Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (newest model) with AI-powered Fire TV Search, Wi-Fi 6, stream over 1.8 million movies and shows, free & live TV $29.99

TheRealVassago

Feb 18, 2026 6:43 AM

774 Comments

Joined Jul 2006

TheRealVassagoFeb 18, 2026 6:43 AM

774 Comments

Are these the ones locked on the new Fire OS? Hard pass on ever buying them again without Android app support and sideloading apks. I've already replaced not just mine, but my friends and families,too. Amazon really failed with this decision.

TheDirtCheap

Feb 18, 2026 8:27 AM

1.2K Comments

Joined Jul 2015

TheDirtCheapFeb 18, 2026 8:27 AM

1.2K Comments

50% off if you have the T-Mobile Tuesday deal!

signetv

Feb 18, 2026 9:11 AM

2.3K Comments

Joined Nov 2009

signetvFeb 18, 2026 9:11 AM

2.3K Comments

Quote from TheRealVassago

:

Are these the ones locked on the new Fire OS? Hard pass on ever buying them again without Android app support and sideloading apks. I've already replaced not just mine, but my friends and families,too. Amazon really failed with this decision.

"The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K runs Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 11." Should allow side-loading, unless I'm missing something

TheRealVassago

Feb 18, 2026 1:52 PM

774 Comments

Joined Jul 2006

TheRealVassagoFeb 18, 2026 1:52 PM

774 Comments

Quote from signetv

:

"The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K runs Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 11." Should allow side-loading, unless I'm missing something

Did it say that specifically in the listing? I didn't see it. They are moving all new devices to a proprietary OS that will NOT allow sideloading. I was asking if that was out now.

I guess it is out and is called Vega OS now, based on what I'm reading. Yeah, I wouldn't buy these anymore new. There are other options anyway.

They have also been blocking certain apps even in Android based ones, from what I've read. I like having control of what I install and what apps I use.

Last edited by TheRealVassago February 18, 2026 at 06:02 AM.

signetv

Feb 18, 2026 2:00 PM

2.3K Comments

Joined Nov 2009

signetvFeb 18, 2026 2:00 PM

2.3K Comments

Quote from TheRealVassago

:

Did it say that specifically in the listing? I didn't see it. They are moving all new devices to a proprietary OS that will NOT allow sideloading. I was asking if that was out now. I guess it is out and is called Vega OS now, based on what I'm reading. Yeah, I wouldn't buy these anymore new. There are other options anyway.

It was my understanding that these still run on the original OS, so can be side-loaded. FireTV Stick Select is so far the only one pre-installed with Amazon's proprietary VegaOS. Of course, at some point they may upgrade all to Vega, but not yet

1

TheRealVassago

Feb 19, 2026 9:04 PM

774 Comments

Joined Jul 2006

TheRealVassagoFeb 19, 2026 9:04 PM

774 Comments

Quote from signetv

:

It was my understanding that these still run on the original OS, so can be side-loaded. FireTV Stick Select is so far the only one pre-installed with Amazon's proprietary VegaOS. Of course, at some point they may upgrade all to Vega, but not yet

Gotcha. People are still reporting that they are getting apps they sideboard blocked with warnings from Amazon. I'll still pass.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (newest model) with AI-powered Fire TV Search, Wi-Fi 6, stream over 1.8 million movies and shows, free & live TV $29.99

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