The Amazon Fire TV cube combines the best of Fire TV with voice control that is  hands free and has the same capabilities as Alexa.

The Amazon Fire TV cube is an amazing media streaming device that has quite a bit to offer.  Here we will show you the pros and cons of this device, along with all the features that make this cube so great.

Amazon Fire TV Cube review

The Amazon Fire TV cube has the same specs as the 3rd generation Fire TV.

1. Features of the Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Amazon Fire TV Cube has so many features that make this streaming device a great purchase for your media room!

 

The Cube,according to Cyber, is the Best Unit to Date.  With a five star rating, he said the voice control is spoiling him and that he would recommend it 100%.

Julio said in his Amazon Fire TV Cube review “ it is worth the investment and a solid move if you are going for the 4K with freedom of navigation using the Alexa bundle.”

The Fire TV cube has the following contents in the box:

• Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen)
• Alexa Voice Remote (2nd Gen)
• power adapter
• Quick Start Guide
• marketing guide
• 2 AAA batteries
• infrared (IR) extender cable
• Amazon Ethernet Adapter (10/100).

The HDMI cable for the cube  is sold separately.

2. Compatibility

You are in luck if you like your Amazon devices to pair up with other devices that you have.  Right out of the box, the Fire TV Cube will work with Playstation Vue and Hulu Plus Live TV.

Your TV must support minimum HDCP requirements for protected content playback.The Fire TV Cube is  compatible with 1) 4K ultra high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 2160p at 24/25/30/50/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2 or 2) high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 50/60 Hz.

 

Many brands are compatible with the Fire TV cube.  This includes not only the TV, but also soundbars and A/V receivers.

 

Brands that are compatible include Vizio, LG, Sony, Samsung, and others.

3. Streaming  and Other Options

With the Fire TV Cube, you can stream for free with Tubi, IMDB TV and the News app.

Already have a paid subscription to Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, STARZ, SHOWTIME, or CBS All Access?  Watch anyone of your favorite movies or TV shows with your cube using this service.

Want to use Facebook or access your Reddit account?  You can do this with the cube.

4. Set Up of the Amazon Fire TV Cube

The Fire TV cube is  a simple product to set up.  If you have an Amazon account, it will be even easier.

You do not need a Prime account with the Fire TV cube.  However, if you do, you will have access to Prime Video and Prime Music.

Follow these steps to set up your cube.

1. Plug in the Fire TV.
2. Next, connect it to your TV and press the play/pause button to activate it.  This will also put the cube in setup mode.
3. Now you will connect your WiFi network with the walk through instructions provided on the screen.
4. At this point, you will need to sign into your Amazon account.  If you do not have one, you will be required to create one.
5. From here, you can select apps that you want.  These include live TV such as Hulu, premium channels like HBO, or sports.
6. The Fire TV cube will automatically see if it can identify your TV through the HDMI connection.
7. The remote control commands will be tested as it is turned off and then on again.
8. Once it is all hooked up properly, your Amazon Fire TV cube will be able to adjust the volume, turn the TV on and off, and switch inputs using Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant.

5. Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant

We have already established that Fire TV has Alexa Voice Control.  However, this is different from other Amazon devices.

If you want to watch The History Channel, you can tell Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant to turn it on using  Xfinity, Dish Network, or DirecTV. First Alexa will change input to whichever one is connected, then it will change the channel to The History Channel on the cable box.

Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant can also dim your lights, play your favorite artist or TV show, and provide you with the day’s weather.  Ask Alexa to create a list for you, set a timer, or answer questions.

Alexa Voice Assistant can also stream music with built in support from your Pandora or Spotify account.

Want to hear an entire soundtrack?  Just say “Alexa, play the Frozen 2 soundtrack.”

Or if you want, you can say “Alexa, play number 7 from the Frozen 2 soundtrack”.

If you are hungry, ask Alexa Voice Assistant to order you a pizza or your favorite Chinese takeout dish.

Want to hear an updated score for one of your favorite teams?  Just ask Amazon’s Alexa Voice Assistant for your favorite NBA, NFL, MBL, or 12 other supported leagues or associations.

 

Alexa can even do messaging and calls.  Messages can be sent by the Alexa app, as well as sending typed messages this way.

Julio stated in his Amazon review that Alexa’s response is flawless and smooth.

The following features can all be handled Amazon’s Alexa voice:

• Learn life hacks
• Ask for a recipe for your favorite cocktail
• Ask what the word of the day is
• Tell Alexa you want to know what happened on this day in history
• Inquire about NASA Mars
• Hear a story read

Alexa voice can also translate from English to several different languages.  These languages include Japanese, Welsh, Slovac, Swedish, Finnish, Chinese, Spanish,and Italian.

 

Popular Topics For Alexa Voice Control

There are many popular topics or apps that consumers want to open.  These include:

• TED Talks
• Question of the day
• Common Knowledge
• Inspire Me
• Rosetta Stone
• Make Me Smart
• Curiosity

 

6. Differences Between the Amazon Fire TV Cube and the Fire TV Stick 4K

 

	Amazon Fire TV Cube	Fire TV Stick 4K
Processor	Hexa-core	Quad-core
Smart Home Controls	Yes	Yes
Beamforming Microphones	Yes	No
Amazon Alexa	Built-in + Alexa Voice Remote	On Alexa Voice Remote
Local Voice Control	Yes	No
Music Streaming	Yes	Yes
RAM	2.0 GB	1.5 GB
Picture Quality	4K UHD, HDR 10+	4K UHD, HDR 10+
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes
Dolby Vision	Yes	Yes
CEC Control	Yes	No
Size	3.4 inch square box	4.0 X 1.2 inches
supports Ethernet connections out of the box	Yes	No
Set up	Easy	Easy
Storage	16 GB	8  GB
support 4K resolutions and HDR protocols	Yes	Yes
Internal Speaker	Yes	No
Pair Multiple for Stereo Sound	Yes	No
Bluetooth	5.0 =+ LE	5.0+ LE

 

7. Tips for Amazon’s Fire TV Cube 2nd Gen

• The microphones on the Fire TV cube can be shut off, yet you will still be able to use the buttons on the remote to speak to Alexa.
• When Alexa hears her “wake word”, she will mute the TV.
• If you want to go back to the Fire TV interface, say “Alexa, Go home.”
• For additional tips on Amazon’s Alexa basics, the new user interface, or more, you can visit the Amazon FireTV blog.
• For best results, keep your Amazon cube at least one foot away from any speakers and the TV itself. The logo should face the center of the room.
• The Fire TV cube should never be placed in a cabinet.
• At this time, the cube is not compatible with projectors.

 

System Requirements

You will also need the following for the Cube to work properly:

• A High-definition television with available high-speed HDMI input
• high-speed internet connection via Wi-Fi or inbox Ethernet accessory
• A power outlet (compatible TV/sound/cable equipment for control by infrared or voice)
• High-speed HDMI cable and 4K TV with high-speed HDMI connector required for 4K viewing and more reliable device control.

8. Streaming and Entertainment  Video Apps

The Fire TV cube supports many apps for gaming, music, and other entertainment.  Some of these that you may be interested in checking out include:

• Minecraft
• Crazy Taxi
• PBA Bowling Challenge
• Lego DC Mighty Micros
• Poker Championships
• Sling TV
• fuboTV
• Philo TV
• Pluto TV
• Twitch
• Tidal
• Sirius

 

If you will be gaming on the cube, you will most likely want to invest in a gaming controller.

Apple TV Plus can also be used on the cube.

9. Pros of the Amazon Fire TV Cube

• A free one year warranty is offered by Amazon. An additional two or three year warranty may also be purchased when you buy your Amazon Fire TV cube.
• Alexa Voice Control offers hands free usage.
• The Fire TV cube features a new processor that has been improved from the previous version.

Honest Reviewer says that “the Youtube experience was on point.”  While many Amazon Fire TV Cube reviews say that Youtube does not work well on the cube as there was no app, Honest Reviewer found a way around this.  He says to “have a list of videos in your “Watch List” as searching will take time since you have no keyboard. What I do is I use my smartphone to quickly add the videos I want to my watch list and then refresh the YouTube page on the Cube. “

Master of Puppets likes how it is intuitive and almost completely automated to set up.

Another Amazon reviewer said the cube was the best Amazon device ever.  He was pleased that the processor was blazing fast with Alexa being precise with no stutter.

Harold Hunter said in his Amazon Fire TV cube review that the voice command was impressive.  He liked how easy it was to set up and navigate through.  Harold gave it five stars and said he would recommend it to others.

Cech listed several pros in his Amazon Fire TV Cube review.  He said it was fast and responsive and the remote worked well.

He also stated signing up for apps and services for the Fire TV cube was easily done.  He noted the image quality, as well as the audio quality, were excellent.

10. Cons of the Amazon Fire TV Cube

• The Fire TV Cube does not support Google Play Content.
• The Amazon Fire TV Cube’s external storage support is through OTG cable and micro USB port. There is no micro SD slot.
• This cube does not have Dolby Vision capabilities.
• The Amazon Fire TV cube does not allow VPNs.
• Gaming on the Amazon Fire TV cube is not as good as the Fire Stick 4K.
• The cube will only work with one TV at a time. If you have more than one, and want to control them all, you will need a separate cube for each set up.

 

Cech stated one of the major cons he found with this was the voice commands.  He felt they  didnt work in many of the apps like  Sling TV and ESPN+.

 

He then went on to say “ Even some meager features like “Alexa Pause” would be a major help and something I mistakenly thought I was going to get prior to purchase. I just want to pause and play so going to the bathroom or attending my child is easy without finding the remote.”

While the Fire TV cube is twice as much as the Fire Stick 4K, it is still a budget friendly device.  And well worth the money when you think of all that it can do.

 

Conclusion

With the Amazon Fire TV cube, you can have your best Fire TV experience possible.  In many Amazon Fire TV Cube reviews, many customers were satisfied.

With voice control, the new Amazon Fire TV cube is a great streaming device to add to your home theater room.  The Alexa hands free feature allows you to utilize it as a learning tool, weather watcher, and so much more!

The cube has been labeled as one of the best streaming devices found.  Join many other satisfied consumers who have purchased this cube for entertainment news, to watch free TV shows, and much more!