Amazon Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) Review | 4K Streamer with Alexa voice control

Reviewing Amazon's Fire TV Cube, 3rd Generation (2022 model) with upgraded performance, and that same great 4K HDR streaming and Alexa voice support. The Fire TV Cube isn't just a media streamer, it's also a smart speaker thanks to Amazon's built-in assistant and excellent far-field mics. But is it one of the best options in 2023?
This video includes an unboxing, setup and full review after using the streaming box for a week. If you've been testing the new Amazon Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation then let us know your thoughts below!
If you have a 4K HDR TV but you don't have good app support on your television, or you want to add smart voice control, this is a great option. Alexa can be used to turn on your telly and search your chosen video streaming services on the Fire TV Cube. You have Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, plus Dolby Atmos 7.1 or up to 5.1 from external devices connected via HDMI. So if you home cinema setup can handle it, this addition adds incredible power to your viewing experiences.
Amazon Fire TV Cube Review Chapters:
0:00 - Get on with it!
0:54 - Unboxing
1:34 - Design
2:37 - Setup
3:06 - Fire UI & apps
4:46 - Remote control
5:52 - Alexa
8:11 - Video & audio
9:04 - Testing PS5 HDMI pass-through
9:30 - Verdict

[@WitchyButSweet]

Subscribed just because you bleeped Alexa. Now THAT is thoughtful

[@jaybaar1]

Why did he do that though?

[@WitchyButSweet]

Because all of us who own an Alexa device already, our devices will hear him say “Alexa” and try to respond even though he isn’t in our home talking to it. It’s a common irritation for Alexa owners.

[@jaybaar1]

​@@WitchyButSweet I never even thought of that. Thank you!

[@davidowens6749]

I have an Alexa device in the same room so I named the cube Echo. It is very handy to be able to control the TV by voice (pause, play, volume, mute, find and play media, and any other TV control) from anywhere without the remote. Even in the next room if you talk loud enough.

[@kingming3738]

Should come bundled with the new Alexa Voice Remote Pro for the price.

[@johnleitch5313]

Just an FYI, you can change the top row of apps that show on the home screen. If you go into 'Your Apps & Channels' and use the menu button (3 lines) to move your apps around, the ones you select at the top and their order will be replicated on home screen

[@hardikmalpani4444]

That's possible since fire TV stick 1st generation

[@dmitryr1223]

there is rearrange button right on main screeen next to the buttons!!

[@mr58311]

Love your reviews

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

I remember the BBC had a children's programme called Why Don't You. The theme song suggested switching off your TV set and doing something else instead. Good advice!

[@MarkSynthesis]

Informative review, thank you. I'm particularly grateful for the last minute or so regarding using that HDMI In (which I had no idea Fire cubes came with); I have to imagine you lose HDMI 2.1 (so, no 4k/120hz) if you use it, but then again, a 4K/60hz passthrough would be good enough for 99% of the customer base surely, and after Xbox dropped the HDMI input on the Series X and S, it's not like there's been a lot of devices that come with built-in passthrough anyway.

[@hybrispsycho1]

Great video as always, do you have any plans to review the new amazon fire TV omni qled tvs?

[@Snoopy53]

Hello Chris, gereat review. What are those beautiful lights next to your tv?

[@PeterOkeefe54]

I have a great deal of trouble with english accents. I cant watch a movie without captions. I understood every word you said....thanx for that

[@mattsanchez4893]

Nice review Chris, I've used the Roku, the fire stick, and Google TV and I much prefer the Google TV interface, it's easy to customize and does an excellent job of keeping track of what you watch across all of your Apps.

[@TheBluevicky]

Hello Can we use this cube sometime without switching on tv Like listening music without tv

[@taxitrekking]

Hi Chris. You mentioned Roku, near the end of that video? You cannot sideload if you have a Roku device. As i understand it, most people buy fire devices to side load, so I wouldn't touch Roku with a bargepole. I have the 4k fire stick and a 2nd generation 4k fire cube. My favourite device's! 👍

[@systemsbuster9539]

It looks a lot smoother and snappier than my fire stick. Is there be something to be said for it from a performance/grunt point of view? As well as the extra smart-speaker functions?

[@taxitrekking]

I've no reason to upgrade yet, but I'll buy this when I do.

[@terrythewelsh]

Will wait until it’s bundled with the remote pro, won’t hold my breath though.

[@spindleswift8667]

Wow, am I glad I watched this! Our local audiovisual guy recommended this device. But what the video shows is an over-complex way of selecting a bunch of entertainment we would hate. I like this presenter: his diction is so crisp that this Chicagolander didn't mishear a single word.

[@rit1chea]

Thanks for the info. I've replaced three Fire Stick 4k's with Cubes, gen 2. I really like them as they "play" better with my PLEX server--FF and RW. I will replace the last stick when the next great sale arrives in the US. Cube 3 will play from NTFS so I won't need to spend time reformatting and putting videos on the flash drives when I want to avoid using the internet.

[@paul-57]

So this will play .mkv files from a hard drive formatted in NTFS? I have heard fire tv cube does not support DTS or True HD sound, do you know anything about that?

[@richardjones8699]

Hoping you're going to review the Oneplus11 and the Xaomi 13 pro.

[@uptownphotography]

Nice review. I am new to Streaming TV so I hope ordering the Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen will be a good choice. If you have an alternate devices that you feel I should check out please feel free to advise...Thanks. Philip

[@Lufc-Chaddy]

My current setup is a Firestick 4K with a home theatre consisting of two echo speakers and an echo sub. My question is, if I may. If I upgrade to the new Fire Cube, which has an HDMI in, will the home theatre side still work if I run my satellite system through the Fire Cube? In other words, will sound from the satellite system come out of the two echo speakers and an echo sub? Thanks

[@waynethomson84uk]

I just got one today and it is far better than the firestick 4k max

[@presentprogressive8780]

I concur. The stick was way too sluggish even more so than the regular 4k one and I had constant issues when playing KZbin videos. After a full reset the stick even refused to connect to the Amazon servers anymore. The Cube on the other hand feels way better and the connectivity to my Wifi 6 router works splendidly. The only real downside of the Cube for me is the high price point, but if you can get a discounted one during the regular Amazon sales it is well worth the upgrade.

[@songqiaocui2950]

Does it support truehd with passthrough?

[@neildixey]

If you accidentally click out of an app and click back on it the app usually starts afresh again however for say kodi etc if you go into applications and manage, find your app and select launch from the list it will go back to where u were. Bit long winded but good for some apps

[@-.-_-.]

One of my favorite geezers haha

[@TE5LA-GAMING]

A stupid thing is that this Cube will turn on the TV to play "sleeping" sounds like rain, thunder, streams, etc. through the TV speakers while displaying a screen of that skill playing, thus providing your bedroom with a giant lamp. It is apparently not possible to have these sounds play through the Cube's internal speaker. What engineer thought this was a good idea? I wouldn't be so sure that you couldn't remap those "dedicated" buttons. I did it on my Nvidia Shield Pro. I also use KZbin on this Cube without ANY ads being displayed.

[@xintimidate]

can this do dolby vison profile 7 with loseless audio? also does it do DTS:X?

[@imthejoker1310]

As a family we've had several firesticks but at 130notes i cant justify spending that when a 4k stick is half the price and does what we need it to do.

[@flicka25]

I have Chromecast Google TV......smaller, cheaper and does a great job. Even remembers your favourites. But I enjoy your videos lol

[@reach_perumal]

Does it play Dolby encoded USB media files?

[@DeraPlays]

hey there, this comment is unrelated but... im thinking of getting a motorola edge 30 fusion, i hate the notification area, do you know any launcher or app that can change it ?

[@mrjeffwithaG]

I got the Echo studios to pair with the cube and the sound is outstanding

[@sid4tbd]

How? I’m struggling to get it to pair.

[@mrjeffwithaG]

@@sid4tbd if I remember correctly, you create the stereo pair in the Alexa app. Then go into the settings in the Fire Cube and in Audio you create a Home Theater. That should pair it with the cube.

[@montygill2835]

Cool 😎

[@JohnSmith-qn3ob]

Do you have any plans to install Kodi on it?

[@wachyHoney]

can the speaker be used to output apps audio? I have an old projector (Spro 2) and cannot managed to route audio to the cube

[@pauljsedmak]

My Fire cube TV 1 st Gen from 2018 was finally giving me issues with opening apps that I decided to buy the 3rd gen. I Was able to trade an old device and get 20% off for the new model paying under $100

[@joltdude]

You can also deactivate the feedback/clicking of the Interface in the options

[@riyajulbiswas7846]

Nice

[@muhammadnazim3366]

One main question KZbin in HDR or not ?

[@augustinecs9472]

*bleep* Alexa, leave a thumbs up to Uncle Spurt. Alexa : *bleep* done. Nay, I manually click the like 😆cant wait for next TSW. Hopefully upcoming samsung A series powered by Snapdragon & not exynos bollocks

[@tvfan3390]

I got a Amazon advert =)

[@sanderrombouts8809]

Hey baldy what is the 🐏 in this box? Do u know if it supports Dutch language

[@DeeTeaDee]

Does this perform better than an amazon firestick does when viewing ….. *ahem* many many channels??

[@teacherg28]

I understand I can’t use firetv cube b/c my fire tv has a 6 operating system. Am I correct?

[@sixwestpoint]

Good review and I have just bought one after giving up on 2 previous Firestick 4 K's and I shall explain. I have 2X Echo's in the room and I wanted to use these as a Home Cinema system. Now when it works it's amazing but after random periods of time they just stopped working with the Firsestick. Would not re-pair and the Firesticks would not re-pair with the speakers. Queue Amazon tech support who replaced Bothe the fire stick and the speakers. Same issue about 5 weeks in with the second Firestick, lost connection no sound and just would not re-pair with the speakers. Amazon relented and just refunded me so I have bought the Cube instead, hoping this will resolve the problem permanently. Now it all works perfectly fine again but I'm keen to know if you have heard of or experienced similar issues and if you know of any way to resolve. I'm an unwilling and unintentional expert now on Firestick $k, Alexa app, Echo's latest generation. That said if the cube gives up the ghost I'm going to explode because genuinely I think there is an issue and Amazon knows about it. Be great to hear if you have any ideas or experience of similar issues using the Amazon Firestick and or Cube with speakers to create a home cinema system

[@allsportsexpert]

In the 3rd gen fire cube, there is no "my apps and channels" anymore which is a deal breaker for me. Only the recently viewed app is still there. I have 30+ apps but some of them I don't use very often, I have to find them in the app store and I might not remember what they are.

[@LeviUnboxing]

Can you compare the old flyer scandal TV in the new one

[@markblock1039]

Does it make any difference whether you have a FIRE TV or not?

[@zacharykelway5797]

Will it work with a universal remote?

[@dmitryr1223]

no mention of the media player!!

[@AJJJ-co2vd]

If you go into settings you can reduce the amount of advertising

[@Dakol-1]

I have a few gripes about this product but the biggest one is by nature its hooked up in close proximity to the TV speakers so when playing a loud show it can't hear my commands very well. Is there any way to hook up an external mic? My other huge gripe is I use an HD Homerun box and for some reason it only recognizes my command to start the HDHomeRun app about 50% of the time. When it doesn't work it thinks I'm saying something that doesn't even sound close to this.

[@redclaw72666]

Why not use the remote lol if not spend another $30 for the pro remote

[@wirelessinsight9170]

Is there a way to lower Alexa's voice without changing the volume of the TV? She is way too loud but when I use the volume on the cube or remote it also lowers the TV volume. I have searched for this issue and seen many complaints but no solutions.

[@19kreeper]

Can this read content from my network synology NAS "Media server" to watch video from NAS directly?

[@RobStarsinger]

No usb C for power?

[@esco.letsgo]

I like this modern Amazon gear but I don’t like Alexa, I prefer privacy lol

[@wraynephew6838]

What is the purpose of a Amazon Fire TV cube in 2022 or 2023? Every modern Smart Tv from since 2014 can render video and stream in 4K. Almost all smart tv from since 2014 come with or has the ability to install Netflix, KZbin, Amazon Prime, hulu etc! Even for older television sets the 4K Amazon FIre TV is still limited to the native resolution of the Television it is connected to. 4k Cube box connected to a 720 P Television set will still be down sampled to a 720P.

[@sedemnyatusah775]

Tech spurt's the best.

[@chrischand5082]

Great video, does it have bluetooth 5.0 ??

[@chrischand5082]

I have read it's only 4.2 ??

[@An.Individual]

These now support FAT32 and NTFS on USB external storage

[@dabig25]

1GB built in LAN connection is a big plus over the Firesticks

[@nitrohite]

"So simple even a Prime Minister can do it" 💀⚰

[@D3ZG1978]

You can change the top row of apps.. can on my stick anyway

[@mathaihouse504]

Does it support DTS HD or Dolby Atmos TrueHD? That's was one advantage with Shield.

[@xintimidate]

Did you ever find out? I have the same question as well as DTS:X

[@mathaihouse504]

@@xintimidate I think it does not. On spec sheet I see Dolby Atmos but not TrueHD. Since none of the streaming applications use HD audio formats chances are slim.

[@xintimidate]

@@mathaihouse504 Ive seen so many conflicting responses from people on reddit, some say it works perfectly fine others say you have to have kodi and others say it doesnt work at all lol

[@philiprobar]

Yes, as of the 12/2022 update.

[@Caps78]

Is there a Downloader app?

[@Jordan1000]

I love this guys humour, he’s fit as well!

[@Squirrel_101]

Love amazon TV devices, but I also hate the UI. Stumbled across launchers recently and that's been a game changer!

[@detroid89]

Which launcher do you use?

[@paul-57]

Sounds like a great idea.

[@timcooper62]

Can you recommend a launcher? Is this in the app store? Do the launchers work with Alexa?

[@FAFOCLUB]

Does anyone know if the speed will decrease if you hook this up to an older slower smart tv?

[@peterbrown2208]

"... even a prime minister could do it'... Lol. 😂

[@gcarter1973]

How is it better than the Amazon Stick?

[@rachepineda4974]

cool

[@emilytravelstoplaces]

Hi, do you know why my TV box won't open the fire tv hub. When we ask her to turn the TV she does and she brings up to normal TV so then we ask her for example.. Open Netflix, open itvx, open fire TV. But she won't and she stops replying, she does respond to open HMDI 1 but only sometimes. My parents have the older version and their Alex listens to everything even switches form sky TV. Do you know why this might be happening 😂

[@SeanMulligan95]

What's the final verdict if you had to choose between the Fire stick and Fire Cube?

[@rangerhawk]

I'm curious, you said it can also be a smart speaker assistant. The smart assistant would be cool, but my real question is, can it play the TV audio through this built in speaker? This is actually the only reason I am even considering this device. But for some reason I can't find any literature on the built in speakers' functionality. Let me explain my situation so you understand why it is important to me. I have an AORUS OLED computer monitor. It is primarily my computer monitor, but I want to be able to picture in picture TV and streaming content while I am using the computer. This creates a problem with audio out to my sound system, it can't play from both at the same time. If this box can play the TV audio, then this problem is solved without adding another audio system. Most of the Streaming services I use I can get Windows app for, but not all of them, additionally they do not work as seamlessly picture in picture [go figure, good one Microsoft], nor do they have a remote control.

[@papaeli123]

Unfortunately the ethernet connection on Gen 3 Cube is a limited to 100 meg. max. My internet is 400 meg which I can get with a wifi connection to the cube, I have Gen 2. So if you have greater than 100 meg download speeds you might want to try wifi connection on the Gen 3.

[@adrianbattersby9584]

A reasonably good review but I was specifically hoping you were going to talk about its ability to control (or not) STB’s specifically the Virgin Media TV360. Comments are all over the forums about Amazon being very misleading saying that it controls the 360 but apparently it simply doesn’t or if it does it’s very flaky. I’m hoping there will be an update from Amazon that will fix this but haven’t seen any mention of it. Disappointing that you didn’t test with the main STB’s including VM TV360 in which case you would have picked up this major flaw. If they fix this I will buy without hesitation.

[@ricbrook7059]

Annoying bloody thing always turns over the TV around 4.30pm'ish to it if you using something else and it also regularly fails to start up properly with no picture unless you shut down and restart. I hope it's just mine that has issues but having the last gen too I doubt that's the issue.....

[@TonyaInWV]

TECH ISSUE: I got my Alexa Cube to pair up with my sound system, but for the TV she does not answer me through the CUBE, she answers me through the TV speakers. I want her to answer me always through the CUBE. What am I doing wrong? I have an Alexa Fire TV by Omni. Omni was not on the TV selection, so I chose Fire TV when I paired it up to my TV. Thank you for your help!

[@Barbarapape]

I eagerly awaited this new cube only for my hopes to be dashed when they failed to upgrade the memory and ethernet specs. Until it is on a half price deal including the remote pro which should have been included as standard, i will keep using my previous gen one. The new Apple TV 2023 box has all the upgrades that this cube should have had for only slightly more money, so perhaps i will be giving one a try. Amazon had the chance and blew it as far as i am concerned.

[@je19921]

apple tv doesn't have all the high quality audio codecs. Only devices that have EVERY audio and video codecs in 2023 are the shield tv pro (except lacking AV1 for youtube), and the shield cube 2022. No other boxes have DV, HDR10, but also DTS:X, DTS-HD, atmos uncompressed.

[@Barbarapape]

@@je19921 I doubt that I will notice the lack of them, I only have a soundbar not a full Atmos separates system.

[@steveho9884]

this have fox 6 fox 6 and wuss 9 ?

[@ByMitus]

I’m having issues pairing my 2 studios with my 3rd Gen cube, in the app when trying to setup the home theater it says my fire stick is not compatible… can anyone help?

[@4000Wiggins]

How easy it is it to pair AirPods?

[@jasondessenberg6096]

When I ask Alexa to do a time or one of my routines while watching TV. My program will stop and this is very annoying. I am almost ready to disable her on the cube and buy another Dot.

[@SylphidUndine]

so i could hook up the xbox into the fire tv cube and still play xbox that way? because my monitor is running out of hdmi ports.

[@ZK-APA]

Yes.

[@JustNel]

A lot of the complaints you present are personal complaints... I don't have any issues with these things and i have older versions of this device.

[@joyandrew3265]

Hi can I watch ordinary TV channels as well instead of apps, also I have alexa speaker in my same room as my TV if I speak to my cube saying alexa it will set my speaker of to

[@highflowhighflow9896]

only interested for a streamer if it can play movies in rar archives direct from local network , not found one yet who can do that

[@TangoMikeOscar]

Why the f would you want to do that? Just build a NAS and run Plex. Sorted.

[@djbenr10]

The problem is people side loading IPTV on it with a max port ethernet speed is still only 100meg max? It's absolutely shocking that the port still only handles up to 100meg yes wireless is faster but a high speed port would of been better!

[@fabulousfred5096]

Can this device pick up my universal media server thats on my pc?and can this device pick up my personal videos and music thru this media player cube?and not use plex media server which in my opinion is not good👎,thanks

[@nicholasjonesroguecroce]

My Bleep Alex wakes up at Echo... Makes life easier...

[@breksatobest3846]

0:15 kupka? 😂

[@dallase1]

You're not beeping out saying Amazon and that makes my Google Assistant activate.

[@boobalaa]

Fire TV cube 3g Does Not allow you to create Home Theater mode with Echo Studio Speaker , as FTV 2g did. 🤯🤨

[@adammoonface]

One of my cats is called Dexter and Alexa pipes up every time we call his bloody name... After living with Alexa for a couple of years in various rooms, I can confirm she's handy, if a bit of dickhead.

[@craigst6755]

Change the wake word to echo or computer. I had to do the same due to a different name that is used that wakes the cube up.

[@davehood1514]

Can you output high bit rate digital to an external dac from the usb output ? Come on the Toon 😂

[@regis32]

The equipment is STILL not available in Poland, Amazon refuses to ship it to Poland, so at their own request, I will buy e.g. vSeeBox V2 Pro. That's how you lose a customer.

[@gilbertos1984]

Thank you for bleeping the word. Other ways my alexas go cucu

[@waffleking9317]

I've never used one of these streaming devices. What's the point of them if your tv can already download the same apps? Just doesn't make sense to me.

[@wraynephew6838]

It is for older proprietary television sets. Many older television sets are not able to play KZbin, Netflix, and Amazon Prime or if they did it was extremely slow.

[@camotech1314]

Wow a small empty box inside a bigger box 😅

[@D3ZG1978]

I’m here for the comedy

[@shupilafgang6858]

well we certainly aint here for the reviews 😶

[@D3ZG1978]

@@shupilafgang6858 bit harsh