Amazon Fire TV Review, A Competent Media Streamer

In addition to the Fire TV, you’ll find a Fire TV remote, two included AAA batteries, a power adapter, and a quick start guide in the box. The Fire TV features a very basic box-like design that’s not going to call attention to itself in your media cabinet. The case has straight lines and edges and features a simple Amazon logo on the top. The top and back of the Fire TV has a smooth, matte black finish. On the back of the Fire TV, you’ll find basic FCC markings and other info. The edges of the Fire TV are glossy and will attract fingerprints, though you probably won't be handling the device too much. You’ll find a USB port, Ethernet, Optical Audio, HDMI, and Power jack on the back edge of the Fire TV. When the Fire TV is running, you’ll notice a small white LED on the front edge of the device.

Both the Fire TV and the remote are nice and small. The Fire TV measures 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches and is about 0.7 inches thick. The remote measures 5.5 inches by 1.5 inches and is about 0.6 inches thick. The remote has a similar finish as the Fire TV—matte black with glossy buttons.

The microphone is located on the front of the remote near the top. Below the microphone, you’ll find a voice search button and a navigation ring with a select button in the center. Below this ring, you’ll find, Back, Home, and Menu buttons as well as rewind, play/pause, and fast forward buttons. The back of the remote is curved to fit nicely in your hand and also has a small indent that fits one’s index finger perfectly. Above this indent is the release switch to remove the back cover so you can insert the two included AAA batteries. The remote connects to the Fire TV via Bluetooth, so you’re free to hide the Fire TV anywhere you want without worrying about being in line-of-sight for the receiver.  

Although the Fire TV itself is small, it packs a lot of power. You’ll find a quad-core processor, 2 GB of memory, and dedicated GPU inside the box. Fire TV supports 1080p HD video and Dolby Digital Plus surround sound.