- Amazon has announced a significant update to the Fire TV interface
- It will include new streaming channels and will also reach older devices.
- The company had also revealed a faster and thinner Fire TV Stick HD.
Amazon has revealed that it is updating its Fire TV platform with a new look and new streaming channels. It also reveals a new Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.
The update, which will come to all older Fire TV devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, will see a new design focused on making it easier for users to access their content. Categories have been introduced so that customers can quickly access their favorite movies, TV shows, news and sports. Amazon also claims that the update will make Fire TV 30% faster.
The update will also introduce Fire TV Channels, a new feature that offers free ad-supported streaming channels covering a wide range of genres such as news, comedy, cooking, and travel, to name a few. These ‘FAST’ channels are becoming increasingly popular on some of the best TVs, and both LG (with LG channels) and Samsung (included in Tizen) include the feature.
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The Fire TV update is free and will begin rolling out to customers internationally at the end of the month, so it will vary by region and device as to when you’ll see the new UI.
Amazon also revealed a new version of its Amazon Fire TV Stick HD. Amazon says it’s 30% narrower than the previous-generation model, making it easier to place next to devices on other HDMI ports.
It will run Direct Power through a TV’s USB port, eliminating the need for a bulkier external power adapter. Amazon also says the new Stick will be 30% faster than the previous generation.
The new Stick HD will also receive an adaptive screen accessibility feature that will make text and menus easier to see on the screen. It will enhance smaller elements, like text, while also enlarging larger elements, like artwork.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD will launch for £39.99 (US and Australian prices to be confirmed), with pre-orders live on Amazon UK.
A Fire TV update
Fire TV appears on a wide range of devices, so it’s great to see it’s getting an update in 2026. In my time using the smart TV platform, I’ve found it can sometimes be clunky, slow to navigate, and slow to respond to commands. If this new update actually increases speed by 30%, that could make a big difference.
The inclusion of FAST channels (ad-supported free streaming channels) is welcome as it gives users more content they can watch without additional charges.
While I haven’t seen the new Fire TV interface in person yet, I can see from the image above that large banner ads will likely still be a feature. This is now common on most smart TV interfaces and is still a bit frustrating. However, I will reserve full discretion until I use it myself.
It will take a lot for Fire TV to dethrone major smart TV platforms like LG’s webOS, Roku, and Samsung’s latest version of Tizen (although I have yet to try the 2026 version), but I hope this update works.
As for the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, it’s again good to see an update to the HD models, as the 4K now has three different varieties available. It looks like the updated model will be priced the same as the previous HD Stick (£39.99 in the UK) and is likely to receive discounts during big sales events during Prime Day and Black Friday.
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