The Fire TV Omni QLED Series is also the first Amazon-branded TV to employ full-array local dimming. So the TV can better control the LED backlighting, which helps improve the already excellent contrast of the panel. Gamers will be happy to know that this Amazon Fire TV model supports variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to reduce screen-tearing while playing games. But unfortunately, the screen is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and there are no HDMI 2.1 ports. Instead, you get four HDMI 2.0 ports, including an eARC port to pass-through audio to the connected soundbar or AV receiver. This TV also supports Alexa voice commands, allowing you to search for shows, change inputs, or pause a movie hands-free.
TCL 75-inch Q6 Series Fire TV
Not every great big screen has to cost thousands of dollars
Bringing quantum dots to the table, the TCL Q6 Series delivers some dazzling colors and contrast at a low price.
- Excellent price
- Great colors and contrast
- Solid HDR performance
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
- No HDMI 2.1 ports
QLED TVs are everywhere these days, but TCL has a good grasp on developing quantum dot sets for less. The 75-inch Q6 Series is our premium pick for more reasons than one, but the laurels have to start with TCL’s implementation of quantum dots. When backlit with LEDs, the QD cells can generate incredible color brightness and deep contrast. This is especially great for watching movies in a dark room, where you’ll be able to see just how good the TV is at tapping into inky black levels.
The Q6 Series also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which are two of the most important HDR codecs these days. And when you pair that with the TV’s phenomenal 4K upscaling, and Fire TV backbone, you’ve got one heck of a formidable big screen on your hands.
TCL 43-inch S Class Fire TV
Keeping the cost low and the contrast high
For less than the rest, the TCL S Class Fire TV is a great example of an entry-level set that goes above and beyond the “budget-friendly” descriptor. Some standout features include AirPlay compatibility and TCL’s Auto Game Mode.
- Great price
- Auto Game Mode for low input lag and latency
- Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG
- Only 60Hz refresh rate
- No HDMI 2.1 support
If you’re restricted by a budget, or simply want to save a few dollars on your TV purchase, we highly recommend the TCL 43-inch S Class Fire TV. Perhaps best suited for students living in dorms, smaller bedrooms, or an office setting, the S Class delivers a wide color gamut and surprisingly good contrast for the price. If you plan on using it in a room that gets sun-drenched now and then, the S Class is also a champ at reflection handling.
The fact that this is an entry-level TV from a “budget-friendly” brand does come with one or two caveats though. For starters, the TV’s native refresh rate is only 60Hz, and none of the HDMI ports are 2.1 certified. But if you’re looking for a secondary TV for a guest space, or aren’t bothered by a couple of picture/sound limitations, the TCL 43-inch S Class Fire TV is definitely worth a look.
Amazon Fire TV Omni Series
Reliable Alexa favorite
The Fire TV Omni Series was Amazon’s flagship Fire TV model for 2021, but has since been surpassed by the Fire TV Omni QLED. It has a 4K LCD panel with a great contrast ratio, four HDMI 2.0 ports, and hands-free Alexa support. It also has Dolby Vision HDR support, but it’s limited to 65-inch- and 75-inch models.
- Well-balanced vibrant picture
- Large selection of apps
- Alexa voice commands
- Still fairly expensive
- Spotty audio quality
- Slower response times
The Fire TV Omni Series was Amazon’s flagship Fire TV model for 2021 but has since been supplanted by the Fire TV Omni QLED. Still, the company has filled this one with everything you would expect in a decent TV. For example, it has a 4K LCD panel with a great contrast ratio that will enhance your dark room viewing experience — additionally, the TV houses four HDMI 2.0 ports, including one that supports eARC. So you will be able to connect multiple devices and even pass through high-quality audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to your soundbar or AV receiver.
It’s also one of the few Fire TV models to include hands-free Alexa support that allows you to issue commands to the TV without needing the bundled voice remote. This is possible because of the TV’s built-in far-field microphone array. Other features include Dolby Vision HDR support, but it’s limited to 65-inch and 75-inch versions, which have slightly better build quality and design than the smaller sizes.
Hisense U6HF
Best color dynamics
The Hisense U6HF is a 4K LCD TV with a quantum dot layer, full-array local dimming, and support for HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. It has variable refresh rate support, auto low latency mode, and four HDMI 2.0 ports. However, this particular model can only be purchased in 50-inch and 58-inch sizes.
- Affordably priced
- Google Assistant integrations
- Amazing color range
- Gaming performance subpar
- Low brightness
- Mediocre audio quality
Hisense’s 2021 lineup was known for offering incredible value for money, and its 2022 TVs are no different. The Hisense U6HF, the company’s first Fire TV model, is an aggressively priced 4K LCD TV with a quantum dot layer for accurate and vibrant colors. The TV also comes with full-array local dimming to enhance the contrast ratio. In terms of HDR, Hisense has loaded support for HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision, which means you can enjoy all high dynamic range content on the market. Unfortunately, although Hisense claims variable refresh rate support in the U6HF, the TV’s 60Hz native refresh rate leaves little room for the feature to shine. That said, gamers will be happy to see the auto low latency mode (ALLM) on the TV.
In other features, you get four HDMI 2.0 ports, including an eARC port, a USB 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, AV In, and an audio jack. However, you can only buy the U6HF in 50-inch and 58-inch sizes. But if you’re wanting a larger TV, you can opt for the top-tier Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series.
Toshiba C350
Solid mid-range functions
The Toshiba C350 is a decent TV with 4K resolution, Dolby Vision support, an eARC port, three HDMI ports, low input lag, great response time, and ALLM, but it lacks advanced gaming features such as VRR. It also uses different LCD panel types for different sizes.
- Full Alexa integration
- Quick and responsive
- Minimal lagging
- Glitchy backlighting sometimes
- Flat contrast
- Not the best for gamers
The Toshiba C350 sits below the M550 in the company’s TV portfolio. Although it’s not as feature-rich as the M550, it provides a decent feature set for the price tag. Some of the TV’s highlights include 4K resolution, Dolby Vision support, and an eARC port. Apart from the eARC port, there are three more HDMI ports that you can use to connect devices like a Blu-ray player, gaming console, and AV receiver. The C350 is also a decent option for gaming, thanks to the TV’s low input lag, great response time, and ALLM. But it lacks advanced gaming features such as VRR.
An important detail to remember about the C350 is that the TV uses different LCD panel types for different sizes. For example, while the 50-inch model has a VA-type panel, the 55-inch variant comes with an IPS-type panel. Unfortunately, the panel specifics of other sizes are unclear. But it will either be a VA-type or an IPS-type panel. Notably, the VA-type panels are known for their excellent contrast ratio but have narrow viewing angles, while the IPS-type panels have superb viewing angles but a mediocre contrast ratio. One of the drawbacks of the Toshiba C350 is its inability to upscale 480p and 720p content properly. So if you watch a lot of DVDs or lower-resolution content, our other recommendations will better serve you.
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series
Best in-brand budget TV
The Fire TV 4-Series is Amazon’s low-end television with many of the same features as the Fire TV Omni. It features a 4K VA-type LCD panel with a native contrast ratio and deep blacks. It’s also HDR-capable but doesn’t support dynamic HDR formats such as HDR10+ or Dolby Vision.
- Affordable pricing
- Multiple HDMI ports
- Large selection of apps
- Poor side-angle viewing
- No Dolby Vision support
- Slow response
The Fire TV 4-Series is Amazon’s low-end television. But you will be happy to know that it has many of the same features as the Fire TV Omni. So if you are tight on the budget and need a decent television, the Fire TV 4-Series is worth considering.
The 4-Series features a 4K VA-type LCD panel that offers a fantastic native contrast ratio and deep blacks. The television is also HDR-capable, but it doesn’t support any of the dynamic HDR formats, such as HDR10+ or Dolby Vision. While you can enjoy HDR content, you’ll get an average experience. There is little to excite the hardcore gamers on this Amazon TV, but its incredibly low input lag and ALLM support will come in handy for casual gamers.
Insignia F30
The perfect guest-room TV
The Insignia F30 is one of the cheapest Amazon Fire TV models on the market. So if you want an inexpensive television for your dorm or guest room, it deserves a place on your shortlist. The TV has a 4K resolution and three HDMI ports, including an eARC port to pass through uncompressed audio to a connected soundbar. The Fire TV platform on the F30 offers the same bells and whistles as every other TV on this list. So you can use the included voice remote with Alexa to call up the latest season of The Umbrella Academy from Netflix or Westworld from HBO Max. Additionally, you can control the Alexa-compatible smart home devices with the F30. The dynamic HDR formats are missing, but the TV can still display HDR content. Lastly, the TV comes in various sizes, from 43-inch to 75-inch, giving you an ample choice to get the most suitable size for you.
- Better side-angle viewing
- Great sound quality
- Alexa integration and apps
- Glare reflection issues
- Poor image contrast
- Inadequate black color
The Insignia F30 is one of the cheapest Amazon Fire TV models on the market. So if you want an inexpensive television for your dorm or guest room, it deserves a place on your shortlist. The TV has a 4K resolution and three HDMI ports, including an eARC port to pass through uncompressed audio to a connected soundbar.
The Fire TV platform on the F30 offers the same bells and whistles as every other TV on this list. So you can use the included voice remote with Alexa to call up the latest season of The Umbrella Academy from Netflix or Westworld from HBO Max. Additionally, you can control the Alexa-compatible smart home devices with the F30. The dynamic HDR formats are missing, but the TV can still display HDR content. Lastly, the TV comes in various sizes, from 43-inch to 75-inch, giving you ample choice to get the most suitable size for you.
What are the most important features of an Amazon Fire TV?
From one TV model to the next, Amazon’s Fire TV lineup offers a similar layout and features. Not all of these TVs are made by the same company though, and only a couple are produced by Amazon themselves. This is why it’s good to know what the most important features of a Fire TV-powered television are.
Resolution and HDR
The vast majority of smart TVs are either 4K (also known as Ultra HD) or 1080p, which are values that describe a TV’s maximum pixel count. If you’re buying a larger Fire TV set (50 inches or bigger), chances are you’ll be dealing with a 4K screen. If picture quality is of the utmost importance though, you’ll want to verify this beforehand.
Available connections
It’s not enough for a TV to have a couple of HDMI inputs these days. While HDMI is one of the leading AV connections for modern TVs, soundbars, and AV receivers, there are different versions of HDMI in use. We advise seeking out a TV that has at least one HDMI 2.1 port. This is the latest HDMI standard that just so happens to bring a ton of gaming optimizations to the table.
You’ll also want to make sure your TV supports HDMI ARC/eARC, if you plan on running your TV audio through a soundbar or home theater system.
While most TVs have done away with analog video ports, other connections you may want to be on the lookout for are digital optical, USB, 3.5mm auxiliary, and Ethernet.
Motion performance
If you’re planning on buying a larger Fire TV for live sports, movies, and video games, you’ll want to invest in a set that delivers solid motion performance. A native 120Hz refresh rate should get the job done nicely; and now there are even some sets that can handle up to 144Hz when connected to a gaming PC.
While a 60Hz refresh rate isn’t going to hurt anyone, you may notice some subject blur and other motion-oriented maladies during fast scenes, especially on a bigger screen.
Hands-free Alexa
This is one of the most useful features of the Fire TV UI, that is only available on a select few models. With hands-free Alexa support, your Fire TV can double as an always-listening smart speaker. So instead of needing to press and hold the Alexa button on your remote to give a voice command, you can just say it near your TV, and it will hear you!
Is Fire TV better than Google TV?
Now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of user preferences, and we’re glad to weigh in! Fire TV is a phenomenal smart TV OS that tends to work best for folks running an Alexa-powered smart home. Google TV is another terrific smart OS though, and it’s available on a competitive number of QLEDs, OLEDs, and traditional LED-LCDs.
If you’re all about movie and TV show recommendations, Google TV does a great job at keeping tabs on your viewing history and subscriptions. Leveraging this info, Google TV adds content suggestions right to the homepage of your profile.
The Fire TV OS has a lighter version of this recommendation feature, but available titles are mostly curated from Amazon’s own Prime Video library.
A Google TV set will also be better for households operating Google and Nest-powered smart home devices.
Is Fire TV better than Roku?
Not necessarily, but the latter does have its advantages.
Roku TV OS (which we’ll just refer to as “Roku”) is the original streaming platform. Developed in partnership with Netflix many years ago, Roku’s smart TVs and streaming devices are great when it comes to content variety.
You see, unlike Fire TV, Google TV, and other UI smart hubs, Roku’s doors are wide open to third-party developers. This is why you’ll find so many niche apps and services built into the Roku experience. A Roku-powered smart TV or streaming device may also be preferable to folks who own Roku smart home devices.
An affordable, 4K experience
Amazon Fire TVs are becoming more popular, so it pays to know what models will deliver the best picture quality and overall user experience. To that end, we think most folks are going to love the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series. It delivers a bright and arresting picture, complete with rich colors and solid contrast levels. It’s also engineered for top-notch HDR support, and features hands-free Alexa.
If you’ve got the pocket money to go premium, we suggest the TCL Q6 Series. For a 75-inch QLED with Fire TV built in, it doesn’t get much better than this! Expect excellent colors and contrast, great HDR support, and a handful of gaming optimizations, too.
Need to save? We get it. That’s why we’ve got the TCL 43-inch S Class Fire TV on our roundup. As our best value pick, the biggest sacrifice you’ll make is overall screen size here. Otherwise, this model looks and feels a lot like the aforementioned Q6 Series.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series
Best Alexa TV
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED delivers one of the best Fire TV experiences you’ll find on any set. Not only is the picture quality fantastic, but hands-free Alexa and the Fire TV Ambient Mode are the kind of features you don’t want to pass up.
