TVs have taken great leaps and bounds in recent years, with new technologies coming out all the time that enhance the viewing experience. But while it can be fun to be the first on the block with the latest bleeding-edge tech, most of us are content with a television that can support popular HD resolutions while also providing enough smart features to keep us entertained (and give us control over smart devices in the home) without paying an arm and a leg. For shoppers in that category, we recommend Amazon’s 50-inch Fire TV.
Boasting a solid picture, extensive apps and functions, and access to other smart devices via Alexa, the Fire TV comes at a price that would be unheard of for a TV with these features a few years ago. And now it’s available at an even more unheard-of discount of $170 off its list price on Amazon, making it an excellent gift idea for the holidays. Let’s dig into what the Fire TV offers, and why it’s a smart deal for a smart TV.
Amazon Fire TV 50″ 4-Series 4K UHD Smart TV, $279.99 (38% off)
The most essential element of any TV is the display, and the Amazon Fire TV delivers a solid picture with high contrast, making it perfect for watching movies. It also supports all the major resolutions, including 4K Ultra HD (at 60 frames per second), HDR 10, HLG and Dolby Digital Plus.
With four HDMI inputs as well as ethernet and cable connections, you can plug in existing cable services or DVD players or gaming consoles, and the outgoing headphone and optical audio jacks give you the power to listen privately on headphones or plug into your own sound systems. The Fire TV’s built-in apps give you access to hundreds of streaming services, from Netflix to Amazon Prime to YouTube TV, and you can also play games through services such as Luna.
But this Fire TV really cooks with fire (so to speak) when you use the included smart remote, which can integrate itself with Alexa devices so you can control everything from lights to front door cameras. Using the remote, you can control your TV as well as compatible speakers and soundbars, and you can use voice commands to search for shows and ask questions of Alexa, such as today’s weather report or the name of that movie that famous actor was in. The TV is also compatible with Apple’s Airplay, so you can send pictures or videos from your iPhone or iPad straight to the TV.
Can you find TVs that are laden with fancier specifications and more bells and whistles? Sure. But for a combination of price and value, it’s hard to outdo the Amazon Fire TV, which gives you all the features you’d want in a good family TV, but at a budget-friendly price. Don’t miss out on snagging one at its current 38% discount!
