Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) review

Fire TV Cube is the box for people who still pay for cable or satellite. Amazon calls it the only Fire TV streaming player with a built-in HDMI input: plug a supported cable or satellite box into it and you can change live TV channels by voice through Alexa or the included Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced. Built-in microphones and a speaker make it hands-free from across the room. Amazon lists an octa-core processor, 2GB of memory, 16GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E tri-band, a 10/100 Ethernet port and a USB-A 2.0 port, with 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos support. For Netflix and YouTube it does what the Fire TV Stick 4K Max does with a faster processor and a wired connection. Its limits are that the cable box control works only with select providers, the Ethernet port is not gigabit, and Amazon's US page did not show a price from our location, so its price is pending. For cord cutters, the stick or a Roku is the simpler buy.

Who it is for

Cable or satellite subscribers who want to control their set-top box and TV by voice.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Octa-core processor, 2GB memory and 16GB storage
• Hands-free Alexa through built-in mics and speaker
• HDMI input to connect and control a cable or satellite box
• Ethernet port (10/100) and Wi-Fi 6E tri-band
• 4K with Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The only Fire TV player with a built-in HDMI input
• Strength: Hands-free voice from across the room
• Strength: Wired Ethernet plus Wi-Fi 6E
• Weakness: Ethernet is 10/100 Mbps
• Weakness: Cable box control works with select providers only
• Weakness: Larger box than a stick

Key facts

• Processor: Octa-core, 4x 2.2GHz + 4x 2.0GHz
• Storage: 16GB
• Ports: HDMI input, USB-A 2.0, Ethernet
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E tri-band

Where it ranks

Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is No. 6 in our Best Streaming Devices verdict.