Amazon has unveiled a significant performance upgrade for millions of Fire TV Stick users, promising to make streaming faster and more intuitive. The announcement came during a presentation at the CES technology tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 8 January 2026.
A Faster, More Fluid Streaming Experience
The core of the update is a substantial speed improvement. Amazon has completely reworked the underlying code of its FireOS software, which powers the popular streaming dongles. The company states that users who install the free update can expect to see performance gains of between 20 and 30 per cent immediately after installation.
This boost is designed to eliminate lag and make navigating menus, launching apps, and finding content a much snappier experience. "The new UI has a more modern design with improved layouts, rounded corners, redesigned color gradients, updated typography, and more optimized spacing," Amazon explained.
Redesigned Interface and Expanded Alexa
Alongside the raw speed increase, Amazon is introducing a fully redesigned Fire TV user interface. The new layout is organised around content types like movies, TV shows, and sports, with dedicated home sections for each category. This aims to help customers browse titles from all their subscriptions in one place, getting them to what they want to watch more quickly.
The tech giant also revealed that its Alexa+ assistant is expanding beyond voice commands to the web and will integrate across more devices, enhancing its capabilities within the Fire TV ecosystem.
New Hardware and Mobile App Enhancements
Beyond the software update for existing devices, Amazon used CES to launch its first "lifestyle TV," the Amazon Ember Artline. This 4K QLED TV features a matte display, access to over 2,000 pieces of free art, and AI-powered recommendations that suggest artwork to match a room's décor. It also offers ten adjustable frame colours for customisation.
Furthermore, a redesigned Fire TV mobile app now allows users to browse content, manage watchlists, and select what to watch next directly from their smartphones, offering greater control and convenience.
All these software improvements will be delivered via a free update to compatible Fire TV devices, ensuring a revitalised experience for users without the need to purchase new hardware. The update underscores Amazon's commitment to refining its streaming platform, directly addressing common user feedback about performance and navigation.
