Fire TV Cube is What Happens When Amazon Combines Fire TV and Echo

Today, Amazon announced the Fire TV Cube, an interesting hybrid of its Fire TV set-top boxes and Echo smart speakers.

“We believe voice makes it easier for customers to control their entertainment systems and watch the TV and movies they care about,” Amazon Fire TV VO Marc Whitten said in a prepared statement. “And, it’s just the beginning. Amazon Fire TV Cube will only get better over time with the Alexa service always getting smarter.”

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To be clear, the Fire TV Cube is not the first time Amazon has added Alexa digital personal assistant capabilities to its Fire TV lineup: Existing Fire TV set-top boxes and dongles also offer this functionality.

What differentiates the Fire TV Cube from its predecessors—aside from its unique cube shape—is that it’s truly a hybrid device. That is, it is both a Fire TV and an Echo smart speaker. So it sits there waiting for voice commands even when you’re not using the TV.

Priced at $120—it’s $90 right now for Prime members—the Fire TV Cube is now the most expensive Fire TV product. Amazon’s previous Fire TV flagship, the Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote retails for $69.99, while the Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote is just $39.99.

From a specifications perspective, it appears to tick all the right boxes, with 4K Ultra HD and HDR video output, multi-directional infrared capabilities and 8 microphones, HDMI/CEC support, Dolby Atmos audio, and more.

Amazon Fire TV Cube is available for pre-order today and will begin shipping on June 21, Amazon says.

(Some of the links above are affiliate links.–Paul)

 

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Conversation 18 comments

  • dcdevito

    07 June, 2018 - 10:33 am

    <p>Seems like an inevitable and perfect use case device for Amazon users. I have read rumors that Google is merging Chromecast and Android TV, so c'mon Google get on it :)</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    07 June, 2018 - 10:36 am

    <p>I was seriously considering this as a replacement for my FireTV v2 (non dongle) as I wanted a wired connection. I have no interest in Alexa though, so that's pointless, and the specs available so far mean it's no better than the current FireTV dongle in many ways. No mention as to whether it supports HDR10+ either! I think I'll go with the new nVidia Shield instead.</p>

  • StudBen

    07 June, 2018 - 11:15 am

    <p>It would be interesting if they gave this webcam support</p>

  • glenn8878

    07 June, 2018 - 11:54 am

    <p>It would be better as a sound bar with stereo. Then it can replace the television speaker system. They should add volume controls on the remote.</p>

  • Bats

    07 June, 2018 - 12:27 pm

    <p>I believe Google and JBL have a similar product, however, it's a television speaker.</p><p>Products like this makes me wonder if a smart tv with built in apps is worth it. In 2012 I bought a high end Sony 3D Smart Tv with built in apps like Netflix, Amazon, etc… The whole UI for all of them was uniform to one particular look and feel. It was all "vanilla" and plain, unlike the FireTV and Android TV where you are greeted with new content banners/windows to inform you of any new content. Plus the UI always changes. For my Nvidia Sheild, I am expecting Android Oreo to upgrade my system, thus giving me a brand new UI to play with. If you ask me, Roku is kinda boring and from the looks of Apple TV….booooooooooring.</p>

    • jaredthegeek

      Premium Member
      07 June, 2018 - 1:52 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#282368"><em>In reply to Bats:</em></a></blockquote><p>I much prefer the Roku interface to any of the others. Its simple and easy to find stuff. I went with Roku 4k televisions to simplify. </p>

    • TheOneX

      07 June, 2018 - 6:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#282368"><em>In reply to Bats:</em></a></blockquote><p>Smart TVs are terrible. The only good one I have encounter has been Vizio, but they took a very different approach where it is mostly based around Chromecast. So far FireTV and AndroidTV have been miles ahead of any SmartTV implementation I have encountered.</p>

  • MacLiam

    Premium Member
    07 June, 2018 - 1:39 pm

    <p>I sense some market potential here, but I don't know that this will be an every-household-needs-one kind of product. I have an original Echo and a couple of Dots in the house already, which is enough, and I've been using Fire TV for a few years now. I think I am about to exile Fire TV from the hardware agglomeration because the updated version I picked up about six months ago has recently been glitching badly. I just installed the Prime Video app on my semi-new TV to see if that would work better than the device. So far it does. </p>

  • Skolvikings

    07 June, 2018 - 2:16 pm

    <p>I preordered two of these this morning. I already use Fire TVs and have Echos in the house, so this seemed like a good fit for my family. Will be eager to see if that turns out to be true.</p>

  • Patrick3D

    07 June, 2018 - 2:59 pm

    <p>Perfect timing, I was just looking at getting a FireTV and this frees up an Echo Dot to place in another room.</p>

  • ABT

    07 June, 2018 - 3:59 pm

    <p>If they beefed up the remote to something similar to a basic "universal" remote, I would consider this an excellent replacement for my current Harmony set up. I don't want to have a conversation with my tv about volume levels or to change the channel. At that point, an I/R blaster for only TV power a waste. In the meantime, my 1st Gen Echo and Logitch Harmony Smart Control play nice together.</p>

  • RobCannon

    07 June, 2018 - 6:58 pm

    <p>I was excited when I found out this can control my TV and DirectTV box. Less so when I see that the remote doesn't have a volume control.</p>

  • StevenLayton

    08 June, 2018 - 2:41 am

    <p>Loving the fact that Amazon were inspired by the design of a Borg Cube for their next product. Resistance is futile.</p>

  • Stooks

    08 June, 2018 - 10:14 am

    <p>Amazon the next Google/Facebook on the privacy/data user manipulation front. Actually Amazon will rule them all very soon in this regard.</p><p><br></p><p>Apple TV FTW, same great taste (4K, HDR….etc) without that privacy invasion aftertaste!!</p>

  • Igor Engelen

    08 June, 2018 - 11:58 am

    <p>I'll probably never use it but that's a cool box ?</p>

  • pwrof3

    09 June, 2018 - 8:46 pm

    <p>Finally! This was rumored for Fall 2017 and just disappeared. I wonder what happened? Glad to see it is finally out. After that terrible dongle Fire TV I've been waiting to upgrade to a higher end version. </p><p>Design wise, it will actually be kind of cool to have a cube instead of yet another rectangular or square device sitting near the TV.</p>

  • willisus

    13 June, 2018 - 12:00 pm

    <p>Paul, have an Xbox One S connected to my Samsung 6500 series, 65 inch HDR. I have my Direct TV to the Xbox One S plugged into its Input HDMI, and the One S out HDMI to the TV. I am wonder how well this Amazon Fire TV Cube will "play" with that setup….Hmmmmm</p>

  • ashpak

    18 October, 2018 - 1:09 am

    <p>nice</p>

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