

There’s also cable / antenna input, ethernet, a USB 2.0 port, optical audio out, a headphone jack, and a port for the IR emitter that Amazon also includes in the box. But Amazon has made a few too many hardware compromises for me to recommend its new TV lineup to people who want the best picture for their money.Ī red LED indicates that the TV’s microphones are disabled.Īs for port selection, the Omni includes three HDMI 2.0 ports and a single HDMI 2.1 eARC port that can take advantage of the latest and greatest soundbars. If you’re someone who’s easy to please, you might be totally satisfied. There’s nothing inherently terrible about the viewing experience on the Fire TV Omni. The Omni also supports features like Apple AirPlay 2, which Amazon’s streaming players still do not, and you can plug a webcam into the TV’s USB port for video calls with Echo Show devices right now and Zoom and other apps later on.īut Amazon’s first TVs underwhelm in the all-important area of picture quality, and they rank below competition from TCL, Vizio, Hisense, and other TV makers that play in the same price range. And you can query Alexa when the TV’s display is fully off for simple information like the weather or to play music. The Alexa integration is more thorough and full-featured than what you’d get using a Fire TV stick: in addition to launching your favorite streaming apps or searching for content with your voice, you can also switch between TV inputs. In some ways, Amazon’s new effort shows big promise. There’s also a cheaper Fire TV 4-Series on sale now, but I’m reviewing the higher-end series.

#Fire tv directv app software#
Only the largest 65-inch and 75-inch models include Dolby Vision HDR, which, in Amazon’s own words, allows for “a more cinematic experience.” All of the Omni TVs run Amazon’s Fire TV software and have built-in mics for hands-free Alexa voice commands - even when the screen is off.

#Fire tv directv app series#
The new Fire TV Omni series delivers 4K HDR picture in multiple sizes that start at aggressively low prices: the 50-inch model costs $359.99 at the time of this review. After building a successful hardware business with its Echo smart devices and Fire TV streaming gadgets, now the tech giant wants to put its name on the biggest screen in your home. You’d expect a lot from Amazon’s first self-branded TVs.
