The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is different from the Fire TV sticks many UK buyers already know. It looks like part of the same Fire TV family and keeps the familiar Amazon ecosystem, but underneath it uses Amazon’s Vega OS rather than Android-based Fire OS.
That distinction matters because it affects app compatibility, sideloading and how future Fire TV software develops. ViewHarbour has not personally tested this exact retail unit, so this review is based on Amazon’s current specifications, platform documentation and the differences visible in the current Fire TV range.
Fire TV Stick 4K Select: key specifications
| Feature | Fire TV Stick 4K Select |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Vega OS 1.1 |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 8GB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 |
| 4K | Yes |
| HDR | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Dolby Vision | No |
| Android APK sideloading | No normal consumer APK installation |
| Best for | Low-cost mainstream 4K streaming in the Amazon ecosystem |
The biggest change is Vega OS
Amazon lists the 4K Select as a Vega OS 1.1 device. This is not simply a renamed version of Fire OS. Fire OS is Android-based; Vega OS is a separate platform.
For ordinary buyers, the practical consequence is app flexibility. Traditional Fire TV sideloading guides rely on Android APK packages and Fire OS developer settings. Those instructions do not apply to the 4K Select. Amazon provides a developer workflow for testing Vega applications, but that is different from normal consumer APK sideloading.
If installing apps from outside the Amazon Appstore matters to you, the Select is the wrong Fire TV stick. Start with our 4K Plus vs 4K Max comparison instead, as those Fire OS models are much better suited to buyers who want broader app flexibility.
Is 1GB RAM enough?
Amazon specifies 1GB RAM for the 4K Select. That is lower than the 2GB fitted to the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and 4K Max.
RAM does not determine picture quality, and a lightweight operating system can still feel responsive, but the specification gives the Select less headroom for heavier multitasking and app workloads. For a secondary television used mainly for a few major streaming services, that may be acceptable. For a primary TV where you want the most capable Fire TV stick, the higher models make more sense.
Picture quality: good 4K basics, but no Dolby Vision
The Select supports 4K playback plus HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. The important omission is Dolby Vision. If your television supports Dolby Vision and you use services that offer Dolby Vision content, the 4K Plus or 4K Max is the safer choice.
For a television that only needs standard HDR10 or HDR10+, this limitation may not matter. The decision should be based on your TV and the services you actually use rather than the badge on the box.
Wi-Fi and storage
The 4K Select has 8GB storage and Wi-Fi 5. Eight gigabytes is also the headline storage figure on the 4K Plus, while the 4K Max doubles that to 16GB.
Wi-Fi 5 is perfectly capable of 4K streaming when the signal is strong and your network is not congested. The difference is that the 4K Plus moves to Wi-Fi 6 and the 4K Max to Wi-Fi 6E, which can be useful in busier homes with compatible routers.
Who should buy the Fire TV Stick 4K Select?
- You want a straightforward Amazon Fire TV experience for mainstream streaming apps.
- You only need HDR10/HDR10+ rather than Dolby Vision.
- You are buying for a bedroom, kitchen or secondary television.
- The Select is substantially cheaper than the 4K Plus when you buy.
- You do not need Android APK sideloading.
Who should avoid it?
- Anyone who relies on sideloaded Android apps.
- Buyers who want Dolby Vision.
- People who want the strongest Fire TV hardware for a main television.
- Heavy app users who would benefit from 16GB storage on the 4K Max.
- Anyone who assumes every current Fire TV Stick still runs Fire OS.
Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs the other Fire TV sticks
The 4K Plus is the more balanced alternative because it keeps 8GB storage but moves to 2GB RAM, Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Vision and Android-based Fire OS 8. Read our Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs 4K Plus UK comparison.
The 4K Max is the strongest choice when you want more storage and networking headroom, with 16GB storage and Wi-Fi 6E. See Fire TV Stick 4K Select vs 4K Max UK.
ViewHarbour verdict
Buy the Fire TV Stick 4K Select if it is clearly the cheaper option and your needs are simple: major streaming services, 4K HDR and the Amazon ecosystem. Do not buy it just because it is the newest model. The move to Vega OS makes it less flexible than Fire OS-based alternatives, while 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi 5 and the lack of Dolby Vision give the Plus and Max stronger specifications.
See the full Fire TV Stick 4K Select device verdict, browse the best streaming devices UK shortlist, or use the ViewHarbour Device Finder to rank the catalogue around your own priorities.