• Kaleidescape launches the first 8K movie player certified by the 8K Association
• But the new 4K Cinematic format for higher-quality 4K is the exciting bit
• $4,995 (about £3,777 / AU$7,180)

Kaleidescape makes some truly spectacular 4K video players, and now there's an 8K version. It's "the world's highest-fidelity movie player," says chairman and CEO Tayloe Stansbury. "It brings movie lovers closer to the filmmaker's intent, with cleaner detail, true-to-life color, and a more natural presentation that dramatically improves the viewing experience of any display."

It's also a world first. The Kaleidescape Strato K is the first 8K movie player that's been certified for 8K by the 8K Association.

That's good, but the fact that it's the first such accreditation points to the problem with 8K. Buying 8K hardware right now is a bit like being the first person in the world to buy a fax machine: who are you going to send faxes to? Similarly, with 8K movie players and 8K TVs, what 8K movies are actually there for you to watch?

That means the Strato K, while impressive, is a bit of a gamble: you're buying hardware in the hope that the 8K movie trickle will become a flood, and I'm just not sure that rain is ever coming.

So the most important new feature might not be the 8K support, but instead a new format that Kaleidescape calls "4K Cinematic".

Kaleidescape Strato K: key features and price

Kaleidescape's 4K Cinematic is a format designed to deliver even better 4K picture quality, and it does that by using less compression. Movies are encoded at around 110Mbps using the HEVC codec. Kaleidescape says that's compared to around 60Mbps for 4K Blu-Ray, and around 17Mbps for standard 4K streaming services.

It's worth noting that those figures aren't the maximum bitrates for the formats — for example Blu-Ray can go up to 144Mbps, though 80Mbps is a more standard ceiling — but are the bitrates typically used in commercial releases.

In addition to the higher bitrate, 4K Cinematic uses 4:4:4 chroma sampling rather than the 4:2:0 of most commercial movie releases, meaning more accurate colors and less 'banding' or other color artefacts.

The downside of those higher bitrates is that you'll need a lot of storage: as FlatpanelsHD notes, the player only has 1TB of storage – equivalent to around seven 4K Cinematic titles, as those are 1.5x the size of normal 4K movies. Like other Strato players it's really intended to be teamed up with the firm's Terra servers.

Kaleidescape will label the higher-quality movies as 4K Cinematic in its movie store and on the Stratos K interface to differentiate them from standard 4K versions. Prices will be from around $10 to $30, and the initial raft of titles includes Top Gun: Maverick, F1: The Movie, Superman, Project Hail Mary, Dune: Part Two; Sinners, Predator: Badlands, Mortal Kombat II, Avatar, Tron: Ares, Thunderbolts, and others.

4K Cinematic supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X — but Dolby Vision isn't supported by the Stratos K player in 8K movies, which are SDR or HDR10. The maximum frame rate for 8K is 30 fps via HDMI 2.1.

The Strato K has a recommended retail price of $4,995, which is $1,000 more than the five-star 4K Strato V. We are really looking forward to seeing what the new movie format looks like…

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• Fox is acquiring Roku for $22 billion
• The agreement will combine Fox's networks with the Roku TV platform
• The deal will close in 2027, but Roku users are already seeking alternative streaming devices

Fox Corp has announced a new agreement that will see the television giant acquire streaming company Roku for a staggering $22 billion — a deal that will no doubt shake up the entertainment sphere.

The companies announced the deal today (June 15, 2026), and it will mark the next step in Fox’s plan to become more competitive in the streaming world, reports CNBC. The deal will combine Fox’s plethora of news, sports, and entertainment networks with the Roku TV platform, The Roku Channel, and first-party data to reach the 100 million households that use Roku.

Additionally, this will also combine one of the best free streaming services, Tubi, which Fox acquired for $440 million back in 2020.

As per the agreement, Fox will acquire Roku for $160 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction, and the company says it has already secured $12 billion in loans to finance it. The deal has already been approved by the boards of directors from both companies and is projected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals.

During an analyst call, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch described the deal as a “defining moment” for Fox and “a natural extension of the deliberate and focused strategy we have been executing for nearly a decade."

He added, “Today, we take the next step: bringing together the most valuable live content portfolio in video consumption with the preeminent streaming platform through which America watches it,” as Variety reports.

As for Roku CEO and founder, Anthony Wood, he will join Fox’s board of directors and will assume an “ongoing role” as a result of the acquisition. “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built, and the combination with Fox is an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate our vision, scale faster and innovate more aggressively for viewers, partners and advertisers,” Wood shared in a statement, which Variety also reported.

Fox’s merger with Roku is the company’s first major deal since Disney acquired Fox’s entertainment business, which saw recognizable franchises including The Simpsons and X-Men, as well as programming from Fox-owned channels National Geographic and FX Networks, make their way to Disney+.

For years, Fox hasn’t quite been able to compete with streaming giants such as Netflix and YouTube. Combining its networks with Roku opens another gateway for Fox to expand into streaming and subscriptions, but Roku users are already considering alternatives.

For some Roku users, it's all downhill from here

Entertainment companies seem to be joining forces quite a bit recently. The deal between Paramount+ and Warner Bros. Discovery has now been approved by the US Department of Justice, but Fox’s acquisition of Roku has particularly shaken things up for Roku users. They've already been quite vocal on their concerns for what this agreement could mean — especially regarding the controversial Fox News.

According to one user on Reddit, their Roku device has apparently been pushing ads for Fox News, suggesting this deal has been in development for quite some time. “Time for a new streaming stick,” they added. But it’s not just the ads that users are worried about.

Other users flocked to the Reddit thread to share their concerns, and many believe that the ubiquity of Fox News will only escalate from here. One user says that, gradually, Fox could “show their propaganda and misinformation more and more by defaulting users to Fox News”.

Another user highlighted that Roku is a popular, budget-friendly streaming option, which is also built into a lot of cheaper smart TVs, giving Fox another easy gateway into this particular market.

• Apple is cutting out the Apple TV HD (2015) and Apple TV 4K (2017) from tvOS 27
• The second and third-gen Apple TV 4K will be eligible for the update
• Though they'll support the update, it's unlikely they'll be getting AI integrations

Apple previewed a shedload of upgrades at WWDC 2026, and although tvOS 27 didn’t get its own segment during the keynote, Apple hasn’t left it out of the equation — but it will be cutting out some models from the upcoming software update.

If you’re still using the fourth-gen Apple TV HD from 2015, or the first-gen Apple TV 4K from 2017, I hate to break it to you but they won’t be getting the tvOS 27 treatment.

However, these devices will still continue to run tvOS 26. If you own the second-gen second-gen Apple TV 4K (2021), or either of the two iterations of the third-gen Apple TV 4K (2022), these devices will support tvOS 27.

You can also check if your device is compatible with tvOS 27 by checking the model numbers below:

• Fourth-generation Apple TV HD (A1625)
• First-generation Apple TV 4K (A1842)
• Second-generation Apple TV 4K (A2169)
• Third-generation Apple TV 4K (A2843)
• Third-generation Apple TV 4K (A2737)

Generally, Apple has kept most of its streaming devices in the loop with each update, but this marks the first time in four years where the company has cut out Apple TV hardware from a major OS upgrade.

It’s a bit of a shame for users who are still going strong with their devices from 10 years ago, and it's a similar case for the Apple Watches that have been dropped from watchOS 27.

It's also a bit of a downer to see this happen while so many old iPhone models are getting iOS 27, but there’s probably a valid reason as to why Apple has cut out its old streaming devices from the mix.

Comment from r/appletv

The main upgrades across Apple’s OS 27 update are its slew of Apple Intelligence-powered functions and the new Siri AI voice assistant, tools that will unlikely be supported by hardware that came out 10 years ago. Therefore, tvOS 26 is as far as Apple can go with its 2015 and 2017 devices.

However, though the second and third-gen Apple TV 4K streamers will support a handful of new tvOS 27 features, it looks like they’ll be excluded from getting AI upgrades, again because of hardware incompatibility (it runs on Apple’s A15 bionic chip).

With speculation of a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K looming, which is expected to launch later this year, we can only assume that the next-gen Apple TV 4K will be the first native streaming device for Apple’s new AI integrations.

Before you get too disappointed with this, it’s not to say the second and third-gen Apple TV 4K devices are being robbed of new features altogether. Though AI integrations probably won’t be on the cards for these models, Apple’s WWDC keynote briefly showed new performance boosts featuring faster app launches, smoother AirPlay connectivity, and a more responsive Control Center.

Additionally, Smart Downloads are also on the way, though we don’t know how these will work just yet.

• A full-screen Fire TV pop-up ad has been spotted during start-up, which you have to dismiss
• manually
• It's currently promoting the new Fire TV mobile app redesign
• Amazon could use this as an opportunity to sell to third-party advertisers

The odd ad crops up across Fire TVs devices now and then, and users have pretty much got used to them, but now full-screen pop-ups have started to appear during the start-up process.

When users turn on their devices, one of the first things that now appears is a Fire TV system pop-up, which blocks the main home screen on both Fire TVs and Fire TV Sticks. The most frustrating part is that you have to acknowledge it and close it manually before you can use your device.

It was first spotted by AFTVnews, who say this is the first time Amazon has shown pop-ups that take over your entire screen. As it stands, the pop-up is only displaying an ad for Amazon’s Fire TV app which received a big design overhaul back in February.

As mentioned, Fire TV users are no strangers to ads. Ads are splattered across the Fire TV home screen and in standby screensavers when the device isn't being used, as well as in content on ad-supported tiers for streaming services like Prime Video.

In addition to product and brand ads, Fire TV devices display the odd pop-up when it’s system-related, whether that’s to notify you of software updates or inform you when it’s failed to pair a remote, for example.

Those types of ads are understandable, because they give you valuable information about any changes happening with your device. However, issuing full-screen pop-ups that you’re forced to acknowledge could be taking it a step too far for users who want to stream content and access apps without ads interrupting the experience.

This has sparked a concern, especially regarding the direction Amazon could take with this new advertising format — and it could even open the doors for the tech giant to start promoting products from third-party advertisers.

Is Amazon repeating history?

When it comes to spotlighting new Fire TV upgrades like the mobile app redesign, it makes sense. Amazon has rolled out a number of upgrades to Fire TV devices this year so far, which also includes a fresh layout and new streaming channels. But how long will it take for Amazon to throw brand ads in your face as soon as you turn on your TV?

As mentioned in the AFTVnews report, Amazon has used displaying formats in the past to advertise its own content and device-related information, and then gone on to sell these slots to third-party advertisers, filling its Fire TV interface with ads promoting brands that aren’t Amazon-related.

While the latest Fire TV pop-up remains system-related for now, that’s not to say Amazon won’t repeat history and see this as an opportunity to generate more revenue from advertising. The last thing viewers want is ads blocking their home screen before they've even decided what they want to watch.

• The Roku interface is getting a huge update
• It leans into organization, with some AI
• It remains recognizable for long-term users, though

Your Roku TV Home Screen is getting a significant free update — but don't worry, it'll still feel familiar.

I often tell people that the best TV remote in the business is from Roku. Nothing even comes close, but what's often overlooked in the mix is the Roku interface or Home Screen for your Roku device or TV. It's not only simple, but playful.

The sleep screen is a hideout of iconic pop-culture references, slightly altered so as not to incur intellectual property wrath, but we all get the inside jokes. The business side of the interface, where you navigate platforms and content via tiles, is just as simple.

"Simplicity has always been our north star," noted Margaret Schmidt, Roku's VP User Experience & Design.

As a longtime Roku customer, first on my TCL 65-inch TV and now on a variety of sticks and set-top boxes, I was a bit worried about this Home Screen update. Why mess with what works?

But the changes, which were announced today (May 27, 2026), look mostly intelligent (yes, there's even some AI) and still on-brand for the company with a purple, playful spirit (and a reported 100 million households).

The updates focus on personalization and content access, and run relatively deep. "This is our first major update to Roku Home Screen in a decade," said Preston Smalley Roku VP of Viewer Product, during Wednesday's launch event.

As for why now, Smalley said Roku research showed them that "It's not always as easy as it should be to find something to watch, even with all that content." (This may qualify as the understatement of the year.)

When I use my Roku devices, I often quickly navigate to Sling TV, where I watch most of my local broadcast channels. In Roku's new interface, there's now a Quick Access panel, so I don't need to scroll or hunt for the tile.

Of course, Roku had to get in on the AI craze, and now it's using it to power the zeitgeist-rich "You Daily Scoop," which presents trending shows and other pop culture events like celebrity birthdays.

It lives inside the new "For You" section that will, of course, try to surface content you might like based on past activities. Roku claims your selection will be unlike anyone else's.

As Rohit Mahto, Roku's Director of Recommendations, explained, "[Users] expect deeper personalization from day one.” But he added that there are literally billions of home screen permutations. "Machine learning and AI helped us get it right," he added.

When I asked about the level of AI at work here, Mahto explained that "it's a mixed bag thing." While they use "state-of-the-art LLMs," the focus for Roku is different. "We are hyper-focused on the streaming space, streaming data."

Roku's approach is similar to what I've seen from Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. I don't mind it. However, these feeds often lead to services and platforms where you're not already a subscriber. Hopefully, Roku sticks with the services you already use and doesn't try to squeeze in or tease new shows on platforms where you're not already a subscriber.

To help with the "what to watch" hunt, Roku is introducing "Destinations," a sort of mood-based section. You know, "What are you in the mood for?" It gives you broad, category-based selections.

In Roku's research, they found "82% wanted to turn on their TV and have the show they have in mind right at the top of their TV. Essentially, they wanted us to read their minds,” said Smalley.

The interface has also been reorganized, with a collapsed Home Screen menu and shortcuts that get you more quickly to, say, where you left off with "Continue Watching".

Finally, City Tile gives you a closer look at Roku City. It basically takes you through all the sometimes hidden features for more discovery and, of course, engagement.

Summarizing the changes, Smalley said, "It’s really moving from a static app grid to something that’s dynamic and personalized around you." As for what's next for Roku and the Home Screen, he said, "We’re only just getting started.”

Roku says these changes are rolling out now, though we expect it may take a bit of time for them to show up on all of your Roku devices. I'll be checking mine tonight.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• tvOS 27 for Apple TV 4K isn't announced yet, but Apple has revealed some features
• They're focused on accessibility, including changing text size and auto-generating subtitles for videos that don't have them
• Apps that don't use Apple's tech frameworks may not be able to support them, though

We've been banging the drum for improving accessibility on Apple TV for ages, and it looks like tvOS 27 is going to deliver some really useful features later this year.

Even though tvOS 27 hasn't officially been unveiled yet, and won't be until WWDC 2026 on June 8th most likely, Apple has already revealed several new accessibility changes coming to the system. They're things that lots of people may actually want to use, not just those with vision or hearing difficulty.

However, apps that don't use Apple's developer frameworks and prefer their own proprietary tech, such as Netflix's app or the Prime Video app, may not support them.

One of the new features enables you to set the size of text on your TV, which is very handy for people with low or deteriorating vision: it'll adjust the descriptions on the Home Screen, in menus and in apps so that they're easier to read.

It'll work in any apps that support Apple's Dynamic Type feature, so if you can do it on your iPhone apps (where this feature already exists) you should be able to do it on your Apple TV 4K.

Smarter subtitling is coming to Apple TV

One of the most interesting new features is live transcription of videos that don't have subtitles already, such as older movie files or your own home videos. And in the latter case you'll be glad to know that all the processing is happening locally: your videos aren't being uploaded anywhere new to make it happen, it's just using the chip built into the device.

Although we're focusing on Apple TV here, this feature will also come to the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro — the latter seems especially interesting, if the tech inside every turns out to be the basis for some Apple smart glasses.

That's the good news. The bad is that initially the subtitling feature will be limited to English, although more language support will be added later.

Last but not least, any hearing aids with Made for iPhone certification will get more reliable AirPods-style seamless transition between Apple devices across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS.

That means that if you want the sound from your Apple TV 4K beamed directly into your hearing aid, you could do it with just a couple of clicks, and no fiddly pairing process.

The new features are part of a wider package of accessibility improvements that'll be coming to the next generation of Apple operating systems later this year, and we'll no doubt see at least some of them demonstrated at WWDC 26 next month.

• Original Chromecasts have been fixed by a Google update
• Multiple users had reported their dongles had stopped working
• Gemini is appearing on 4K Chromecast with Google TV models

A couple of days ago it seemed as though it was the end of the road for the original, 1st-gen Chromecast launched in 2013: multiple users reported that their dongles had stopped working, but it seems the death of these devices has been greatly exaggerated.

As per Android Authority, Google has now acknowledged the issue with these old Chromecasts, and rolled out a fix. "The issue impacting the ability to cast some services to Chromecast devices has been resolved," says Google.

That doesn't mean these Chromecasts are suddenly being fully supported again — Google officially stopped issuing updates for the first-generation models in 2023 — but it does seem as though these devices will work for a while yet.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the streaming apps need to support the older hardware too: Peacock+ is one of the apps you won't be able to get working on a 2013 Chromecast, because it's no longer compatible.

Now with added Gemini

In more Chromecast update news, the Chromecast with Google TV has been given a significant Gemini AI overhaul, as reported by Android Headlines and others. For now, it looks as though it's just the 4K model that has the update, and not the HD version.

While Gemini has already arrived on the Google TV Streamer, it wasn't clear if the older Chromecast devices would be getting any AI upgrades: Google has stopped selling them, and it's not certain if the hardware can support Gemini.

I've now got the Gemini upgrade on my own 4K Chromecast with Google TV. There's a whole new Gemini screen to explore, which lets you create images and run voice prompts just like you can inside the Gemini apps for the web and mobile.

It makes sense for this device to get Gemini, as it essentially runs the same operating system as the Google TV Streamer. The older Chromecasts, in contrast, don't have any real on-board software of their own, and are controlled by the device doing the casting.

• Original Chromecasts are starting to fail en masse
• Support for the devices officially ended back in 2023
• The tech lives on with the Google TV Streamer box

Some 13 years after making its debut — and getting a 5-stars-out-of-5 review from us, by the way — it looks as though it's finally the end of the road for the original, first-generation Chromecast, with many users now reporting that their devices have stopped working.

As spotted by 9to5Google, there's been an uptick in the number of these reports on Reddit, with a significant number of people saying their dongles are no longer able to cast anything. The change seems to have happened over the last couple of days.

For context, Google stopped updating the device back in 2023, and certain apps (including Peacock) have pulled support since then. There are also some contributors to the Reddit thread who say they're still able to cast video in certain apps, such as Prime Video and Disney+, and from a web browser.

However, it's clear that a large chunk of devices have now stopped working. It's possible that certain security certificates (needed for wireless hardware connections) have expired, or that an update to the Google Home app has broken compatibility with the original Chromecast for good.

Nothing like it

Looks like Google just killed every Gen 1 Chromecast in existence. How much more time until they start killing off Gen 2? from r/Chromecast

Those who were still using their 1st-gen Chromecasts are understandably disappointed to see them stop working. "Rest in peace good buddy" says one commenter, while many users are clearly relying on their original Chromecasts on a regular basis.

Others in the thread suggest that 13 years is a good run, by tech gadget standards, and that Google should get credit for letting it work for so long. For now, it appears that the 2nd-gen (2015) and 3rd-gen (2018) models are still working as normal.

Chromecasts have been retired as a category now, though the casting technology lives on in Google TVs and in the Google TV Streamer that Google sells — essentially a Chromecast with a remote and a few extras. You can also pick up third-party gadgets, including streaming boxes from Walmart, with Google TV smarts inside them.

While the eventual end of the first Chromecast was inevitable, it's worth taking a moment to remember just how innovative it was when it launched, and how it unlocked streaming app access on just about any TV set. As we put it at the time: "There is simply nothing out there quite like the Google Chromecast."

• "Now is the time to start thinking about pointing input" for Google TV says Google
• No Google TV manufacturers currently use pointy remotes
• Gemini AI features seem to be the reason for the push

I believe there are two kinds of TV user in the world: people who hate LG's Magic Remote, and people who haven't used LG's Magic Remote. I'm in the former camp, so I'm bemused by Google's latest announcement: it looks like something very similar is coming to Google TV.

If you're not familiar with the Magic Remote, it uses Wii-style motion control with similar accuracy, so trying to point at anything can be frustrating: the cursor drifts with even the slightest movement, turning channel hopping into what feels like a round of Wii Tennis. It's an attempt to solve the ongoing challenge of controlling a smart TV from a distance, and I don't think it's a successful one: my kids' TV has a Magic Remote and they, and I, hate it.

But Google seems to disagree. "Now is the time to start thinking about pointing input", Google TV developer relations engineer Paul Lammertsma told app makers at Google I/O this week (via FlatpanelsHD)

What's the point of a pointing remote?

To the best of my knowledge, the only mainstream TV manufacturer using pointing remotes is LG, and LG doesn't use Google TV. So what's going on?

It's all about Gemini and ever more feature-packed TVs, it seems. As Lammertsma explained: "The TV experience that we once knew is changing. Gemini is changing the way we discover and stream content with voice, but how we use the remote is evolving too. Pointer remotes bring motion-controlled input to the big screen, unlocking faster user navigation across the Google TV Home page and within content-heavy apps."

It seems unlikely that LG is going to dump its own webOS platform in favor of Google TV, so Google encouraging the adoption of pointing remotes in apps strongly suggests that either Google or one of its partners is developing pointing remotes for Google TV sets. It's unclear whether the support will be backwards compatible or limited to new TV models only.

Making TV remotes is hard, I know: some are far too complicated and others are far too simple. I hope Google has cracked the drift and accuracy problems that plague handheld remote controls and that the movement looks like it does in the animation above — and not like the remote control in my kids' room that drives us all mad.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• HBO Max now requires Fire OS 6 or later on Fire TV devices
• Some Fire OS 5 devices were sold as recently as 2020
• Fire OS has been superseded by Vega OS on newer devices

If you have a Fire TV device from 2020 or earlier you may lose access to the HBO Max app — it only affects you if your device is running Fire OS 5, but that's still estimated to be "millions" of people, potentially.

The news comes via AFTVnews, which spotted that the HBO Max app support page has been updated and details Fire OS 6 as the oldest supported version of Amazon's TV OS.

That's bad news if you have the older OS, because while Amazon does deliver software updates to existing hardware, it almost never upgrades the version of the operating system.

AFTVnews notes that "this likely leaves millions of Fire TV devices still in use with no way to access one of the most popular streaming services."

That means if you've got one of the affected devices and you're looking forward to whichever Game of Thrones spin-off is coming next, it's time to buy a newer model.

What does HBO Max say about Fire TVs?

HBO isn't the only streamer to stop supporting older Fire TV devices. Netflix ended support for first-gen Fire TV devices in 2025 because the streamer now relies on video formats those devices don't support.

You can see the list of HBO Max supported devices here, and under Amazon Fire TV it says "Amazon Fire TV devices with Fire OS 6 or later [or] Vega OS 1 or later. This includes Fire TV Stick devices, Fire TV Cube, Echo Show devices, and Smart TVs with Fire TV built in."

Fire OS 5 is on Fire TV products sold between 2015 and 2020, including the second generation Fire TV stick. That was a massive seller, so HBO dropping support is going to affect a lot of people's devices.

From Amazon's perspective, upgrading the OS on older devices isn't always the best policy: newer OSes are built for newer hardware, and that can mean problems bringing new versions to devices they weren't built for.

And having people buy new models doesn't just enable Amazon to sell you a new Fire Stick running its new and preffered Vega OS: it also means moving people to a version of the product that can't be used for sideloading or dodgy free streaming.

At the time of publishing, deals on newer Fire TV devices (or Roku devices, if you're feeling a little burned by Fire TV) aren't widespread, but they're common, so keep your eyes open if you need an upgrade.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• The new Amazon streaming stick stops sideloading
• A message to this effect is popping up on its online listing
• This is part of Amazon's rollout of its own Vega OS

Alongside a revamp for the Fire TV OS interface, Amazon announced a new Fire TV Stick HD earlier this week, that's slimmer than its predecessor — and it's now been confirmed that sideloading won't be allowed on the new device.

As spotted by Cord Cutters News, the product listing on Amazon has this to say: "For enhanced security, this device prevents sideloading or installing apps from unknown sources. Only apps from the Amazon Appstore are available for download."

The message doesn't seem to show up for everyone, but it's definitely there in some cases. Of course, when Amazon says "for enhanced security", it means for the purposes of preventing any dodgy and legally suspect apps from being loaded up.

However, this is also going to affect users who liked to customize and hack their Amazon streaming devices in a variety of other, perfectly legal ways: think custom launchers, local media streaming, and smart home tools, for example.

The future is Vega OS

Part of the way Amazon has locked down its latest streaming stick is by using its own, proprietary Vega OS rather than an adapted version of Android. That gives Amazon much more control over what's possible on the software.

This was all announced last year, but it wasn't clear just how speedy the rollout would be, or which specific devices would be affected. We can safely assume that this 'no sideloading' rule will apply to all Amazon devices going forward.

In fact, as Ars Technica highlights, Vega OS and the same sideloading restrictions apply to the Fire TV Stick 4K Select that came out in October as well — and we noted at the time that you wouldn't be able to sideload apps on it.

Amazon has made sure that the majority of the best streaming apps work on Vega OS and on its new streaming devices, including Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, and Apple TV. Beyond official entertainment apps though, your options are limited.

• Amazon has been hit with a new class action lawsuit for tethering old Fire TV Sticks
• It accuses the company of restricting vital software support, forcing users to upgrade
• The lawsuit also claims Amazon didn't disclose the true lifespan of Fire TV Sticks

Amazon has found itself at the center of a new class action lawsuit in the US, which claims the company has been quietly stopping software updates as a way to slow down older Fire TV Stick devices until they become unusable — all while advertising their ‘instant’ streaming features.

The lawsuit was filed by Californian plaintiff Bill Merewhuader, who accused the tech giant of ‘bricking’ its first and second generation Fire TV Stick models as a way to force users to upgrade to its more expensive options, as reported by Top Class Actions. Essentially, older models have been diminishing in functionality even though the hardware has been untouched, resulting in slow performances, lagging, and delayed responses.

What does the lawsuit allege?

In his claim, Merewhuader accounts his own experience of purchasing two second generation Fire TV Sticks in 2018. He says he started experiencing performance issues just a few years into owning them, eventually feeling forced to upgrade to a newer, more expensive model in 2024 after the devices became unusable — effectively blaming Amazon for ‘software tethering’.

This refers to a device’s usability, which relies on software updates manned by the company that releases them to ensure a high level of performance. By stopping this support, companies can cut the lifespan of a device prematurely in order to force consumers to upgrade. Merewhuader has accused Amazon of doing this to the first generation device as early as 2022, ending support for the second generation shortly after despite Amazon’s claim that software support would continue until 2024.

Additionally, Merewhuader says Amazon never disclosed information that said software support could be discontinued, as the company initially marketed the devices as ones which offer ‘instant’ entertainment across a wide variety of content from the best streaming services — which the plaintiff says was the main reason why customers purchased the devices in the first place.

Overall, the lawsuit is centered on two things. The first being the act of software tethering and the second being the fact no one was told the truth about the devices’ lifespan, which risks jeopardizing user trust. As a result, Merewhuader is looking to take his case nationwide in hopes that Amazon will compensate users in his position while tightening laws to prevent future software tethering practices.

Amazon hasn't publicly addressed the lawsuit, but we'll update this story when we know more.

• Amazon has announced a significant refresh to the Fire TV interface
• It will include new streaming channels and will head to older devices too
• The company had also revealed a faster, slimmer Fire TV Stick HD

Amazon has revealed it is refreshing its Fire TV platform with a new look and new streaming channels. It also reveals a new Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.

The update, which will be coming to all older Fire TV devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, will see a new layout with a focus on getting users to their content easier. Categories have been introduced so customers can quickly access their preferred movies, TV shows, news and sports. Amazon also claims the update will make Fire TV 30% faster.

The update will also introduce Fire TV channels, a new feature that brings in free, ad-supported streaming channels covering a wide range of genres such as news, comedy, cooking and travel to name a few. These 'FAST' channels are becoming increasingly popular across some of the best TVs, with both LG (with LG Channels) and Samsung (included in Tizen) including the feature.

The Fire TV update is free and will begin rolling out to customers internationally at the end of the month, so it will vary depending on region and device as to when you'll see the new UI.

Amazon also revealed a new version of its Amazon Fire TV Stick HD. Amazon says it's 30% narrower than the previous generation's model, making it easier to fit alongside devices in other HDMI ports.

It will run off Direct Power through a TV's USB port, eliminating the need for a bulkier, external power adaptor. Amazon also says the new Stick will be 30% faster than the previous generation, too.

The new Stick HD will also receive an Adaptive Display accessibility feature that will make text and menus easier to see on screen. It will enhance smaller items such as text while simultaneously scaling up larger things like artwork.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD will launch for £39.99 / AU$79 (US price TBC), with pre-orders live at Amazon UK and on Amazon Australia.

A Fire TV refresh

Fire TV is featured in a wide range of devices, so it's great to see that it's getting an update in 2026. In my time using the smart TV platform, I've sometimes found it can be clunky, slow to navigate and slow to respond to commands. If this new update does indeed up the speed by 30%, that could make a huge difference.

The inclusion of FAST channels (free, ad-support streaming channels) is a welcome one, as it gives users more content they can watch without extra fees.

While I haven't seen the new Fire TV interface in-person yet, from the image above, I can see that large banner ads will still likely be a feature. This is now common across most smart TV interfaces and continues to be a bit of a frustration. I'll reserve full judgement however until I use it myself.

It will take a lot for Fire TV to de-throne the top smart TV platforms such as LG's webOS, Roku and Samsung's latest Tizen iteration (though I'm yet to test the 2026 version yet), but hopefully this refresh will do just the trick.

As for the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, it's again nice to see an update to the HD models, as the 4K now has three different varieties available. It looks like the upgraded model will be the same price as the previous HD Stick (£39.99 in the UK) and it's likely to receive discounts during big sale events during Prime Day and Black Friday.

• Roku adds more free channels covering reality TV and westerns
• Instant Resume is coming to more popular streaming apps
• Roku Store apps of a certain size must use the feature from October 2026

Roku has added another six free channels to its Roku TVs and Roku streaming devices. As with previous additions there's quite the mix here, with classic Westerns, comedy, reality shows and music, as spotted by Cord Cutters News.

Roku is also planning to improve its Instant Resume feature. From October 1 2026, the feature will be coming to stacks of apps in Roku's streaming store, again according to Cord Cutters News.

High-traffic streaming apps that meet certain criteria (audience size, hours streamed) will be obliged to support Instant Resume, which enables you to pick up from exactly where you left off even if you've been watching on a different device or haven't used your device in a while. It's a handy feature and a welcome addition to third-party streaming apps.

Roku's new free channels for April 2026

The first new channel, channel 313, is dedicated to the classic TV show Rawhide. Rawhide is one of the most famous Western shows of all time, has one of the most famous theme songs of all time (a song that also soundtracked a memorable bit of The Blues Brothers movie) and introduced the world to a young actor called Clint Eastwood. It's a classic of 1950s and 1960s TV and I've got the theme tune in my head right now. Hah! Rawhide!

There are more Westerns where that one came from. Channel 6036 is going to be streaming a wide selection of vintage and classic cowboy movies and shows, and once again it's going to be round-the-clock streaming of gunfights, cattle ranches, showdowns, wagon trains and outlaw gangs.

Meanwhile over on channel 314, there's another classic: the Beverly Hillbillies, the much-loved 1960s show that follows the adventures and misadventures of the Clampett family as they bring their simple, folksy ways to the rich neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.

If you prefer a bit of reality, channel 624 is where you'll find Ink Master. That's a reality TV competition where tattoo artists take on challenges that push their skills and their patience to the limit. We're promised drama, excitement and dramatic reveals.

For younger Spanish speakers, channel 978 delivers MTV en Español, a high-energy, youth-oriented channel mixing music videos (an MTV that still does music!), reality shows, celebrity interviews and "culturally resonant programming" that showcases Latin music and lifestyles.

Last but not least there's Toso.o on channel 815. I'm intrigued by this one, because the description doesn't really describe anything: it's "vibrant", "eclectic", "unique" and provides a "variety of niche content". How very mysterious.

Thinking of buying a new TV?

Try our TV size and model finder! You tell it how far you sit from your TV, we'll tell you what size to buy based on viewing angle advice from image quality experts, and we'll recommend our three top TVs at that size for different prices.

• Netflix on Apple TV no longer uses the tvOS video player
• This results in small but annoying interface changes
• But it also means some features are now missing from the app

Netflix has changed the way its app works on Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K streaming devices, and given how popular these devices are with home theater enthusiasts, it's no surprise that lots of viewers are unhappy with the results of this particular update.

Instead of using the tvOS operating system's built-in video player software and screen, which ensures a consistent experience irrespective of the streaming service you're using, Netflix has decided to do things differently. Netflix has now replaced the tvOS player with its own custom player, and that player not only looks different, it also doesn't work with a bunch of playback features that users have been used for years and years.

Netflix isn't the only streamer to do this; Disney+ uses its own player too. But the Netflix player removes some basic functions when you're skipping or playing shows and the changes aren't going down well with some viewers. (It's also not Netflix's first time breaking from integrating with Apple's tech — it already skips the Apple TV app's Up Next section.)

What has Netflix done to the Apple TV app?

The Netflix app update has changed some standard features. For example, when you click back or forward on your Apple TV remote, the standard behavior is that the show will skip backwards or forwards by 10 seconds, and users are used to this.

Not any more: as viewer iamonreddit explains, "now it pauses and brings up the frame selector, and then you have to click again. Did they not do any research or usability testing before releasing this? It's also not smooth at all."

According to FlatpanelsHD there are multiple other features of the tvOS player that are now unavailable in the Netflix app including the handy auto-subtitling that kicks in when you rewind or mute the show; the option to use Enhance Dialog; the info and video/audio format details in the slide-up menu, the ability to double-tap and find out when the show or movie ends, and even integration with the useful 'Remote' app on iPhone and iPad.

That may sound like a lot of fuss over nothing, but one of the reasons people buy Apple TV is because of its user interface: it's a nice place to spend time in. And when apps go against that, for example to deliver the same experience that you'd get on a Fire TV or an Android device, they make the experience on Apple TV worse – maybe not by much, but enough to be another irritant. And irritants accumulate.

But may not just be about the interface. Other Redditors shared their negative Netflix experiences. "The new player is pretty bad. And 4K doesn't look like 4K," lusid1 posted. Leckie described "consistent quality issues... things will randomly go pixelated and I need to force close the app... nothing else has an issue and all other apps work great." And aisuperman is "at the verge of unsubscribing to an app which has a video player from the 2000s."

I think redditor b2717 put it very well: "for me it’s like someone moved all the doorknobs in my house to the other side, right by the hinges. They may still technically work, but it makes using them harder and more annoying. And every time I’m going to be reminded how unnecessary it all is."

This also comes hot on the heels of Netflix announcing yet another price hike in the US, which includes the second price increase on the Premium plan in just 14 month, so already people will have been asking themselves if they want to keep the service.

Reddit user motorik puts their view very simply: "Latest Netflix app update is 'time to unsubscribe' bad."

• Fire TV's massive makeover comes to the phone app too
• The app becomes a second screen to control your Fire TV
• Rolling out to everyone in the coming weeks

Amazon's Fire TV mobile app has just been upgraded, and it looks like it could become your go-to remote for all your Fire TV needs, whether you have a Stick or a full Fire TV set.

The app hasn't just been given a makeover. It's been designed as a second screen for your Fire TV, enabling you to browse for stuff to watch on your phone and manage your watchlist, then play titles on your TV by selecting them in the app.

You can also use your phone as a full remote control, and it seems like it could be way more convenient than endlessly scrolling using your TV remote, especially for looking at different categories.

It's also been redesigned to match the current, newly updated Fire TV user interface that we saw Amazon announce last week. And it looks like it'll be arriving faster than the TV upgrade, especially if you're outside the US.

What's new in Fire TV?

The Fire TV redesign is the most significant rework in five years, and while it's currently US-only and for three Fire TV models it'll be rolling out to more devices in more countries this spring. The redesigned mobile app isn't rolling out so slowly and it isn't limited to the US: it'll be rolling out to all customers in the next few weeks, starting today.

Amazon says it's redesigned the Fire TV user interface to be "cleaner, faster and better organized" so that you'll spend less time searching and more times watching: Amazon quotes research saying that on average US customers spend 12 minutes deciding what to watch, and Amazon wants to reduce that.

In addition to the redesigned layout, Amazon's engineers have also made Fire TV faster: according to the firm "we're seeing up to 20-30% gains in speed" in some cases.

One of the simplest and most effective changes in the new UI is that you can now pin up to 20 apps to your home screen, up from the current six. And the menu button on your remote delivers faster access to games, art & photos, and Amazon's Ambient Experience.

Alexa's a big part of the new interface too, especially in its Alexa+ incarnation. That's free to Prime subscribers and available as a separate subscription to non-subscribers. Amazon says you'll be able to ask Alexa+ for informed recommendations, for example telling you about movies that share a visual style, and to ask questions as if you were talking to a friend rather than your TV.

The Amazon Fire TV update is rolling out to US customers now and more widely in the spring.

• Amazon's first major Fire TV software rework in five years
• Initially for Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023), Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, and Fire TV Omni Mini-LED
• Rollout is currently US-only; will be expanded in the Spring

Amazon is now rolling out its most exciting Fire TV device upgrade to date, featuring the first major redesign of this software in five years, and some important under-the-hood change that promise to majorly speed up your devices.

The rollout has started in the US, and it looks like Amazon is taking it slow: it's coming to just three devices to begin with. Those devices are the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023, 2nd Gen), the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, and the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV.

The update will roll out to more countries and more devices in the Spring of 2026, with third-party Fire TV devices (such as TVs from TCL, Panasonic, Hisense, Insignia and more) getting upgraded too.

What's new in the Amazon Fire TV upgrade?

This isn't just a minor refresh, although everything has been tweaked to make it look better. There's much more room for pinned apps and subscriptions, giving you 20 slots instead of the current six. There's a new streamlined navigation bar too.

One of the key goals of the update is to reduce the amount of time you spend searching for something to watch, with improved recommendations and easier access to live content too.

The focus on watching means that less commonly used features such as games, photos, music videos and the Appstore are tucked away in a three-line hamburger menu.

Alexa+ will enable you to ask questions using natural language, ask follow-up questions and generally chat with Amazon's digital assistant. If it's as good as Amazon says you'll be able to do interesting things such as ask Alexa to recommend movies that have a similar visual style. Alexa+ is included in your Prime subscription; non-subscribers can pay separately to enable the feature.

Perhaps most excitingly, Amazon says that its reworking of the underlying code makes the update "20–30%" faster – and responsiveness has always been an area where Fire TV could use a little nudge.

This also comes hot on the heels of Nvidia GeForce Now cloud gaming coming to Fire TV devices, albeit not quite in the full quality that we'd hoped for – but it's still a great combo.

According to TechCrunch, the spring rollout will cover more countries and more Fire TV models including the latest Fire TV 4K streaming players, the Fire TV 2-Series and 4-Series, and the Omni QLED Series. You'll also have it on the new Amazon Ember Artline TVs.

• Nvidia is considering a new Shield "if we find something we're super-excited about"
• Priorities would include VP9 Profile 2 decoding, AV1 and advanced HDR
• Shield can be a relatively ad-free Apple TV 4K rival

10 years is a long time in the tech and TV businesses, so it's to Nvidia's immense credit that its 10-year-old Nvidia Shield is still a much-loved streaming device. According to Nvidia's senior VP of hardware engineering, Andrew Bell, he'd "love to" see a new Shield TV box. And so would I.

That doesn't mean a new Shield is imminent, or even happening. But as Bell says, "We've played with new concepts for Shield and we'll continue to play, and if we find something we're super-excited about, we'll probably make a go of it."

Although the Shield range is 10, the most recent model is newer: it was released in 2019. And as we said in our Nvidia Shield (2019) review, it's a great bit of TV tech that's part console, part streamer, and completely convincing thanks to its excellent upscaler and powerful processor. But there are still some improvements that could be made – here's what I'd like to see from a next-gen Shield.

1. 4K 120Hz support

As I wrote last year when the Shield got a 120fps cloud gaming upgrade, the Shield has HDMI 2.0 only plus a now somewhat aged processor, and that limits what it can decode and output; "it has similar hardware to the original Nintendo Switch and is still running Android 11, and while it's great that Nvidia keeps updating it it does feel that it's time for a new one – not least because it's facing ever more rivals."

Nvidia GeForce Now, its own cloud gaming platform, can do 4K 120Hz, and this is supported in some LG TVs – but the Shield can't deliver this. A new version with HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz and enough processing power to handle it seems like a slam dunk.

2. Up-to-date wireless connectivity

Other than HDMI and processor updates, the most obvious upgrade points are the Bluetooth (currently 5.0 – newer versions can deliver lower latency) and Wi-Fi (currently 802.11ac – I'd like to see Wi-F 7, of course). And the Android version on the Shield is currently Android 11, so that's due an upgrade too.

3. Modern HDR and format support

Bell told Ars Technica that for this so-far imaginary device, priorities would include VP9 Profile 2 hardware decoding for YouTube HDR; the AV1 codec; the HDR10+ standard; and Dolby Vision profiles – certainly, the latter two would be high on my list.

4. Keep the software flexibility it has now, so we can beat the ads

The hardware above would bring the Shield up to date, but as important as the hardware is, the Shield's software matters a lot to its fans as well – and with many platforms' increasing use of advertising and data collection in the interfaces, the Shield's current customization abilities are worth highlighting: while it's not ad-free by any means (it's Android after all), and I doubt that'll change, many customers have noped-out on the default interface and gone for options such as the ad-free Projectivity launcher instead.

There's definitely a committed group who want TV streamers that don't fill their home screen and browsing spaces with obnoxious ads, which is why I have an Apple TV 4K rather than a cheaper streaming stick – but the Apple ecosystem isn't for everyone.

While the Shield's default interface does run ads, having a device where you can turn them off relatively easily is a big plus. So here's hoping that if there is a new Shield in development, it'll still be open to customer customization.

5. A much smaller Netflix button on the remote

Unnecessary!

• Nvidia exec Andrew Bell has been talking about the Shield TV
• The streaming device first launched back in 2015
• Updates are continuing, and we just might get a new model

Ten years after it first launched, the Nvidia Shield TV streaming box has gained a loyal following, and the devices continue to get updates – and one of Nvidia's executives has hinted that a new refresh of the hardware might eventually see the light of day.

In a detailed Ars Technica report, Nvidia's senior VP of hardware engineering Andrew Bell says that he'd "love to" see a new Shield TV box one day, and that it's something that's not completely off the table at Nvidia.

"We're always playing in the labs, trying to discover new things," says Bell. "We've played with new concepts for Shield and we'll continue to play, and if we find something we're super-excited about, we'll probably make a go of it."

The article covers the entire history of the Nvidia Shield TV series, from the launch of the first model in 2015. Since then we've seen updated models appear in 2017 and 2019, and that 2019 version of the Android streaming and gaming box is still on sale.

The updates will keep coming

According to Bell, the Nvidia Shield TV 2019 is still selling well, despite its age. One of the reasons for that is likely to be that users know Nvidia is committed to pushing out new software patches to keep the device up to date and secure.

Bell says that right from the beginning, when he and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang first came up with the idea of the Android-based streaming device, keeping the full range of devices supported over the years was a priority.

"Early on when we were building Shield TV, we decided we were going to make it for a long time," says Bell. "Jensen and I had a discussion, and it was, 'how long do we want to support this thing?' And Jensen said, 'For as long as we shall live.'"

Bell reveals that people are still buying the 2019 Shield TV, and that there are no plans to stop pushing out updates "any time soon". That will encourage Nvidia Shield TV fans, and so will the suggestion that new hardware might possibly appear.

• Roku has added a new Subscriptions section to its home screen
• It brings together all your subscribed services in one place
• Not everyone is pleased about the change that's been rolled out

Roku users, your home screen interface layout is changing again: you should now notice a new Subscriptions view available from your Roku device home screen, which keeps you up to date with content from the various services you're signed up for.

As spotted by Cord Cutters News, this new section displays the programs you've most recently watched via your subscribed streaming services. There are also spots for new and popular films and shows from these services.

In theory, this should make it easier to keep track of content on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, or Peacock, as long as you've signed up through the Roku interface rather than directly on the relevant apps and sites themselves.

It works automatically too: Roku will do the work of figuring out the subscriptions you have active, and what you're currently watching through those subscriptions. It should make it easier to manage your viewing across multiple platforms.

'The last thing I want'

Finally, a new feature that I can use! from r/Roku

Reaction to the change has been somewhat mixed, according to one Reddit thread. While several users are welcoming the innovation and the boost in convenience it might bring, others are asking how the feature might be disabled.

"The last thing I want to do is open an app right to the last sappy thing my wife watched," opines one Roku user – but the new Subscriptions option can be hidden, like everything else in the home screen menu, via Settings > What to Watch.

Other users aren't noticing much difference between the Subscriptions tab and the existing Continue Watching and What to Watch sections. It seems as though your mileage may vary depending on how many services you're signed up to through your Roku.

Being able to subscribe to the best streaming services through other devices and platforms is fairly common now, and it can be more convenient to have everything in one place – but bear in mind you could miss out on the best pricing and bundle options.

• Roku streaming sticks don't come with an HDMI cable in their box
• ... but you can still get one for free if you ask
• The request process is simple and should only take a few minutes

If you’ve tried a few different streaming stick brands, you’ll have noticed that Roku sticks lack a bonus HDMI cable that you’d get for free with an Amazon Fire Stick. Well, it turns out you can get this cable for free with Roku sticks too – if you know where to ask.

Whether you’re upgrading an older TV, want access to your favorite streamed content when you travel, or have some other need for one, streaming sticks from the likes of Amazon and Roku can be super handy.

But based on the design and port layout of your TV, and the other devices you have connected, it can be tricky to plug a streaming stick directly into your display – which is why Amazon Fire Sticks and others can come with an HDMI extender, a short additionable cable that creates more space between your stick and screen.

In your Roku stick’s box, you won’t find an extender, but you can request one for free from an official Roku HDMI page. You’ll just need to fill the form in with your name, address, telephone number, and your streaming stick’s serial number.

The serial number will be printed on the stick itself, with a label ‘SN:#####’ – with your device’s serial number replacing the #####. Alternatively, your stick’s serial number should appear in the Roku App; go to your Devices page, tap the three-dot menu icon next to the streaming stick, and then tap to View System Info.

With all of your information filled in, the HDMI extender will be shipped to your home free of charge – you shouldn’t even need to pay postage.

Cord Cutters News recently flagged this hidden feature, and while the request form has existed for some time, it has reportedly become a much simpler process to request an extender.

Though it’s not as streamlined as including the HDMI cable in the box to begin with, this approach does save Roku some costs and reduces tech waste. It obviously means for us consumers that setting up a Roku streaming stick can take a little longer, since we have to wait for a second package to arrive at our homes.

Not including this tool in the box might also reduce the effectiveness of Roku’s streaming sticks, as an extender can improve airflow to the stick, which helps with performance.

Though if you’ve been having any Roku stick troubles, this could be the solution you needed.

• Amazon is expanding its collection of free straming channels in its new partnership with Roku
• Fire TV users now have access to around 50 free channels from The Roku Channel streaming platform
• This follows Amazon recent Fire TV interface upgrade, which saw its biggest overhaul in five years

Hot on the heels of Amazon’s successful showcase at CES 2026, where it unveiled the new Ember Artline ‘lifestyle TV’, the company is joining forces with Roku to bring you new free streaming content from The Roku Channel – one of our best free streaming services.

Now, Amazon Fire TV users can access a selection of around 50 free new streaming channels, expanding its wide collection of FAST entertainment and sports programming. In addition to Fire TV’s new Roku channels, Amazon is also adding select channels from Fubo, which is another popular free streaming service for entertainment and sports.

One of the biggest wins with this partnership is that you don’t need any additional subscriptions or hardware such as streaming sticks to enjoy free viewing, which sounds too good to be true. Previously, you could only access Roku’s flagship FAST service on a Roku device, be that the Roku Streaming Stick Plus or the Roku Pro Series (2025), but now the company is slowly migrating out of that business model while also upgrading its own collection of channels. In October 2025, Roku devices in the UK received over 40 new free TV channels.

You can find new FAST content from The Roku Channel in the newly updated Live Guide tab on Fire TV devices, which serves as the home for all of Amazon’s free streaming platforms including PlutoTV, Tubi, and its very own Freevee.

Now that The Roku Channel is joining the Fire TV family of FAST, this brings it to a total of 14 free-to-stream services, meaning that there are now over a staggering 1,900 channels across these platforms to stream, encapsulating designated channels for reality TV, classic cinema, food, 24/7 news reports, and more.

Not only will this move result in wider access of Roku channels to non-Roku device owners, it’s also a big win for Fire TV itself as it expands its plethora of entertainment options for customers, increasing its value as a streamer.

Recently Amazon gave the Fire TV interface a huge facelift – the first one in five years I should add – which now allows you to pin up to 20 of your favorite streaming services in your homepage, making it easier for you to find its new array of free Roku channels.

• Amazon has unveiled the first major Fire TV redesign in five years, which features new layouts and smarter color schemes
• As well as its redesign the Fire TV interface reduces the amount of time you spend searching for titles to watch, making it easier for you to find movies from your streaming services
• Additionally, you can now pin up to 20 different apps to the home screen and use Alexa+ across the entire interface

The Amazon Experience at CES 2026 has brought us some exciting new announcements for the company, and after unveiling the new Amazon Ember Artline ‘lifestyle TV’, the company announced a huge piece of Fire TV news: a fresh interface revamp is coming after five years – and there’s no doubt it’s aimed at seriously competing with Google TV.

Launching in February on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen), and Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series in the US first, the new Fire TV look is modern with seamless animations and polished design upgrades, and promises to be easy to navigate. It also comes with a brand-new navigation bar with dedicated movie, TV shows, and other entertainment sections – but that’s just scratching the surface.

In its blog post announcing the new interface, Amazon described the redesign as “cleaner, faster, and better organized,” aiming to help you spend more time streaming and less time searching – a common issue us movie buffs run into. The new Fire TV revamp aims to cut down on this time by grouping movies, TV shows, sports, news, and live content from your streaming services into one space in the UI.

Already, it sounds like a winner in my eyes, but Amazon has promised even more handy functions including new organization tools. For years, Fire TV users have been restricted to pinning only six apps to the home screen, but now that’s increasing to a staggering 20, allowing you to keep all your subscriptions in one place, while taking away the chore of scrolling endlessly to find them.

As Amazon prepares to step into the world of lifestyle TVs with the Ember Artline, Fire TV Sticks are getting a similar treatment of their own. With the redesign, you can now use the 'Menu' button on the remote to launch art and images from your personal Amazon Photos account right to your TV, as well as launch games and the Ambient Experience.

Each new upgrade is one ingredient to what sounds like a delicious, multi-functional final product, but the icing on the cake is Alexa+.

Alexa, I'm in the mood for Emma Stone

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Amazon announcement without mention of Alexa+, which the company unveiled will be “available in every part of the Fire TV experience”.

Since Alexa+ was announced in February last year, Amazon has been slowly rolling its advanced AI voice assistant across its family of devices. It just launched on the web for everyone, and now it will find a new home across the Fire TV interface. You can tell it what mood you’re in, who you’re watching with, and even give examples of directors and movie stars you like for more precise results.

Needless to say, I’m quite excited to make the most of Fire TV’s next upgrade and compare its smarts to other smart TVs. But this is just the beginning of Fire TV's next era, and following its US release in February Amazon will be expanding the interface upgrade to more countries and even more devices in the spring.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• A new reference remote for Google TV has appeared
• It's the work of Ohsung Electronics and Epishine
• The remote is powered completely from indoor light

Besides televisions with Google TV built in, we're seeing a growing number of Google TV devices appear, both from Google and third parties – and now one of Google's partners has made a Google TV remote that gets its power from indoor light.

This comes from Ohsung Electronics in South Korea (via 9to5Google), and it's what's called a reference device: something that you can't go out and buy yet, but which may well inform the design and features of future products.

According to Swedish company Epishine, which supplied the solar cell, the remote "never runs out of power" thanks to the indoor solar tech – assuming, presumably, that you're not watching movies and shows in the dark all the time.

There are solar cells on either side of the remote to capture whatever light is available, which means the device is still getting power even when it's lying face down flat. There's actually no battery inside – the remote works solely from indoor light.

Good for users and the environment

The way that the Google TV remotes of today are powered depends on the device, but both the Google TV Streamer and the older Chromecast with Google TV have batteries inside the remotes that need to be replaced every so often.

That can lead to a frustrating hunt through drawers and cupboards for spare batteries if your remote dies mid-watch – though, pro tip, you can also control Google TV devices using the Google TV app for Android or iOS.

A remote like this would do away with that frustration, and of course it's also much better for the environment, as you don't have any used batteries to dispose of. Epishine says these remotes can be lighter and cheaper as well.

In fact, there's nothing bad to say about this idea, and I'm all for it – so let's hope we start seeing remotes like this appearing sooner rather than later. Eventually, you might even be able to buy it separately from your streaming device of choice.

• The Roku app has been updated on Android and iOS
• The interface has been overhauled, and there's a new design for the remote control
• 12 new channels have been added for free, including BBC Drama and BBC Adventures

Roku owners are getting some nifty upgrades for absolutely nothing: a refreshed mobile app with much-improved remote control functionality and a dozen new channels.

Let's start with the new Android and iOS apps for Roku TVs and players, which, as Cord Cutters reports, include a major upgrade in terms of the remote. Instead of the buttons that you previously had to tap, there's now a virtual touchpad that you can swipe in any direction to navigate the menus.

So, rather than tap-tap-tapping to shift the selection cursor to the right, you can just swipe the cursor across, a much more natural way of navigation, which isn't so stressful on the fingers. A further embellishment is haptic feedback that delivers subtle vibrations while swiping, adding to the natural feel of touchscreens that support this.

If you don't like the sound of the new way of working, then you can simply switch off the swipe control scheme and revert to tapping the directional arrows.

Alongside that, the interface of the Roku mobile app has been given a makeover, including a more streamlined home screen and quick shortcuts to access recently viewed channels. A networking tweak should also mean faster pairing over Wi-Fi networks.

The refreshed app is currently rolling out for Android and iOS, so you should have it soon.

A dozen new free channels

As for the 12 new channels added to the Roku experience, these freebies were also picked up by Cord Cutters.

They are as follows:

• Channel 343: Heartland Classic
• Channel 369: BBC Drama
• Channel 498: PBS Travel
• Channel 499: PBS Nature
• Channel 547: Acorn TV Mysteries
• Channel 555: Grownday Network
• Channel 730: BBC Adventures
• Channel 731: Braxton Family Adventures
• Channel 732: Bridezillas
• Channel 931: Teleports Ahora
• Channel 952: Homeful en Español
• Channel 989: Cucando Los Ángeles

As you can see, those channels include a couple from the BBC, and as the name suggests, BBC Drama will show a bunch of critically acclaimed drama series.

There's also BBC Adventures, which features exploration and survival stories, and it's worth noting that Acorn TV Mysteries carries British (as well as international) crime shows.

• Gemini for TV is coming to the Google TV Streamer, with updates rolling out today
• If your device is eligible for the update, you'll be able to have natural conversations with Gemini to search through the streamer's content
• Google also shared that you'll be able to use Gemini to 'bring learning to the biggest screen in your home'

The Google Assistant phase-out is still underway and Gemini is about to reign supreme across Google’s products – and the next one to get Gemini’s smarts is the Google TV Streamer.

Google announced on Monday in a blog post that Gemini for TV is starting to roll out to Google TV Streamer over the next few weeks. The company first unveiled its plans to expand Gemini to select TCL devices in September, with the TCL QM9K being the first Google TV model to receive the upgrade.

Now that Gemini is finally coming to the Google TV Streamer, users will be able to ask more advanced voice requests, with the company sharing that ‘Gemini for TV isn't just for entertainment’ and packs a plethora of capabilities.

Gemini for TV will now allow you to use your voice more naturally to access content on the Google TV Streamer. For example, if you and your partner or friend can’t agree on a movie to stream, you can say to Gemini, "I like dramas, but my wife likes comedies. What’s a movie we can watch together?" and it will generate ideas for you – but that’s not all.

If one of your favorite TV shows is returning and you need a recap but want to avoid having to watch an entire season, try asking, "What happened at the end of ‘Outlander’ last season?" and Gemini will bring you up to speed. Alternatively, if you can’t remember the name of a popular title but want to check it out, you can use the prompt, "What's the new hospital drama everyone's talking about?" to find your next TV binge.

As mentioned, Google’s blog post shares that Gemini for TV stretches beyond entertainment, and you’ll also have the ability to ‘Bring learning to the largest screen in your home’, as the company puts it. You can do this by having Gemini explain certain educational topics to your young ones by asking, "Explain why volcanoes erupt to my third grader" – it can even guide you through recipes and DIY projects with YouTube videos.

When Gemini for TV lands on your Google TV Streamer, you’ll be able to take advantage of its fresh update by using the microphone button on your remote. Additionally, you can check if the update is available on your Google TV Streamer device by going to Settings and into ‘Accounts & Profiles’. From there, select ‘Voice Assistant’ and you’ll find an option for ‘Gemini for TV’ if your device is eligible for the update.

Sometimes all the rumors do come true – Apple and Formula 1 have announced a new five-year partnership that will make Apple TV the exclusive home of all F1 races in the United States, starting in 2026.

As if Apple didn’t do enough this week after renaming Apple TV+ to Apple TV and then launching three devices all with the brand-new M5 chip, it’s off to the races today with some news that’ll push us all full throttle into the weekend.

And it's major news, too – and a big step for the Cupertino-based tech giant in bolstering its streaming offers. Apple TV is already home to Friday Night Baseball, MLS Season Pass for Major League Soccer games worldwide, and countless original movies and TV shows, so F1 joins a growing list.

Here’s the real kicker – no extra subscription will be required beyond subscribing to Apple TV. And if you prefer to use F1 TV Premium, you’ll need to sign in with an Apple TV subscription to stream the races there. Additionally, this is US only.

Not to mention, the arrival of F1 races next year is a fast follow-up to F1 The Movie, which made over $629 million in its theatrical run and arrives on Apple TV on December 12, 2025. Beyond just bringing in fans of Brad Pitt, it might also build more fans ahead of real F1 races hitting the platform.

Much like Apple’s approach to MLS Season Pass, it won’t just be offering every F1 race to Apple TV subscribers. It’ll be every practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix throughout the F1 season, and I suspect we’ll see original broadcast shows and documentaries.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, is both excited and bullish – “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Formula 1 and offer Apple TV subscribers in the U.S. front-row access to one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sports on the planet.”

“2026 marks a transformative new era for Formula 1, from new teams to new regulations and cars with the best drivers in the world, and we look forward to delivering premium and innovative fan-first coverage to our customers in a way that only Apple can.”

That likely means we will see some wild shots, including various camera arrays, and, similar to how Apple shot a portion of the F1 movie with an iPhone camera sensor, we could see Apple TV deploy iPhone 17 Pro on the F1 track to livestream. Apple did that just a few weeks ago with Friday Night Baseball.

Similarly, Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s president and CEO, hinted at a compelling streaming experience: “We have a shared vision to bring this amazing sport to our fans in the U.S. and entice new fans through live broadcasts, engaging content, and a year-round approach to keep them hooked. I want to thank Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and the entire Apple team for their vision and passionate approach to delivering this partnership, and we are looking forward to the next five years together.”

It seems like Apple, as well as Formula 1, are hoping to level up F1, and it might be in a similar way to how the tech giant has produced Major League Soccer – sleek graphics throughout matches, clean scores presented, a broad range of broadcast shows, complimentary documentaries, and easy streaming of all matches with no blackout dates. While MLS is global, Apple will stream Formula 1 US-only for at least the next five years.

Apple’s also going to leverage its other apps and services to bring the best of F1. You can already track your favorite teams, drivers, and races via Apple Sports, but the release also mentions deeper ties with Apple Music and Apple News.

This should be a pretty major step in Apple’s expansion of its streaming offerings, though, and I hope it brings with it the many lessons from MLS, Friday Night Baseball, and other Apple TV content. In terms of viewership, it’ll likely bring F1 to new audiences and new audiences to the Apple TV platform.

I also hope we see some experimentation with how the broadcast is captured, maybe with an iPhone like Friday Night Baseball, and with Apple Immersive-capable cameras to produce more live events for the Vision Pro.

Neither Apple nor Formula 1 is ready to share specifics on the broadcast or production just yet, but it’s likely we'll get that in the coming months as we approach the 2026 season.

Until then, we’ll be waiting for Tim Cook and Co. to say ‘It's lights out and away we go!’ and to see if Apple TV and Formula 1 create lightning on the track next year.

You might also like

• Exclusive: ‘Those phones are being treated just like any other camera’ – Inside Apple’s first Friday Night Baseball broadcast shot on iPhone 17 Pro
• Inside Apple’s quest to add a heart-rate sensor and full workout tracking into AirPods Pro 3
• Disney Imagineers brought Walt Disney back to ‘life’ and I still can’t figure out exactly how they did it

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has been renamed Fire TV Stick 4K Plus
• The change comes after release of the Fire TV Stick 4K Select
• Original 4K listing is still live, and name change yet to happen in the UK

Amazon has renamed the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus following the release of the 4K Select earlier this year.

If you've been shopping for a new Amazon Fire TV Stick, some of the best streaming devices on the market, you may have noticed a new listing, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, on Amazon's website. This is the same as the base Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K model as before, just with a new title.

As reported by Notebookcheck, the name change comes after Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Select, a cheaper 4K Fire Stick, was released earlier this year. This led to some confusion among shoppers as to which model they should buy.

One interesting thing we've noticed is that, even with the name change, both the original Fire TV Stick 4K listing and the new 4K Plus listing are live. Also, the 4K Plus listing doesn't exist in the UK.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus sits in between the entry-level 4K Select and the flagship Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It costs $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$99, whereas the 4K Select costs $39.99 / £49.99 / AU$89 and the 4K Max costs $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K lineup: which stick does what?

There are now three 4K Fire TV Sticks in the Fire TV device lineup, so it can be a bit confusing as to how they differ.

The major differences between the devices are that the Plus and Max are the only models to support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high-dynamic range formats, along with Dolby Atmos audio. The Max is also the only Fire TV stick to feature the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced.

Wi-Fi speed is also different across devices. The Max supports Wi-Fi 6E, the Plus Wi-Fi 6 and the Select Wi-Fi 5.

Lastly, the Max is the only stick to support the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which displays pictures and videos when the TV is in standby mode.

Below is a table with a full list of differences between the three devices:

For my money, the best model is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max thanks to its faster speed, higher storage and memory, and the inclusion of the Ambient Experience. Fire TV devices are frequently on sale during Prime Day and Black Friday, so that's the best time of year to pick one up, but I've listed today's best deals on the 4K Plus and 4K Max below if you're shopping for a device.

You might also like

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs Amazon Fire TV 4K Stick – here's how the new cheaper model compares to the old from what we know so far
• Amazon unveils new cheaper Fire TV 4K stick with new-gen software, plus new very affordable Fire TV sets
• Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review

• A new report says Apple is running low on Apple TVs and HomePod minis
• This could indicate new versions are about to launch
• Past rumors have said these products will get new models soon

Are you in the market for a new Apple TV or HomePod mini? If so, you might find it tricky to get one, as several Apple Stores have been running low on stock of both devices. But far from a one-off blip, these shortages might suggest that new models are about to land.

There have been rumors for some time that Apple is planning to launch new versions of these devices, but this is the first time we’ve seen claims that Apple’s existing stock is running low.

According to an example given by MacRumors, the Apple Store at Regent Street in London is completely sold out of all five colors of the HomePod mini. The website adds that some HomePod mini and Apple TV models are out of stock at other locations, but online availability seems to be better.

When Apple’s stock runs low – either online or in physical stores – it’s often a sign that the company is gearing up to discontinue the product in question. That, in turn, is an indication that a new version is on the cusp of being released.

That’s what could be happening with the Apple TV and the HomePod mini. That idea is strengthened by the fact that several sources have claimed that new versions are on the way, with the updated versions expected to arrive before the end of the year.

What can we expect?

According to the grapevine, the next Apple TV will pack in an A17 chip for faster performance and support for Apple Intelligence-infused Siri, plus a new Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip that will offer either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. There have been rumors that a future Apple TV will feature a built-in FaceTime camera, but it’s not clear if that will make it into the next model.

As for the HomePod mini, this is expected to come with an S9 chip (or potentially something newer) that, like the A17, will support Apple Intelligence-powered Siri, plus an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Sound quality will apparently be stepped up, while a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip and new color options (such as red) are also mooted.

The updates to both the Apple TV and the HomePod mini have been slated to arrive soon, with Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claiming in his Power On newsletter that they are “still very much on the road map.”

Gurman has said that Apple could launch new products “as early as this week” in a post on X, but it’s not clear if that includes the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Regardless, they’re seemingly on the way soon – an idea that the Apple Store stock shortages have only strengthened.

You might also like

• A new Apple TV 4K is still coming this year, says report – but of the rumored changes, only one is exciting to me
• New Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini expected imminently, both sporting upgraded Apple chipsets
• Apple’s first M5 products could launch this week – here are the 3 biggest rumors, from iPads to a MacBook Pro surprise

• AV2 specification will be published by the end of 2025
• More efficient video streaming with multi-stream capability
• The spec is a blueprint and will need hardware firms' support

The launch of a new video codec isn't usually a big deal. But AV2 could be very important. The Alliance for Open Media has announced that it plans to release the new codec later this year, and 53% of its members say they'll adopt it within 12 months of the final release.

Given that the AOM members include Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Netflix and Samsung – and that's just from the steering committee – that means this could be a big step forward. AV2 promises some very big improvements in what streaming can deliver, although we won't get the details until the spec has been finalized.

AV2 is focused on delivering more video using less data, reducing the load on the network without also reducing the fidelity of what you're watching. As we move to higher-resolution streaming, that's going to become increasingly important. And AV2 does more than just scrunch more video into the same stream.

AV2: the streaming boogaloo

AV2 is the successor to AV1, which was created as a royalty-free alternative to the HEVC video codec. It's been used by both Netflix and YouTube (and the adult industry, which is always a notable element in any format war…) and delivers the same quality at lower bitrates than rival codecs.

According to the Alliance, AV2 "provides enhanced support for AR/VR applications, split-screen delivery of multiple programs, improved handling of screen content, and an ability to operate over a wider visual quality range."

That split-screen option is particularly interesting, because it opens up interesting possibilities for sports and other live event streaming. And because we're optimistic types, let's interpret "wider visual quality range" to mean the chance for higher quality streaming rather than low- and medium quality.

If the members of the Alliance do what they say they will, 88% of them will adopt AV2 within two years of its release. But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be using it for everything – there are other advanced codecs, such as H.266 / VVC, that also improve on HEVC – and it needs to be supported by streaming receivers, TVs, computers and smartphones too.

But it certainly looks like AV2 could hit the ground running among some of the best streaming services and on some of the best TVs – and I'm sure the recently announced Dolby Vision 2 HDR will be factor in its support or rollout.

You might also like

• Versatile Video Coding: the key to effortless HD streaming
• Which TV makers will support Dolby Vision 2 next-gen HDR? I asked the big manufacturers, and it's a mixed bag
• I saw Dolby Vision 2 Max's Authentic Motion feature in action, and it's one of the best TV upgrades in years – Dolby experts explain why it's only coming to Max, though

• tvOS 26 is officially released today, September 15th 2025
• A new look and some fun new features
• Available for all Apple TV HD and 4K models

Happy tvOS 26 day to all who celebrate it! Today's the day when your Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K gets a brand new operating system, and because the iPhone, iPad and Mac are all getting updated too, it'll have all your Apple kit looking and feeling part of the same Apple ecosystem.

I've been using the tvOS 26 developer and public betas for a while, and these five features are my current favorites. Please note that not all features work on all older devices, though.

Look through Liquid Glass

Liquid Glass is Apple's new design language, and it comes to the Apple TV in slightly less dramatic form than on iPhone or iPad: where those devices' interfaces now look dramatically different, the already modern-looking Apple TV design has been given more of a freshen up.

The main difference you'll notice is the Control Center (which now looks as clear as the one on an iPhone) and in FaceTime (which more closely resembles the iOS app).

The new interface tries to get out of your way as much as possible, enabling you to focus on the show or movie rather than transport controls and additional options. Which is exactly what you want from a TV interface.

AirPlay for anything

Apple TV and AirPlay were made for one another, and tvOS 26 is introducing a very welcome improvement: in Settings > Video and Audio you can now make AirPlay your default audio output for any AirPlay speaker, without having to nominate it again the next time you wake up your Apple TV from sleep.

A small change for sure, but a welcome one for anyone who's wished they could use a pair of Sonos speakers as stereo TV speakers, say.

Karaoke Mode

The Sing mode in Apple Music now works with your iPhone, enabling you to bellow along to your favorite Backstreet Boys tracks (or if you're me, annoy your dog with an overly enthusiastic rendition of Who Let The Dogs Out? when she's trying to sleep).

Pairing is just a matter of scanning the on-screen QR code with your iPhone camera, and you can open the feature up from within Apple Music or by using the dedicated Sing icon that's appeared in your Home Screen.

Apple Music has a dedicated selection of Sing songs and playlists so it's just a matter of finding the ones you want to howl along to. You can also enable an on-screen visualizer to move with the music.

The Sing feature is only for the 2022 Apple TV 4K, unfortunately, and you need to be using the TV speakers, a soundbar or other wired sound system: it doesn't currently work if you're outputting to wireless speakers.

Change the screen scene

When I first saw the very first Apple TV, one of the things that impressed me most was the screensavers: Apple has consistently delivered very beautiful real-life scenes including some breathtaking aerial photography, and the collection has grown with every OS update.

The tvOS 26 update is no exception, and in addition to the new screensavers – this time from Indian locations including Goa and Kerala – there's a new way to organize them.

In tvOS 26, you can personalize the Aerial screen savers more than every before. Not only can you can hide the collection(s) you don't want to view – for example, if you really love the Earth screensavers but aren't so keen on the Underwater collection – you can now do the same on a per-screensaver basis.

Personalize your Apple TV with profiles

If you have a shared Apple TV, you probably know about user profiles already. tvOS makes them much easier to access, enabling you to have a profile selection screen when Apple TV wakes (or to bypass it and go directly to a specified profile every time).

Profiles are also going to become even more useful in tvOS 26 because Apple is now enabling developers to tie their apps to specific Apple accounts, so the profile you sign into on Apple TV will be the profile used for your various apps too.

That should make setting up your Apple TV, or setting up a new profile for the first time, much speedier.

You might also like

• iOS 26 lands today – here's exactly when it's coming to your iPhone
• iOS 26: everything you need to know
• The best Apple TV+ shows: 32 great series to stream on your newly updated Apple TV

• Roku is making it easier for small businesses to buy ads
• AI means very small businesses won't need to have or hire ad creators
• Expect many more ads from the Uncanny Valley

Whenever I check my Instagram feed and see far too many awful AI slop ads from businesses I've never heard of flogging things I'm not remotely interested in, I think "man, I wish my TV was like this." And if like me you've also recently been kicked in the head by a horse, you're going to love what Roku's predicting.

As The Verge reports, Roku finance and operating boss Dan Jedda told investors to prepare for a new era. He said "No longer is it going to be about the top 200 advertisers. It’s going to be about 100,000 advertisers."

The goal is to shift smaller businesses – think local car dealers and food places – away from social media ads and onto streaming ads instead.

What are Roku's ad plans for streaming services?

This is a really big deal because Roku is the US's market leader: Jedda said that over 20% of all US TV viewing happens on Roku devices, that the Roku Channel's 2.8% TV viewing share in July put it ahead of streamers including Peacock and HBO Max, and that the firm will soon "surpass 100 million streaming households".

That's a lot of people that advertisers want to reach, and Roku would really like to help those advertisers do that no matter how big or small they are – with AI as a big part of their ad creation toolkit.

According to Jedda, AI means that advertisers will be able to generate "very well-produced" ads within minutes. And that's going to open up ad sales to the previously overlooked small to medium-sized business market.

Roku isn't pretending it'll be the only game in town. But if its AI ad toolkit proves compelling to advertisers, then other providers are going to want to compete with that – and that means more AI ads on everything, everywhere.

You might also like

• Roku UK users will soon get access to 40 free streaming channels – here’s what we know about Roku’s free upgrade so far
• HBO Max users warned of price hikes and password crackdowns as Warner Bros' CEO eyes ‘real opportunity’ to charge more
• Best streaming service: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and more

• Apple TV upgrade from A15 Bionic to A17 Pro
• Apple's new wireless chip in Apple TV and HomePod mini
• Could arrive any time between now and the holidays

Apple's excellent Apple TV 4K is getting a big upgrade any day now, and the second-generation HomePod mini's getting a speed bump too. That's according to the latest leaked news leaked by, er, Apple.

As AppleInsider reports, details in Apple's own code indicate that the next generation of Apple TV 4K will come with the A17 Pro chip; the current model has the A15 Bionic.

I'm using the tvOS 26 beta on my Apple TV 4K and it clearly doesn't need any more processing power to handle the new Liquid Glass interface or the games you can play on it. And that suggests that other than more efficient decoding of video and audio formats, it's going to be for Apple Intelligence.

Apple TV 4K 2025 and the HomePod mini 2

The 2025 Apple TV 4K is likely to launch any time in the next three months, and is expected to have Apple's new wireless chip too. That would give the TV box Wi-Fi 6E support to match the current MacBooks; the 2022 model has Wi-Fi 6. And the same chip is expected to make its way into the forthcoming HomePod mini 2.

The HomePod mini has been around forever in computer years – it launched way back in 2020 – and the same report says it's getting an upgrade too. This is going to be much more minor, however, with the small speaker getting a variation of the S-series chips found inside the Apple Watch Series 9, 10 and the imminent 11.

The current HomePod mini is already S-powered but the 2025 version of the processor is likely to be significantly faster; again, the most likely beneficiary of that power is Apple Intelligence. If that means an end to the incredibly long pauses between me asking Siri to do something and Siri responding, I'll buy the new model in a heartbeat.

You might also like

• Apple TV 4K (2022) review: the best streaming device for Apple users
• A new Apple TV 4K is still coming this year, says report
• Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: which streaming box is best?

• New Apple TV device still on track for late 2025, says report
• Apple reportedly plans to make it significantly cheaper
• Claimed upgrades appear to be relatively minor and predictable

I've had every generation of Apple TV since the first one, and you'll have to pry my Apple TV 4K from my cold dead hands. So you might expect me to be really excited by the prospect of a brand new model later this year – after all, there have been three years of potential tech improvements since the last one launched in 2022. But I'm feeling pretty underwhelmed by the latest report.

According to MacRumors' "reliable source", Apple is "highly likely" to replace the current Apple TV 4K with a newer model before the end of 2025.

That fits with the usual Apple timetable for its TV streamer; we're not on an iPhone-esque annual upgrade cycle with these devices. But the only thing that sounds really interesting to me about this reported device is that it may be considerably cheaper than the current model. That's great if you don't have one and want one. But what if you're already an Apple TV owner?

Apple TV 4K 2025: what to expect

The reported improvements are all pretty predictable: Wi-Fi 7 (which many Apple devices don't support; Apple's current MacBook models have 6E), Apple's own design of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip, and a newer processor. 8K support is unlikely.

Don't get me wrong. A smoother processor that's even more responsive would be nice, as would passthrough for uncompressed audio (though that feature is claimed to come to existing models too).

But a key part of my lack of excitement is that the Apple TV 4K is already one of the best TV streamers out there and has been for years, and that's more about the software than the hardware – and the things that bug me, such as Siri's frequent inability to understand even very simple voice searches, are software too.

I want my TV streamer to be the least interesting and flashy bit of kit in my home: at the end of a long day, when the kids have finally gone to bed or gone out, I want to press a button, get a bunch of stuff to watch, and hit play. Provided it looks and sounds good – and Apple TV+ on Apple TV 4K does both – that's about all I care about; I get my recommendations from people and publications rather than AI or algorithms, so I'm not really interested in anything AI.

And after years of hearing about how the next Apple TV will be the one that's great for gaming, I'm pretty cynical about that side of it: I've got multiple consoles and handhelds for me and the kids, and we just don't bother with gaming on Apple TV.

That means I'm really struggling to think of a feature that Apple could add that would make me want to upgrade beyond the usual "look at the new shiny!" that I'm often a sucker for.

I hope I'm pleasantly surprised by the new model, but I suspect this update is going to be primarily financial: a cheaper, slightly better version of what we've already got is more about getting new customers than exciting existing ones.

It's not that a new Apple TV would be bad. It's that the current one is already so good.

You might also like

• Slow Horses season 6: everything we know so far about the hit Apple TV+ show's return
• 5 new Apple TV+ shows you should stream in August 2025 By Rowan Davies
• Apple TV 4K (2022) review: the best streaming device is better and cheaper

• The Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) is coming soon
• Faster CPU/GPU running Google TV instead of Android TV
• HDR10+ and DTS:X as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

Xiaomi's Google TV streaming stick has been updated with some significant improvements. While the underlying hardware hasn't changed dramatically beyond a new CPU – RAM and storage are the same 2GB and 8GB as before – there are some key audio and video improvements.

The new Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) has a new chipset built around a a quad-core Cortex-A55 CPU and Mali-G310 GPU, which Xiaomi says delivers 80% better CPU performance and a 150% boost to the graphics performance compared to the first generation of the 4K streamer. Wi-Fi is faster, and there's improved HDR and audio support too.

Xiaomi TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen): key features and pricing

One of the most significant changes is that Xiaomi has swapped OSes: where the original TV Stick ran on Android TV, this one has Google TV. That means a more modern-looking, streamlined interface and better recommendations across the various streaming services you use.

The new second-generation TV Stick now supports HDR10+ as well as the previous model's Dolby Vision. And there's been a similar audio upgrade with the addition of DTS:X support alongside the existing Dolby Atmos support.

The Wi-Fi is now Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth is the same 5.2 as before. And the remote has been slightly redesigned with a new button for Xiaomi's own free live TV service.

What we don't know yet is what it'll cost when it officially launches, or when that launch will be. Android Authority has spotted it on AliExpress, where it's being offered with a claimed $86 discount that drops the price to around $49 (about £36 ex VAT).

The first generation TV Stick 4K is currently $56.99 on Amazon US and £49.99 on Amazon UK.

You might also like

• Best Android box of 2025: Our top picks for TV, gaming, and more
• Best streaming service: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and more.
• Google TV Streamer: release date, price and everything you need to know

• The delayed Android 14 update is rolling out now to Chromecast with Google TV devices
• It's available to devices running Android 12 and the short-lived previous Android 14 update
• The largest download is 809MB

Back in March we reported that Chromecasts were getting a free update to Android 14 – and they were, for a while, until Google pulled the over-the-air update. But now the update is back! Back! BACK!

There are two versions of the update: a small one for anyone who downloaded the initial Android 14 update before it was pulled, and a larger one for anyone who didn't and whose device is still running Android 12.

Chromecast with Google TV and Android 14: what's new?

The update includes the January 2025 security patch; Find My Remote and Customizable Button for the Google TV Streamer Voice Remote; various bug fixes; and system optimizations. But the most important thing is that it updates the operating system from Android 12 to Android 14.

According to Google that means "a snappier, more responsive TV experience".

The previous version of the update was pulled amid reports that external drives, some USB devices and some Ethernet adaptors weren't working properly but judging by reports on Reddit's r/Chromecast subreddit, the new update isn't causing similar – although it seems that some users are still encountering some minor glitches.

The new Android 14 update is rolling out to Chromecast with Google TV (4K) users now.

You might also like

• Our in-depth Chromecast with Google TV review
• Why Google has stopped selling the Chromecast with Google TV
• Google TV Streamer: release date, price and everything you need to know

• Roku has new home page layout to make key sections faster to find
• Very much a work in progress and likely to change again
• You can opt out if you're offered the update

If your Roku TV home screen appears to have been redesigned overnight, don't worry: it just means you're one of the chosen few who get to see what might be the next evolution of the Roku TV interface.

As The Verge reports, Roku is testing a rejigged version of the home page with a small number of Roku users in order to assess whether or not they like it. The firm is "trying some different approaches" to the functionality of the home page, Roku's Preston Smalley explained. "We’re definitely trying to see how much control people want, but that's something we want to hear from customers on."

What's changing in the Roku TV home screen

Although this is only a test, it does indicate the most likely changes coming to your home page in the not too distant future. The first thing you'll notice is that the home button on your remote takes you straight into the main grid rather than to the sidebar, which is where it takes you in the current version.

Live TV and Featured Free have been moved from the sidebar into the main grid to make them more obvious; Roku says that these "compelling and delightful destinations" weren't being used by many people, and they expect more prominent placement to mean more people being compelled and delighted.

The Quick Access section is designed to make it easier to see your favorite apps, but for now it's automated: The Verge says that you can't manually remove apps or add different ones.

Underneath Quick Access there's "The Best Across Your Streaming Services" which is the new home for the Live TV and Featured Free options as well as Subscriptions and For You, which as you'd expect is where you'll find personalized recommendations.

This is very much a work in progress so if you've got it on your Roku TV it may change again during the testing phase – and if you're one of the chosen few it's not compulsory, so you can opt out of the test if you'd rather wait for the final, finished version.

You might also like

• Our Roku Ultra (2024) review: a souped-up streamer with a fantastic remote
• Roku Streaming Stick review: the cheapest Roku streamer if you don’t need 4K
• Roku Streaming Stick Plus review: a budget 4K streamer that hides behind your TV

Roku Streaming Stick: Two-minute review

The Roku Streaming Stick is cheap, compact, and easy to use. As the cheaper of Roku’s two newest streaming sticks, the other being the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, it has its limitations – specifically, no 4K or HDR support – but the value proposition here is very good. If you’re trying to save money, it might be among the best streaming devices out there.

As far as competition goes at this price point, there’s really only the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, which is slightly more expensive. Of course, if you care about getting the best performance and features and are willing to pay for it, I suggest going for the Roku Ultra (2024) instead.

The Roku Streaming Stick is literally just a stick with an HDMI port on the end, and is small even by streaming stick standards. When I reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Sticks that came out in 2023 ( still current models), I had trouble fitting their bulky bodies into the HDMI slots behind my TV, so the svelte design of the Roku Streaming Stick is welcome.

The only visual difference between this and the Streaming Stick Plus version is that the Roku logo is purple as opposed to an etched design, making it look just a bit cheaper than its big brother. Otherwise, it’s identical, with the same somewhat convex case, with the HDMI male jack on one end, and the USB-C charging port on the other. There’s also a reset button, and that’s it.

It’s worth noting that Roku only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging – there’s no power supply or adapter. When I first saw this on the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (again, they’re identical in this regard), I was a little upset that I was expected to pay extra for an adapter. But then I realized there was a good reason for the lack of an adapter, since you’re expected to use the USB port on your TV to power the streaming stick.

Because you’re powering the stick from the TV’s USB port, which is usually just a few slots over from the HDMI connections, there are no hanging cables from the device. This means you’ll end up with a cleaner-looking setup using the Roku Streaming Stick.

The included remote control is Roku’s voice remote. It has a slightly bulky body with a little bit of weight that makes it nice to handle while still being fairly compact. The buttons include dedicated play/pause buttons – a feature I appreciate over the navigation wheel layout that most remotes have. And there’s also a voice assistant button, which lets you make voice commands when holding it down. It’s not Roku’s best remote – that would be the one included with the Roku Ultra – but it’s good enough and about what one would expect at this price point.

The Roku Streaming Stick is intended to be an entry-level HD device, so there’s no 4K or HDR support. I tested it on a 65-inch TV, and the picture quality was still pretty good. If you’re getting this for a guestroom TV, it’s probably worth saving the few extra bucks.

The Roku Streaming Stick’s biggest sticking point is its performance. Given the stick’s low price, you shouldn’t expect the world, but it’s still worth noting. The actual streaming experience is fine and without interruption, but the Roku Streaming Stick has a slight delay when interacting with it, with the onscreen cursor moving just a fraction of a second after a button press, so you feel like it’s catching up.

It’s worth noting that the Roku Streaming Stick uses the old 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi standard, which is even slower than the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) one used by the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. You probably don’t need the latest Wi-Fi standard for a streaming device, but the Streaming Stick’s slower and older WiFi standard is a potential reason why it runs a little slower.

The Streaming Stick’s interface is the usual intuitive one I expect from Roku. There are a few watch suggestions at the top, but the home screen is otherwise just a series of tiles for different apps. I appreciate its simplicity compared to the more congested interfaces used by Google TV, Fire TV, and other smart TV platforms. If you prefer that type of layout, Roku has a similar setup when you click on the “What To Watch” tab on the homescreen.

There’s a good amount of free content available to stream directly through the Roku interface. There’s also a Sports tab, but you still need a subscription to whichever service has the rights to your favorite sport. Otherwise, Roku’s interface here is its usual rock-solid self.

Roku Streaming Stick: Price and release date

• $29.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50)
• Released April 2025

Thirty bucks or quid for a streaming device is impossible to beat. The closest to that is probably the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD that I mentioned earlier at $34.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.

The question you need to ask yourself is whether it’s worth saving ten bucks for this version over the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which goes for $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70). The design of both sticks is the same, and so are the limitations in performance. If you’re trying to just get the cheapest streaming stick with 4K and HDR support (but not Dolby Vision), the Plus version is the one you’ll want. But if you have an older TV that doesn’t support those features, the basic Roku Streaming Stick will be ideal.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is also a good streamer to look at as it’s regularly discounted to the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. And unlike Roku products, that model is available for purchase in Australia.

Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Roku Streaming Stick review: Also consider

How I tested the Roku Streaming Stick

• Used regularly for a week
• Tested with various apps
• Tested the remote

I used the Roku Streaming Stick regularly for a few days to evaluate everything it can do. I used it to stream Roku content and movies and shows from apps like Max. I also spent time using the remote and testing its various functions.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2025

• Passthrough audio option is coming to tvOS 26
• It's in the audio framework, but developers need to use it
• tvOS 26 is expected later this year

Apple's tvOS doesn't get quite as much attention during WWDC as the bigger-selling products such as the iPhone, and that means it usually takes a few days for some of the most interesting Apple TV news to emerge even beyond the top five tvOS 26 feature you need to know about. And that's the case this year, because an important audio change is coming in tvOS that wasn't mentioned during the event.

AppleInsider reports that there's a new reference on the Apple Developer documentation for AVFAudio that has a "passthrough" setting. AVFAudio is Apple's framework for playing, recording and processing audio on tvOS as well as iOS, macOS and watchOS.

AppleInsider has apparently checked in with Apple, and Apple has confirmed that yes, there will be passthrough in the tvOS upgrade. And that's a big change for serious audio equipment.

Why passthrough was wanted by hardcore home theater fans

When you use a streaming app on Apple TV, whether it's Apple's own Apple TV+, Netflix, Prime Video or any one of the best streaming services, the audio decoding and initial processing is handled by your Apple TV before being output to your system – so even if you have really high-end home theater hardware at the end of your HDMI, you're stuck with Apple's processed audio as your input.

Apple TV's audio processing is really good: I often burst into a grin when there's a particularly impressive bit of Atmos action. But higher-spec hardware is likely to be even better, so it's good to have the option to let that hardware handle 100% of the sound processing rather than leave it to Apple.

This isn't limited to Apple TV; the same framework handles the audio on iPhones, Macs and even Apple Watches. But of course it's on the Apple TV where it's likely to matter most, so you can pass the raw audio data to a beefy AV receiver.

For now, though, passthrough is only a possibility: it may be in the framework, but it's up to developers to implement it in their apps, or for Apple to make it selectable in the Apple TV settings; so far at least, the latter option isn't in the developer beta of tvOS 26, but would maybe be the ideal end result.

You might also like

• The 5 new Apple TV 4K features coming in tvOS 26 you need to know about
• AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 will get two useful free upgrades in iOS 26
• The best soundbars: TV audio upgrade for all budgets

• tvOS 26 said to come to the 2015 Apple TV HD and later models
• "Dramatic" visual changes may not be so dramatic on Apple TV
• More gaming features are coming, and most likely AI too

Update: Apple has now announced tvOS 26 as part of WWDC 2025, and has revealed that the software update will bring a new 'Liquid Glass' look, personalized viewing recommendations and the ability to choose a user profile as soon as you wake your Apple TV, the addition of Apple Music Sing, smarter FaceTime calling, setting any AirPlay speaker as a default audio output, and new aerial screensavers.

As predicted below, the software will work on all Apple TV model going back to 2015, though not all features will stretch that far back. The new look will only be available on Apple TV 4K 2nd Generation and later, while Apple Music Sing will only be available on Apple TV 4K 3rd Generation and later.

As far as we know, the other features will work on all devices, but the software is only just available to developers now, so more may be revealed once it gets out in the wild.

The rest of this story remains as originally written below.

Apple's WWDC 2025 event begins today, and you can read about all of the last-minute rumors in our WWDC liveblog. One certainty is that Apple execs will use so many superlatives that you'll develop a twitch whenever you hear the word "incredible". But it's going to be an interesting event because Apple is expected to show off significant upgrades to all of its operating systems.

iOS 26 is going to be the star, because of course the iPhone is Apple's most important product. But we'll also be getting upgrades to the other OSes, including tvOS, and there's good news on that front: a new report says Apple expects to bring tvOS 26 to Apple TV models going back a decade.

What Apple TV models will get tvOS 26?

The news of supported devices comes via MacRumors and a super-secret X account with "a proven track record for upcoming software updates". MacRumors says it has "high confidence" that the source is correct, and if that's the case, then tvOS is coming to all of these Apple TV models:

• Apple TV HD (2015)
• Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017)
• Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021)
• Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022)

If you're wondering where tvOS 20 to 25 went, they don't and won't exist: Apple is changing its numbering system so all of its operating system versions are in sync, so that means iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26 and tvOS 26 are all coming this year (and no, you haven't missed a year, it's still 2025).

We're expecting to see a visual refresh across all of those systems, with what's been described as a "liquid glass" interface; the difference may be less dramatic on tvOS than on iPhone, as Apple has been quietly tweaking the tvOS interface in recent months.

We don't yet know what else could be coming to tvOS 26, but more AI-powered features are likely, and Apple has already announced a new cross-platform Games app. We'll hopefully find out more later today, June 9.

You might also like

• Our Apple TV 4K (2022) review: it's going to be good for years to come
• Apple's rumored iOS 19 gaming app is exciting for Apple fans
• Apple might be close to launching a dedicated hub for gaming on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad - and Apple TV too

• A new report is highlighting just how secure the Apple TV 4K is
• It says it's the best for streaming privacy as Apple isn't focused on selling ads

There is no shortage of streaming boxes or streaming sticks, but ever since the original Apple TV was unveiled, the Cupertino-based tech giant’s offering has always been decidedly premium. And beyond the easy integration with other Apple devices and the ability to live within the ecosystem, it’s also earned an accolade for being one of the best privacy-focused streaming boxes.

That is, according to a new report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) who spoke with Ars Technica. It all comes back to the idea of many streaming boxes integrating advertisements directly into the experience. You’ll find that on Roku as well as on Amazon Fire TV devices, which in some cases have full banner ads. It’s also common for smart TVs, from the likes of LG and Samsung, as well.

The director of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), RJ Cross, told them, “Apple’s primary business model isn’t dependent on selling targeted ads, so it has somewhat less incentive to harvest and monetize incredible amounts of your data.” And it’s a good point, since this also limits the amount of tracking Apple might need to do on the device.

Yes, your recently watched list is available and can sync across devices, and content recommendations are also available. However, it’s not engaging ACR (or “automatic content recognition”) to track everything you’re doing on the device. This technology is primarily used to track viewing habits and what has been consumed on a TV, ultimately to build a profile. However, Apple has confirmed to Ars Technica that at this time or in the past, the streaming box has not used this technology.

That’s a big win for consumers and comes to the ultimate recommendation from PIRG that the Apple TV 4K is the best bet for privacy-conscious consumers who want a best-in-class streamer. You’ll still need to sign in with your Apple Account and agree to “Data & Privacy” terms during the setup process, but it’s less demanding than other streamers on the market.

The data that is collected, like what you or other profiles on the Apple TV 4K are watching or searching for, is done so anonymously, meaning it’s not traceable back to you or any other user on the streaming box. That data, once anonymized, can be shared with streaming services that use Apple’s APIs and offer apps. Here, additionally, you do have the ability to turn off some of the personalization and recommendation features.

When you use Siri, either through the Siri Remote that pairs with the Apple TV or another Apple device to control the Apple TV 4K, those conversations will fall under Apple’s general Siri privacy stipulations. For some requests and asks, the transcription is sent anonymized with no personal details to Apple’s servers, but it will only stick around for at most six months.

You can see the conversation between Ars Technica and the Public Interest Research Group here. If you’ve been considering the Apple TV 4K, you can read TechRadar’s full review here. It’s expected that at WWDC 2025 – Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference – a major update for tvOS will be announced, introducing a new look that we’ll likely call sleek, along with some other more advanced features.

With tvOS 18 last year, Apple gave subtitles a significant upgrade. When you hit mute, it automatically starts closed captioning. It was a small change that made a big difference.

You might also like

• We're all on AI time now and you better get used to it
• Here’s what to expect from WWDC 2025
• Forget the Switch 2 – I've just tried the Lenovo Legion Go S and now I'm hooked on AAA gaming

• Two 2014 Sticks and one 2016 model are no longer supported
• Newer models aren't currently discounted
• The 4K Max would be our choice of replacement

A few weeks ago we reported that Netflix would stop supporting some older Fire TV devices from June 2025 – and that's coming into force today, 3 June.

Netflix hasn't gone into detail about why it's ending support for the devices, but the usual explanations are that they're too old to handle the latest security updates, as well as more modern audio and video formats streaming services such as Netflix prefer: the affected Fire TV devices are from 2014 and 2016, which is an eternity in tech years.

These particular Fire TV Sticks haven't been updated in years, so it's always been a case of when they'd go obsolete rather than whether they would.

If you're going to get another Amazon device to replace yours and don't mind doing without Netflix for a while, I'd recommend hanging on for a little while: Amazon discounts its Fire TV devices all the time, but it isn't doing it today. I'll be very surprised if it doesn't discount at least one model in time for Father's Day.

What Fire TV Sticks has Netflix stopped supporting?

From June 3, 2025, the first generation versions of the following models will no longer be Netflix-compatible:

• Fire TV (2014)
• Fire TV Stick (2014)
• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (2016)

And to be fair, Netflix has supported these devices for a very long time.

If you're looking for a new Fire TV Stick, the model I'd recommend is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The non-Max version has an official price of $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$79 while the Max is $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119, and for not much more money the Max gives you more storage, a faster processor and better Wi-Fi connectivity too.

The Max has been discounted several times this year so far, taking the US price to $39.99 and taking it under £50 in the UK. So if you don't mind pausing your Netflix watching for a little while, it's probably worth waiting for the next Amazon Fire TV Stick deal to pop up.

You might also like

• The best streaming device for your TV
• The best Android boxes for TV, gaming and more
• Best streaming service: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and more

Roku Streaming Stick Plus: Two-minute review

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus has a lot to commend it. It’s very affordable, compact enough to take on the road, and power-efficient enough to run off a USB port on the back of a TV. Its only flaw, and it’s kind of a big one, is that there’s a little lag when navigating menus, possibly due to its older Wi-Fi standard. However, there are no performance issues once you get a show or movie streaming.

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is ideal for someone on a budget or who wants a streamer that can tuck behind a mounted TV. If performance is a top priority, though, the more expensive Roku Ultra (2024), which I think is among the best streaming devices available right now, is worth the upgrade.

When first unboxing the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, it’s almost surprising how small it is. Measuring just 3.7 x 0.80 x 0.45 inches, it’s dwarfed by the Roku Voice Remote it comes with.

Since it’s so small, it has just an HDMI male port on one end for plugging directly into a TV and a USB-C female port situated on the other end for power. There’s also a very small reset button on the same end as the USB-C port.

Interestingly, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus doesn’t come with a power supply. Instead, it only comes with a cable with a USB-A port on the other end. The idea is that this streaming stick is so efficient that it draws all the power it needs from the powered USB port on the back of a TV – a pretty cool concept as you don’t see any of the device when looking at the TV.

The Roku’s Voice Remote is not the company’s best remote – that belongs to the Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) that comes with the Roku Ultra (2024) streaming box and the Roku Pro Series TVs – but it ticks all the usual boxes. It feels nice the way Roku remotes do with their rounded back, and there are separate Play / Pause buttons instead of the wheel of inputs a lot of remotes have these days. There are App buttons for various streaming services and, most importantly, there’s the voice command button, which lets you talk into the remote.

Now, performance is where the Roku Streaming Stick Plus can suffer a little bit. Before I discuss that, I do want to say that once I got something started and was streaming in 4K, there were no issues such as stuttering or other artifacts.

When first getting past setup, I started browsing the apps, and there was a small lag moving from tile to tile or from menu entry to entry. Though that was the worst, I still noticed a very short delay. This could be because the Roku Streaming Stick Plus uses the somewhat dated Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard. Also, its processor could be underpowered.

As far as the Roku interface goes, it’s the same standard layout the company uses for all its streaming products. It’s a tile-first view, where you browse various apps instead of recommended content from those apps as you would with a Google or Alexa streaming device. (There is a small selection of suggestions at the top of the interface, however.)

The Roku ecosystem has plenty of free content, offering 500 different channels along with the Roku Channel. There’s even a general Sports tab in the menu.

If you want to use the Roku Streaming Stick Plus for streaming movies, be aware that it doesn’t support every feature. It can stream in 4K with HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG high dynamic range, but it does not support Dolby Vision. On the smart home front, it supports Roku Smart Home, Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home. Also worth mentioning is that it will pass through Dolby encoded audio and DTS digital surround.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus: Price and release date

• $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70)
• Released April 2025

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is affordably priced for a 4K streaming stick, selling for just $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70). Compare that to the Roku Ultra (2024), which goes for $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150).

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) is similar in a lot of ways, but uses the Alexa ecosystem and supports Dolby Vision. It’s also bigger despite having the same form factor. (When reviewing The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, I remember having to use the included dongle as the Fire TV Stick was too bulky to fit directly into my TV’s HDMI port.) Amazon’s streaming stick is priced much higher at $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119, but it’s regularly discounted to around for the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus.

If you want to go as cheap as possible, Roku also has the Roku Streaming Stick that only goes up to 1080p (HD) resolution, skipping out on 4K and HDR support. It’s a bit cheaper at $29.99 / £29.99, so if you have an older TV, it might be worth it to save the ten bucks.

Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick Plus?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Roku Streaming Stick Plus review: Also consider

How I tested the Roku Streaming Stick Plus

• Used regularly for a week
• Tested with all sorts of apps
• Tested the remote

I used the Roku Streaming Stick Plus regularly for a weekend, just enough to see everything it can do. I used it with free Roku content and popular third-party apps like Max. I also spent time testing the remote and its various functions.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2025

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the on-going bane of Apple's secrecy policies, Apple is not only planning to redesign iOS, iPadOS and macOS to more closely resemble the 'spatial computing' platform of the Apple Vision Pro – it's also planning to bring this new look to tvOS 19, the software that runs on the Apple TV 4K.

We don't know exactly what this will look like, but I actually love this idea – at least, in the version that I'm imagining. There are two things I'd expect that I think would be big improvements; one practical, and one aesthetic.

There is also, however, one huge potential pitfall – one that I broadly trust Apple to avoid, but that I still wouldn't bet money against.

First, the practical improvement. I think it's faintly ridiculous that tvOS still doesn't support picture-in-picture, so you can keep an eye on two sports games at the same time from different apps, or keep your eye on a Twitch marathon or live rolling news event while watching something else.

The floating windows of Vision Pro are an obvious fit for this in terms of design affordances and could give a really cool 3D look to that kind of layout. In software terms, an 'affordance' is something that lets you know what a piece of software design is supposed to do. So, for example, the faintly 3D look of a phone's keyboard indicates that these are buttons you can press.

Perhaps we'll not only get picture-in-picture, but also floating small versions of apps in the same way you get on iPadOS, so you can see sports stats while watching something else.

The aesthetic idea I'm imagining is a home screen that has a 3D layering element, similar to that of visionOS. The app icons float at the front, with an image behind them – and hopefully something more interesting than a plain background.

I'd love to have the more gentle options from Apple's screensavers moving in the background here – a slow track through a forest, waves and fish gently washing past the screen – while the app icons shine in front.

You could choose your own videos to play in the background, too – but maybe something smart could be done with still images as well. Photos you take on your iPhone have depth data stored, so I wonder if Apple could do something subtle with the image's 3D elements, so they shift slightly at times to make the image look like a diorama within your TV.

Apple does this a little with thumbnails in the Apple TV movie and TV store, where some 'posters' for movies have a subtle 3D effect when you hover over them.

However, this idea of background video is also the part that could become more annoying than delightful. You know how basically all the best TVs and best streaming devices have prominent ads for shows you have no interest in from streaming services? And how the best streaming services often have a nasty habit of auto-playing trailers when you're just browsing?

The worst version of this idea would have the trailer for Prime Video's latest mediocre spy thriller autoplaying full screen behind the apps while you're browsing. And in theory, this would then stop when you move to highlight another app instead, but if that other app also starts playing a trailer, that's not going to be any better. Your eyes will start melting in minutes if the background bounces from trailer-start to trailer-start while you're scrolling over to fire up Netflix.

I don't think Apple will go this route – it hasn't so far, and a big part of the Apple TV 4K's popularity with the home theater enthusiast community at large outside of Apple fans is because people are happy to pay more for an ad-free home screen.

However, with the threat of increased tariffs on Apple products in the US, Apple may find itself wanting to make more money elsewhere to cover any costs it has to eat. So while I don't think it's likely that Apple will allow intrusive trailers on the tvOS home screen, I'm not ruling it out.

But in general, I like the idea of a little more depth to my TV screen – and I already really love the nature screensavers on Apple TV, so I'd really love to have them appear even more often, as a window to another place around the world every time I turn my TV on.

We'll likely find out more at WWDC 2025, which is coming in early June.

You might also like…

• Apple TV audio not syncing properly? tvOS 18.5 should fix this strange Dolby Atmos bug
• The streaming competitor that delivers 4K Blu-ray quality just launched its cheapest ever 4K movie player
• Netflix won't work on some Amazon Fire TV devices from June – here are the affected models

• Netflix support for first-gen Fire TV is ending in June
• Older Fire TV devices can't play more modern video codecs
• Try Amazon Trade-In to get money off a newer model

After a decade, Netflix is ending support for first-generation Fire TV streaming devices. From June 3, 2025, first generation versions of the following models will no longer be Netflix-compatible:

• Fire TV (2014)
• Fire TV Stick (2014)
• Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote (2016)

The announcement, which Netflix has emailed its customers about, isn't a huge surprise: Amazon hasn't updated them for some time now, and the early Fire TV devices don't support the most modern video and audio formats.

Even in 2023, some users on the FireTV subreddit were advising against buying them new.

Why is Netflix stopping support for the Fire TV models?

Netflix hasn't said specifically, but the most likely explanation is that the devices don't support the audio and video codecs Netflix is using. As PC World, whose sister title PC-WELT broke the news, reported: "It could have something to do with Netflix using newer standards – such as the AV1 codec – to stream with better picture quality, particularly for customers who are on the Premium plan." The now-discontinued devices can't be upgraded to support newer codecs.

If you're the owner of one of the affected models and want to keep streaming Netflix, you'll need to buy one of the current range instead. And as ever with Amazon devices, try not to pay full price for it: Amazon discounts its Fire TV devices constantly throughout the year, and I wouldn't be surprised if the retailer reacts to the Netflix news by discounting them accordingly. At the time of writing, my preferred upgrade is 33% off in the US among the Memorial Day deals.

If I were upgrading from an old Fire TV device I'd skip the 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K and go for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. There's not a huge price difference – the non-Max version has an official price of $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$79 while the Max is $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119. For a little more, you get more storage, a faster processor, better Wi-Fi and Amazon's Ambient experience.

In the US, that model gone down to $39.99 four times this year – including today, May 21st. For UK customers, the Max has been discounted to £50 or below three times this year so far.

You might also like

• The best streaming device for your TV
• The best Android boxes for TV, gaming and more
• Best streaming service: Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and more

• Kaleidescape Strato E launches today, for $2,995 / AU$5,899 (about £2,200)
• 4K Blu-ray image quality, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
• 480GB of on-board storage, and you can buy more

If you're looking for a serious movie player that delivers far better quality than streaming but doesn't require the disc collection of the best 4K Blu-ray players, Kaleidescape offer some excellent models such as the five star Strato V Movie Player. At just under $4K, though, the Strato V is beyond many viewers' budgets – so the arrival of a new sub-$3K player with serious specs is very welcome indeed.

The new player is called the Strato E and it bears a strong resemblance to the rest of the Strato family. It's designed to work as a standalone device with on-board storage to download movies to, but you can also team it up with Terra Prime servers for large movie collections, and you can use multiple Strato devices across multiple rooms.

Kaleidescape Strato E: key features and pricing

The Strato E is designed for home theater enthusiasts, marine installations and commercial setups. It's a 4K player with SDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, it has BT.2020 color space and 4:4:4 chroma, and it displays at up to 2160p at 60fps.

The key thing about Kaleidescape's products is that you get the same high bitrate version of the movies as you get on 4K Blu-rays, which is many times the data you get when streaming, even in 4K.

This means you get more detail, more natural color reproduction, and clearer motion in movies.

The Strato E also supports lossless multi-channel and spatial audio including DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, with additional support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and Linear PCM up to 7.1ch, 96kHz/24-bit. Everything is output via HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3.

The Strato E is designed to work seamlessly with Kaleidescape's high-quality movie store, and its 480GB internal storage is large enough for six full-quality 4K movies. Watched movies are automatically removed after 48 hours to free up space, but of course you can re-download them at any time. A full movie download is said to take around 10 minutes over gigabit Ethernet, which Kaleidescape strongly recommends in our experience.

It's worth noting that in our Strato V review we praised the movie store for offering 4K movies often long before their physical disc release, but we did feel that while "in the US the choice is huge… elsewhere the choice isn't as impressive, and films take longer to be added."

The Strato E sits in the Kaleidescape range above the entry-level reference 2K player, the Strato M, and below the Strato V. And it's priced accordingly, with a US price of $2,995 and an Australian price of AU$5,899, making it Kaleidescape's most affordable 4K player.

UK pricing hasn't been announced just yet, but for context, the flagship Strato V is currently retailing at $3,995 / £5,380 / AU$7,499.

The Strato E is available in the US an Australia now.

You might also like

• Our in-depth Kaleidescape Strato V review
• Best 4K Blu-ray players 2025: our top picks for Ultra HD discs
• If you're going streaming-only for movies, you're missing out

• Apple has released tvOS 18.5 for Apple TV devices
• The update fixes a synchronization bug with Dolby Atmos
• The issue has been affecting users for months

If you’ve found that the sound from your Dolby Atmos speakers is not syncing properly with your Apple TV, help is on the way in the form of the latest tvOS 18.5 update, which Apple says fixes a persistent bug that has been frustrating users for quite some time.

According to user complaints on Reddit and the official Apple Support forums, Dolby Atmos playback from speakers connected to an Apple TV over AirPlay or Bluetooth is often out of sync with the visual content on-screen. That can be irritating, as dialogue might not line up correctly with characters’ facial movements. Some users have noted that switching from Dolby Atmos to 5.1 surround sound fixes the issue.

Interestingly, the bug doesn’t seem to be limited to Dolby Atmos speakers, and can apparently manifest when Dolby Atmos is enabled, even if it’s not being used. For instance, Redditor LastUserStanding posted that “I disabled Dolby Atmos on the Apple TV and it resolved this problem,” despite having an entirely wired sound setup that does not include a Dolby Atmos speaker.

Time to update

The issue seems to have affected a wide range of speakers, including those made by third parties and even ones manufactured by Apple, such as the HomePod. Fortunately, Apple believes it has found a fix, which has been included in the tvOS 18.5 update.

Apple’s tvOS 18.5 release notes say that the update “adds support for synchronizing Dolby Atmos playback to speakers over AirPlay or Bluetooth,” seemingly addressing the reported problem. To manage this synchronization, you’ll need to go to Settings > Video and Audio > Wireless Audio Sync on your Apple TV.

So, if you’ve found strange syncing issues when using your Apple TV, make sure you update to tvOS 18.5. Even if you don’t have a Dolby Atmos speaker, it could be that disabling this feature puts things right for you.

You might also like

• Apple TV 4K (2022) review: the best streaming device is now better and cheaper
• The best Dolby Atmos soundbars 2025: home theater upgrades for all budgets
• Best AirPlay speakers 2025: the top Apple-friendly wireless speakers, all tested by TechRadar

• A new Nvidia Shield update brings 120fps GeForce Now support
• However, it's only at 1080p – 4K is available only at 60fps
• Your TV will need to support 120Hz to benefit

Nvidia is rolling out a new update for the Shield TV with one big feature upgrade as well as the usual bug fixes. The update is for Shield and Shield Pro units, and the headline feature is the arrival of 120fps gaming on GeForce Now for subscribers to the GeForce Now Ultimate membership.

The slightly less good news is that it's limited to 1080p, meaning it's not quite a true competitor to 4K 120Hz gaming on the PS5 Pro – although there's a good reason for this restriction.

Why is 120fps gaming limited to 1080p?

The short answer: HDMI 2.0.

The Shield has an HDMI 2.0 output, and that means it has the bandwidth for full quality 4K at 60fps but not 120fps: for that you need the higher bandwidth of HDMI 2.1, which has 48Gbps compared to HDMI 2.0's 18Gbps.

You can adjust many PC video cards to force 120fps over HDMI 2.0, but doing so is really a hack: it involves reducing the amount of color information and adding subsampling, so the signal being sent at 120fps isn't as high quality as the un-tweaked 60fps version. Clearly Nvidia has chosen not to do that here.

Although the update is welcome, it does demonstrate that the Shield is getting on a bit: it has similar hardware to the original Nintendo Switch and is still running Android 11, and while it's great that Nvidia keeps updating it it does feel that it's time for a new one – not least because it's facing ever more rivals.

Here's Nvidia's release notes detailing what's been fixed in this latest update.

• Fixes night mode being skipped when DAP is ON.
• Fixes Dolby Vision content stutters when frame match feature is enabled.
• Fixes match content audio resolution while using an USB DAC.
• Adds back HQS / Maxrate option for USB audio.
• USB TV Tuner fix with Live Channel app.
• Fixes playback issues in PLEX when using AAC 5.1 audio.
• Fixes connection issues with third-party remotes after sleep or reboot.

You might also like

• Nintendo Switch 2: everything you need to know
• The first images of Microsoft's rumored Xbox handheld have leaked, but it's not the portable Xbox I was hoping for
• Your TV is now an Xbox: LG displays can now cloud stream Game Pass games without a console

• The Google TV Streamer's Home Panel is arriving on more devices
• Requires you to have a Home set up in the Google Home app
• Includes live video and doorbell notifications

One of the things we really like about the Google TV Streamer is its Home Panel, which enables you to control your smart home devices from your TV. And now it's coming to more Google devices.

The Home Panel was originally exclusive to the Streamer, but Google made it clear that the plan was to roll it out more widely by launching a Public Preview. That preview has now become a roll-out, and that means it's available for Chromecast devices and Google TVs too.

Not only that, but Google is rolling it out to models that have long been discontinued, including some older Chromecasts and Hisense TVs.

How to get the Home Panel on your Chromecast or Google TV

According to 9to5Google, the update means you'll get a pop-up on your compatible device the next time you use it. It'll ask you if you want to set up the Home Panel, and if you do it'll take you step by step through the process.

It seems that all the features from the Streamer are present and correct, including Nest Doorbell notifications; control of lights, thermostats and speakers; live view from cameras; and quick access directly from the Quick Settings panel.

In addition to adding the feature to your TV or Chromecast, you'll also need to have a Home set up in the Google Home app. That should be the same Home that your Google TV is part of; if there isn't a Home set up, you won't get the Home Panel notification.

And finally, you'll need to be a grown-up. Google quite sensibly doesn't want the kids getting their hands on all your smart home controls.

You might also like

• The Google TV Streamer is now finally worth buying in the UK
• Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K
• Xiaomi's Google TV Streamer rival gets a power-up

Roku has just announced a bunch of new products, and we're delighted with the new mini-LED Roku Plus Series TVs, which bring that screen tech down to an unbelievably new low price – considering how much we liked the previous Roku Plus Series and the Roku Pro Series TV with mini-LED, we're excited for the value of these new models.

Roku also announced some new streaming sticks, and this is where things get, uh, sticky. There's nothing wrong with the sticks themselves, which replace the old Roku Express models in Roku's range – one delivers budget streaming with HD only, and one delivers 4K HDR for a little more money.

But it means that Roku's streaming stick lineup is now stupidly confusing if you're looking for a 4K option.

There are three products in Roku's stick range: the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and the Roku Streaming Stick. Let me ask you a couple of questions about them…

You have a 4K TV, and you want a 4K streaming stick, obviously; which should you buy? The 4K model, of course. Well, except, the Plus also does 4K.

Okay, now you know this, here's a follow-up: Which is the best model in the range, with the most advanced features for 4K HDR viewing? Probably the Plus, right, since it does 4K, but it's Plus. It's more.

Wrong, the Streaming Stick 4K is the only one with Dolby Vision HDR, and is the higher-end model in the range.

This naming convention is so obviously confusing that the official Roku site actually refers to the Plus model as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (4K) whenever it's mentioned in written text.

Here are the details on the new stick range (plus the Roku Ultra box, for context):

I don't blame Roku for having a more expensive model for Dolby Vision, because Dolby charges hardware makers a fee to include its products, which isn't the case for basic HDR10 or HDR10+.

But I don't really understand why you'd bother with the Streaming Stick Plus at all in this case. The Streaming Stick 4K has been out for a while now – could Roku not bring its price down by $5, so that we wouldn't really need the Plus at all, to keep it simple?

I have to assume that we're in a strange transitional stage of Roku's lineup. The Streaming Stick 4K has been around for a while, so I'm guessing it may be removed soon and there might be a new product coming – maybe something a little pricier than 4K model that splits the difference between the Plus and the $99 Roku Ultra.

Or maybe Roku will just remove the 4K model from the lineup eventually and say 'If you want Dolby, pay $99' – though if it does that, hopefully it'll actually release the Ultra in countries such as the UK…

Roku is far from the first tech company to release a confusing range of devices – and this isn't even the first streaming stick range to have too many similar products in.

Amazon used to offer the Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max all at once (though it has since removed the Lite).

That always felt like more products than were really needed, and likely to cause confusion – except that Amazon's lineup has clarity in the product names. It's perfectly clear which sticks do 4K, and which is the best of the bunch.

Roku's range needs a little realignment – and I expect it might be coming later this year. In the meantime, just make sure you read the specs carefully before buying if you want to add one of its sticks to one of the best TVs…

You might also like…

• Roku's new wireless security cameras will guard your home for up to two years on a single charge
• Brace yourselves, Fire TV Stick fans – Amazon may make a huge, risky software change later this year
• Is the YouTube TV app missing from your Roku? You're not alone, here's how to fix it