Amazon is once again refreshing its Fire TV sets, but the focus now is less on whiz-bang features and more on where those sets will fit. The 4K-capable Fire TV Omni QLED line now comes in smaller 43-, 50- and 55-inch models. These TVs start at a lower $450 but still offer up to 96-zone local dimming as well as HDR using Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. To no one’s surprise, you can expect far-field microphones for Alexa control as well as promises of an upgraded Ambient Experience (always-on art similar to Samsung’s The Frame) with “dynamic” pieces that respond to conditions like the time and weather. That update comes later in the year.
There’s also a new Fire TV 2 range (pictured below) aimed squarely at viewers looking for a small bedroom set. The 32-inch 720p and 40-inch 1080p variants aren’t based on QLED, require using a remote for Alexa and are limited to HDR based on HDR10 and HLG. However, the price might hit the sweet spot — the 32-inch panel costs $200.
Amazon
The Fire TV Omni QLED series is available for pre-order today, and will be available through Best Buy’s website on May 11th. Amazon is selling the Fire TV 2 through its own site beginning today.
Amazon’s timing is apt. Roku just launched its first in-house TVs, with its entry Select line starting at $149 (for a 24-inch screen) and QLED-based Plus coming in below $500. While the companies’ offerings don’t quite overlap, Amazon’s revised lineup is clearly better suited to competing against Roku’s. In both cases, the strategy is similar: this is as much about getting a platform and services into your living room as it is selling hardware.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
