When we delve into purchasing a streaming device for our TV, We have countless proposals on the marketFire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, the endless number of Android set-top boxes from multiple manufacturers, or even the operating system of our Smart TV… They are all alternatives with their pros and cons, and in my case I have some streaming devices that increase the capabilities of my “dumb” TVs.
I recently found myself at a crossroads when it came to purchasing a Fire TV device. I have a TV that doesn’t have its own operating system or smart features, so an HDMI dongle is usually the best option if I want to equip it with features for sending content, enjoying streaming platforms, and more. Even though my TV doesn’t have 4K resolution, I finally opted for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for a series of reasons that I explain in the article.
It doesn’t matter if your TV isn’t 4K, take advantage of the offers on dongles that are
Unfortunately, entry-level and mid-range TVs, as well as HDMI dongles on the market, They do not usually have a very complete series of technical specifications.. It is clear that if we want to opt for the best of the best in terms of user experience and fluidity, we must resort to set-top boxes such as Apple TV or NVIDIA Shield, the latter being a device that is already more than 5 years old. However, if we want to opt for cheaper solutions, we must proceed with caution.
Amazon has a good range of Fire TV devices. Of its sticks, the most complete is the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max, launched in 2023. In addition to its compatibility with 4K UHD resolution, ideal for playing content on a television that supports this quality, it has a 2.0 GHz Mediatek MT8696T quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. These are not specifications that suggest much to us, but in the world of HDMI dongles, it is the best we can get.
So, even though the TV I want to revive doesn’t support resolutions higher than 1080p, I’ve opted for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for one simple reason: Its specifications will be sufficient so that the user experience, fluidity and navigation through the interface will not be terrible.. This way, the device will provide my TV with capabilities that I hope will hold up over the next few years.
Although it may seem like a “silly” investment from the point of view of the maximum resolution, it is not if we take into account its technical specifications sheet. And if I had to opt for the standard Fire TV Stick, I know that I would get a much less satisfactory experience, since Your processor is getting olderand we are short on RAM, which is a priority for speeding up the operation of apps along with the work of the processor. In fact, the standard 2020 model is the one I have on another television, and the experience leaves a lot to be desired today.
However, buying this dongle for 80 euros, which is the standard price of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max on Amazon, is not a very smart move, especially if you are trying to revive a TV that you barely use. For this reason, the best thing we can do is buy this device taking advantage of the discounts Prime Day or a special sale (which there are, at least once a month). If you take advantage of a great offer, you can get one for around 35 euros, a much more competitive price.
So if you have the chance to score a high-spec HDMI dongle at a good price for a non-4K TV, take it, because you’ll appreciate not having to wait every time you want to open an app or cast content.
On Xataka Smart Home | My Amazon Fire TV now has 128 GB to install applications. So, without spending money, I have made it more powerful