Global tech giant Amazon has just launched their first series of full-size, affordable smart Fire TVs in the UK and they are available now to pre-order in the Amazon Spring Sale.
The top-of-the-range Fire TV Omni QLED Series features a 4K Quantum Dot Technology (QLED) display, a Fire TV Ambient Experience that turns the TV into a personalised work of art and a host of Alexa-driven widgets and functions. The cheaper Fire TV 2-series and Fire TV 4-Series may not have quite as many whistles and bells, but they come with an impressive range of smart features that rival many of their competitors, including the ability to be controlled hands-free by Alexa.
Amazon prices currently range between £169 to £699 depending on model and screen size, and shoppers who take advantage of pre-order deals ahead of the April release date could save as much as £300.
READ MORE: The six 'money-saving' tips shoppers should follow to get best price during an Amazon sale
What is the all-new Amazon Fire TV?
While the Fire TV 4-Series and 2-Series models offer a streamlined introduction to the Amazon smart home eco-system, it is the flagship 65-inch Fire TV Omni QLED model that is expected to be seen as a competitor for more established brands like Sky Glass.
Featuring a host of customisable features to enhance user experience, the smart TV can be controlled hands-free and includes:
Alexa Widgets
Powered by Alexa, widgets are optimised to provide glanceable information. Users can see their calendars and reminders throughout the day, leave sticky notes for other family members, control smart devices such as thermostats or ring doorbells and receive personalised entertainment recommendations. Widgets can be customised, collapsed or expanded.
Dynamic art
The Fire TV Ambient Experience can transform a blank TV screen into a work of art. With presence sensors already built-in, the TV turns off when you leave the room and just like Samsung's The Frame TV, it comes with dynamic art that can be displayed when you aren't watching, as well as 1,700 gallery-quality backgrounds to choose from.
Alexa Routines
Much more than just a run-of-the-mill TV, the Omni QLED lets you choose from thousands of Alexa Routines and Skills to control your smart home. Using voice commands Alexa can help make every day a little bit easier with commands like "Alexa, start my day" to see her display a moving image of the sunrise, show the weather and play your favourite music.
Privacy and control
The Omni QLED Series lets users electronically disconnect the far-field microphone with the flip of a switch to turn off presence detection or set quiet hours for glanceable information.
What are the Amazon Fire TV options?
Amazon promises that the all-new Fire TV experience "is the biggest experience update we've ever done."
Touted as being an attractive proposition to those who don't want to spend thousands of pounds on a new smart TV, each model offers total integration for an easy-to-use viewing experience.
As part of our Amazon Spring Sale feature, we've completed a quick round-up of each of the Fire TV's launched in the UK
Amazon Fire TV 2-Series (from £169)
The Fire TV 2-Series line-up features 32-inch (£169) and 40-inch (£209) sizes and is the retailer's most affordable way to enjoy built-in 'Fire' power in your home.
Both options come with support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio to bring together live TV and all streaming content on the home screen, making it easy to find something to watch.
The smaller 32-inch model comes with 720p HD resolution while the larger 40-inch model features Full 1080p HD resolution.
Users can stream content from the free apps or subscribe to paid services including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, BBC iPlayer and more or connect the HD antenna (DVB-T2 HD) and watch that way.
Even this entry-level Fire TV adds new Alexa skills, features, smart home capabilities and voice functionality to streamline your entertainment experience at home.
Amazon Fire TV 4-Series (From £269)
The Amazon Fire TV 4-Series comes in a choice of 43-inch (£269), 50-inch (£349), and 55-inch (£379) screen options.
This mid-range version offers 4K, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus alongside Amazon smarts and Alexa Voice Remote support for all your various streaming needs.
The vivid 4K Ultra HD screen brings films and series to life, and the Alexa voice remote makes it easy to press and ask to find favourite apps, films and programmes, check the weather, hear the sports scores and lots of other Alexa-driven instructions.
With Fire TV users can watch live and free TV, play video games and stream music and the 3 HDMI inputs can connect to satellite TV and video game consoles, while the HDMI eARC lets users add audio equipment for enhanced sound.
Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED (from £349)
As the most expensive model in the range, the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED is available in 43-inch (£349), 50-inch (£449), 55-inch (£499) and 65-inch (£699) options, and with lots of additional features, it plays well as Amazon's flagship model.
With 4K Quantum Dot Display (QLED) across all sizes, viewers can enjoy deep, realistic colours that jump off the screen, along with Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. HDR 10 and HLG are also supported. This model automatically optimises the brightness of films and TV programmes through a built-in sensor that detects the lighting in any room.
A fun new feature is the Fire TV ambient experience that turns your TV screen into a canvas for displaying artwork and personal photos, much like the more expensive Samsung Frame TV. You can also use the TV to display a wealth of Alexa widgets and watch as the sensor knows when to switch off as you leave the room.
This model comes with 3 HDMI inputs to connect to satellite TV and video game consoles, and the HDMI eARC lets you add audio equipment for enhanced sound.
To get up to £300 off a Fire TV before the pre-order deals expire, click here today.
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