Fire TV Cube Review

  New Fire TV Cube
Dimensions: 3.39 x 3.39 x 3.03 inches ; 16.48 ounces
  Sales Rank: # 1
  List Price: USD 119.99
  Price: USD 119.99 (As of June 9, 2018)

Product Features

• Fire TV Cube is the first hands-free streaming media player with Alexa, delivering an all-in-one entertainment experience. From across the room, just ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play what you want to watch.
• With far-field voice recognition, eight microphones, and beam forming technology, Fire TV Cube hears you from any direction. Enjoy hands-free voice control-search, play, pause, fast forward, and more. Plus, control your TV, sound bar, cable or satellite box, receiver, and more with just your voice.
• Do more with Alexa. Fire TV Cube has a built-in speaker that lets you check the weather, listen to the news, control compatible smart home devices, and more-even with the TV off. Fire TV Cube is always getting smarter with new Alexa skills and voice functionality.
• Experience true-to-life picture quality and sound with access to vivid 4K Ultra HD up to 60 fps, HDR, and the audio clarity of Dolby Atmos.
• Enjoy tens of thousands of channels, apps, and Alexa skills. Get over 500,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, SHOWTIME, NBC, and more.
• Access YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, and more websites with Silk and Firefox browsers.
• An Amazon Prime membership unlocks thousands of movies and TV episodes including “Thursday Night Football” and Prime Originals like “The Big Sick” and “Sneaky Pete”.
• Enjoy unlimited access to tens of millions of songs with Amazon Music, starting at just $3.99/month.

What’s In The Box

• Fire TV Cube
• Alexa Voice Remote
• Power adapter
• Amazon Ethernet Adapter (10/100)
• Infrared (IR) extender cable
• Quick start guide
• Marketing guide
• 2 AAA batteries

Physical Description

• Cube-shaped version of the Fire TV box, with Amazon Echo’s Alexa digital assistant built in and the ability to stream content in 4K and HDR.  Described as the Amazon Echo Show without the  built-in screen.
• There’s a blue ring around the top of the device – which flashes blue when it’s listening – with the usual mute, pause and volume up/down buttons on the top.
• On the back of the device, there is a micro-USB port, infrared port, HDMI 2 port for connecting the Cube to a TV, and the power connector.

MY TAKE

When Amazon or Apple introduces to the world another new product, we all celebrate. We all wait with bated breath to see what it is and would it be something we would want. This of course usually requires some expensive upgrade or even disappointment when it does not measure up to our expectations.

This is the case with the new Fire TV Cube.  It is basically the Fire TV with built-in Alexa and increased internal storage. In other words, instead of having to speak to Alexa through the remote, you can just speak directly without having to find the remote.

Okay, yes, it’s unique. But, if you already have other Amazon products, this new one just doesn’t get you excited about reaching for your wallet. It’s like ho-hum, no big deal.

However, I will be honest. I reached for mine. Since I am a prime member, I saved $30 on the price, so I pre-ordered one.  Now, I already know there is nothing different about this one except being able to access the virtual assistant directly without having to hunt down my remote to do so.

What I’m looking forward to is controlling my media with voice control since supposedly users will be able to can control at least 90% the cable boxes, TVs, sound bars, lights and much more  through the cloud, infrared (IR), and HDMI-CEC.  I guess you can say, I want to experiment and see if the claims are true.

I already have the Echo controlling my lights which is great, but sometimes it doesn’t work. When that happens, I have to walk over to the lamp and turn it on or off manually. Bummer… I must admit that it is fun and convenient especially when you’re tired to just say, “Alexa, turn off the lamp” without having to expend the effort to do it yourself.

One neat thing is that your TV or home theater equipment does not have to be Internet read for you to use this device.  All four sides of the Cube has IR blasters that emits the standard IR signals to replicate remote control functions. In the box, there is a separate IR extender, which  can be placed inside a cabinet if there are components that the multi directional signal can’t reach.

The other neat thing is the fact this Cube can control your cable box.  This means you will be able to change channels by voice, but you’ll still be able to change inputs, volume, and powering on and off since the controls depend on your TV’s compatibility.

BUY OR NOT?

There are a lot of people upset and disappointed that there were no viable upgrades to Amazon’s streaming device.  Their reasoning is that they have one of the previous models and also either an Echo or Dot, what is the need to purchase this combo unit?

I understand their reasoning. However, this is a unique device that can control your media without you having to reach for the right remote or even having to keep up with the remote. It does it all from this simple looking Cube.  The previous Fire TVs designs are not capable of doing what this new generation says it can do.

If you’re happy with your current setup of remotes, then this is not for you. If you want to experience a new wave of enjoying your media via voice then I would reach for my wallet. You can always place your older equipment on another TV, gift it to charity, family or friends or sell it.

PROs

• Nice price break for Prime members  ($90 for two days)
• The Amazon ecosystem: Steaming video and audio
• Ability to add additional apps
• 3 in 1 product: Alexa Echo/Dot + Streaming TV box + Universal remote controller
• Voice control from Cube and remote
• Does not use 360-degree microphones like most Alexa devices. Instead, the far-field mic array has 8 microphones  pointed forward, towards the front of the device. Uses “advanced beam-forming” tech that makes it easier to hear commands over the audio coming from the TV or from across the room
• Supports Bluetooth 4.2 for connecting game controllers, mice, keyboards, and Bluetooth headphones for private listening

CONs

• No micro SD card slot, but a micro USB port for the Ethernet adapter that will be OTG (On The Go) capable; if you want to run apps from a micro SD card, you will need an OTG reader or USB card reader with an OTG adapter.
• Voice control only for big tasks, more specificity needed will have to use a remote
• Built in speaker, not big enough to use with TV
• No real upgrade, disappointing
• 16 GB of storage disappointing should be at least 32 or 64 GB for this type of device
• No Ethernet port, still need adapter
• No upgrade on processor or ram (same as generation 3 Fire TV)
• Still no official YouTube app
• No communications commands: you can’t text, message or video call hands-free
• Speaker quality about the same as the Dot

FAQs (Check Them Out Here)

Can I use Fire TV Cube as an Echo?
Yes. Most features available on Echo are also available on Fire TV Cube. Fire TV Cube will support sleep timers later this year. Alexa Calling & Messaging, multi-room music, and Bluetooth connections to mobile phones are not currently supported on Fire TV Cube. Fire TV Cube also needs to be connected to an HDMI input (or port); Echo devices do not.

I have an Echo in the living room; what do I do with Fire TV Cube?
Since most features available on Echo are also available on Fire TV Cube, we recommend moving your Echo to another room. Or you can change the wake word on your Echo or Fire TV Cube.

I don’t have cable, will Fire TV Cube work for me?
Yes. Fire TV Cube does not require a cable or satellite service to work.

Is Fire TV Cube compatible with universal remotes like Logitech Harmony?
No, Fire TV Cube is not compatible with universal remotes. If you use universal remotes, like Logitech Harmony, you should purchase an Echo and Fire TV separately and pair them to enjoy some of the hands-free features of Fire TV Cube (not all features included).

I have a Fire TV Edition TV; should I purchase a Fire TV Cube?
While it’s possible to use Fire TV Cube with a Fire TV Edition TV, a better alternative for hands-free control is to purchase an Echo and pair both devices. With a paired Echo device, Alexa can control your Fire TV Edition TV, but cannot control sound bars, A/V receivers, or cable or satellite boxes.

I have a Bluetooth-enabled sound bar; will it work with Fire TV Cube?
With Alexa on Fire TV Cube, you can control IR-enabled sound bars that are connected to your TV. For optimal performance, connect your sound bar to the TV with an HDMI or optical cable. Alexa cannot control your sound bar if it is paired to your Fire TV Cube via Bluetooth.

With Alexa on Fire TV Cube, can I change broadcast channels that are picked up via a TV antenna?
No, you cannot change broadcast channels that are picked up via an antenna that is connected to your TV with Alexa. However, you can ask Alexa to switch to an antenna input.

Is Fire TV Cube compatible with projectors?
No, Fire TV Cube is not compatible with projectors.

Will Fire TV Cube work with multiple TVs?
Fire TV Cube is designed to control one TV, along with the other devices associated with that TV like an A/V receiver or a sound bar. You will need one Fire TV Cube per each entertainment setup in your home.

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