The Fire TV Cube is quite similar to the Fire TV 4K, but with a lot of hands-free control and a built-in speaker so you can use all of Alexa’s usual capabilities that are available on an Echo even if your TV is switched off.
That means you can check weather forecasts, get news updates, set timers, reminders, control smart home kit and much, much more.
It has also added support for picture-in-picture. This means you can view the video feed from your Ring doorbell (or any compatible camera) and you can say “Alexa, talk to front door” (or whatever you named your Ring doorbell) to have a conversation via the Fire TV Cube.
So in many ways, the Fire TV Cube is also like an Echo Show.
Fire TV Cube Features & Design
The device on review here is the second-generation Fire TV Cube, even though it’s the first available in the UK.
Design-wise the clue is in the name. It’s a cube, and a tiny one at that. It should be able to nestle unobtrusively beneath your TV along with your other equipment.
The Cube connects to your TV via HDMI, though a cable isn’t included, and to the internet via Wi-Fi (built in) or Ethernet (using the supplied microUSB dongle).
One new feature compared to the first-gen Cube is support for Dolby Vision. Previously it was just 4K HDR10, but now, along with Dolby Atmos passthrough, you’ll see and hear the best possible quality so long as you have a compatible TV and sound system.
On top are the usual Echo controls: two volume buttons, a select button and a microphone mute button. Underneath is a speaker, but this is so Alexa can respond when your TV or sound bar is off: it’s not for music.
Eight tiny holes are for the far-field microphones which do some clever processing and noise cancellation so Alexa can still hear you even if you’re watching a TV show or listening to music. So long as you place it as instructed – 30cm from any speaker – it should work well, and certainly did in my tests.
Bluetooth is built in, and this can be used to pair a compatible game controller, but you can also pair your phone and stream music to the Fire TV Cube. If you have a sound bar connected, it means music will play through it, thus turning any sound bar into a Bluetooth speaker.
Setup
You can also let the Fire TV Cube attempt to learn your TV and sound bar’s IR codes. There’s a long list of sound bars, and I was impressed not just to see Orbitsound in there, but also when Alexa was quickly able to turn it on, off and adjust the volume.
The same couldn’t be said when it came to my ageing Panasonic TV. It turned off fine, but as it requires a long press on the original remote to turn it on, the Fire TV Cube simply could not do it.
I also discovered it couldn’t switch HDMI inputs, but if you own a compatible TV, you should be able to do all those things with ease.
Note that in the UK, the only supported set-top boxes are Sky’s, so you won’t be able to ask Alexa to tune into Dave or Quest on your Freeview box. However, if you have a Humax YouView box (not a BT or TalkTalk one) you can enable the YouView skill in the Alexa app which will enable you to do voice searches using the Fire TV Cube.
You can install a host of other video apps including Disney Life, tvplayer and Plex.
Interface & voice control
Although Alexa will show matches from Netflix and YouTube, the fact it isn’t a truly universal search can be quite frustrating. I even tried “Alexa, play Hey Duggee on BBC iPlayer” but the results were the same.
Conversely, it’s sometimes quicker and easier to use the remote control: the Fire TV Cube isn’t meant to be exclusively controlled by voice.
When you do use Alexa, you have to say the right commands. For example, she doesn’t understand if you say “Play episode 12” or “Continue the Grand Tour where I left off” or even “play the latest episode”. You have to say “Select number 12” or “Play number 12”
Ultimately, voice search works best if you know exactly what you want already, and Alexa can start a specific video playing on YouTube purely with voice control. Surprisingly, she can also show your list of channel subscriptions on YouTube, which I wasn’t expecting.
Of course Alexa can also open apps and launch games such as Crossy Road and Deal or No Deal. If they’re not installed she can’t download them so, again, you’ll have to reach for the remote control.
However, some skills which have interfaces on the Echo Show lack them on the Fire TV Cube. Tenable, for example, has graphics on an Echo Show but works in audio mode only on the Fire TV Cube, so it’s clear that some developers need to optimise their skills for the Fire TV.
Price & Availability
That’s because you can link an Echo with a Fire TV Stick and do much of what the Fire TV Cube can do, but you won’t be able to some things such as turning your TV on or off and controlling the volume or a connected sound bar.
For those that don’t have either an Echo or Fire TV, the Cube is a much more tempting prospect, especially if you want the media streaming aspects.
For alternatives, see our roundup of the best media streaming boxes.
Verdict
The Fire TV Cube is a fairly complicated device to understand. It is a competent media streamer and now supports all three HDR standards and can output 4K at up to 60fps. It offers access to lots of UK-specific catch-up TV content, plus all the main video streaming services apart from NowTV.
The fact it also works like an Echo speaker means you have proper hands-free control, unlike using the Alexa Voice Remote on a regular Fire TV. But that voice control varies depending on the app you’re using.
It’s handy to be able to use Alexa to control your TV and sound bar or A/V receiver, but unless you have a Sky box, you can’t control any of your other set-top boxes or games consoles so the Cube isn’t really a replacement for a universal remote control.
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
