- Four TV Stick 4K Select has lower specifications, uncertain streamer -support and no dolby vision HDR or DOLBY AUDIO
- Four TV Stick 4K has existing app support and dolby vision – and are for sale right now
- Four TV Stick 4K Max adds Dolby Atmos -Support and faster performance
Amazon has revealed four TV Stick 4K Select, the first of its devices sent with Amazon’s Vega OS. So far, it’s also the only one: the other new four TV launches are using all the previous, familiar us.
The interface looks very similar, but where the previous operating system was based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) with an Amazon makeover, the new software is a brand new taste of Linux. It’s good for Amazon because it gives the company complete control over the whole system and apparently makes it more efficient to run. But is it good for you?
The short answer is: Ummm …
4K Select’s list price of $ 39.99 / £ 49.99 is cheaper than $ 49.99 / £ 59.99 of the regular four TV -Stick 4K, though at the time of writing you can get the price of $ 24.99 at Amazon US and for £ 25.99 to Amazon UK, making the Upgrade model a much better deal.
You can even get the most Premium $ 59.99 / £ 69.99 Four TV Stick 4K Max Model for only $ 39.99 at Amazon US or for £ 39.99 at Amazon UK at the moment.
So before we even get into the specifications, the existing models are definitely the better option if you are thinking of buying right now. But if you want to know the actual specified differences between them, let’s get into them.
Amazon Four TV Stick 4K Select Vs Four TV Stick 4K and Max: What is the difference?
The most important thing to know about four TV Stick 4K choices is that it comes under the existing 4K and 4K -Max models. Amazon describes it so well for “Essential 4K streaming”, where the existing 4K model delivers “Cinematic 4K streaming” and 4K Max “PowerSK 4K Streaming”.
The first, and I think the most important difference is that the new Select has 4K with HDR10+, but it lacks both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. However, it can pass Dolby-Coded Sound through its HDMI port to your TV or audio bar to decode if they support it.
Four TV Stick 4K has support for Dolby Vision HDR, but not for Dolby Atmos. Four TV Stick 4K Max adds support to Dolby Atmos on top of everything else.
The other big difference is that you can only run apps made to run on Vega OS, and at the launch there will be some apps that are not available. However, the most important streamers are there: Amazon highlighted Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, HBO Max, Tubi, Pluto TV, Starz, Paramount+and Peacock. It also shows support for Apple TV+ in its promo photos.
Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming Services promise to be support in the future, but may not at the launch.
And even if it does not affect all users, the new Select does not support sideloading: for apps it is Amazon’s way or the highway. And it may be relevant to you if one of the apps you trust has not been transformed into Vega yet: You can’t bring the Android version across.
4K Select lacks the feature of the image-in-image feature in the other two 4K models, and while Alexa+ comes to it, we don’t know when-it is listed as “coming soon”.
Wi-Fi is also different. Select has Wi-Fi 5, while 4K has Wi-Fi 6 and 4K Max has Wi-Fi 6E.
There is also smaller RAM: 1 GB in the election to 2 GB in the stick 4K. However, we cannot make a similar-to-like comparison there because it is another operating system and Amazon may well have optimized it to deliver the same speed with more modest memory.
I think if I bought a four TV stick right now I would go to 4K Max with its maximum set of features, and the ability to sideload (and future versions may not have this).
Four TV Stick 4K Select – and the existing 4K and 4K MAX – are now for sale from Amazon. Select will be sent from October 15, 2025, but is available for ordering now.
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