Electronics

6 features unique to Amazon’s Fire TV

September 16, 2025 by Charlie

Top picks at a glance

Smart TVs are practically ubiquitous nowadays, but if you have an older TV without smart capabilities, you might be thinking of upgrading. If you’re not ready to part ways with your old TV, a cost-effective solution is to get an Amazon Fire TV Stick.

However, if you’re ready to spend the money on a brand-new TV, why not get one with an Amazon Fire Stick already built into it? Amazon Fire TVs have a similar interface to Fire Sticks and a few unique features you wouldn’t get with another TV.

In this article: Amazon Fire TV 43-Inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV 55-Inch Omni Series 4K UHD Smart TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Alexa

Alexa is integrated into every Amazon Fire TV and streaming device. Some let you access Alexa hands-free using only your voice, but others require you to use the button on the remote to access the voice assistant. Alexa is useful for launching apps, movies and TV shows, but you can also use it to play music, control the volume, power on and off your TV, check the weather and sports updates and more.

Keep tabs on your home

If you have a home security system that consists of smart doorbells and cameras, you can tune into what’s happening on your Fire TV. The best Fire TVs let you view your camera’s live feed without stopping what you’re listening to or watching, thanks to picture-in-picture. Also, it’s easy to access, usually requiring a simple voice command to Alexa.

Shortcut menu

Amazon’s Fire TV interface can look messy, but you can use the shortcut menu for quick navigation by simply pressing and holding down the home button on the remote. Bringing up the shortcut menu lets you tweak settings, access apps and even start screen mirroring.

Connect Bluetooth headphones

Some streaming devices have remotes with an audio jack for private listening, and while that’s a neat feature, wired headphones can be clunky. The Amazon Fire TV supports Bluetooth headphones, so you can listen to music or watch TV without any cumbersome wires or cables around you. Connecting your Bluetooth headphones is simple, requiring you to put them in discovery mode and navigate to your TV’s settings, where you should be able to locate them.

Use the Amazon website to install apps

You can install apps on your Fire TV using the remote, but navigating the menus can be time-consuming. Instead, you can log into your Amazon account on your smartphone or tablet, browse through apps and install the ones you want effortlessly. When you turn on your Fire TV, the apps you’ve downloaded and installed will be there waiting for you.

Fire tablet as a second screen

Unless you own multiple TVs, it’s not uncommon to get into arguments over who gets to use the TV. However, if you own an Amazon Fire Tablet, you’ll be able to view any content you can get on your Fire TV without affecting it. That means someone can watch one thing on Fire TV while you watch something else.

Best Amazon Fire TVs and streaming devices

Amazon Fire TV 43-inch 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV

This TV delivers vivid colors and crisp visuals, and it is excellent for streaming 4K content. It supports HDR 10 technology for improved contrast and Dolby Digital Plus for rich surround sound, and you can access Alexa from the remote.