Since 2014, many users have taken advantage of the Amazon Fire TV range to connect their TV. But in France, we had to wait until November 2017 to take advantage of a product specially designed for the forgotten countries : the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition.
In short:
(1) For what uses the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition of Amazon is perfect in France?
- Watch HD movies/Unlimited series on Netflix or Amazon prime Video (free for Prime subscribers)
- Watch the videos on Youtube
- Watch the French TV live/replay with Molotov (new to 8/12/2017)
- Listen to your Spotify, Deezer or Amazon music library
- Watch your own photos/videos stored on Amazon photos
- Play beautiful “Casual games” 2d on big screen
(2) What makes Amazon’s Fire TV Stick Basic Edition really unique?
- A “Big USB key” format as discreet and easy to install as the Google Chromecast
- Unlike Chromecast, you don’t need a phone to navigate because of the remote control
- A simple interface designed precisely for the remote control
- A choice of over 4000 applications and games
- A very good integration with the Amazon Ecosystem (Alexa, Fire tablets, Amazon Video, Amazon Music ...)
(3) where the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition of Amazon is available in France?
- Stop searching, the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition is only available on Amazon.fr at €59.99 and €39.99 for Prime subscribers (test 30 days for free).
If you are interested in the details:
(4) What are the differences with the other Amazon Fire TV?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick Basic Edition actually results from the combination of 2 pre-existing products:
-The stick is the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick, launched in the fall of 2016 and quite efficient
-The remote control, meanwhile, comes from the first generation Fire TV Stick of 2014, without the voice recognition Alexa since it does not yet understand French.
It is for now the only Fire TV product available in France but this should change in 2018!
(5) Does the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition of Amazon have weak points?
- The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition is, of course, only HD (1080p), no 4K
- For political reasons, no access to content from the Google Play store or the iTunes movies store
- The catalogue of applications in French is obviously reduced
- In fact, some applications are missing for the time being like myCanal or Kodi
- No Ethernet plug, it needs a good WiFi connection
(6) What are the good surprises of the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition?
- Its price! At €59.99 It is one of the cheapest media players, just between the Chromecast 2 of Google (at €39 at Boulanger or on Fnac.fr) and the mid Box of Xiaomi (around 70-90 € on Amazon.fr and AliExpress)
- In addition, the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition costs only €39.99 for Prime subscribers-Test 30 days for FREE *
- A mini HDMI cable is provided, but this one is perfect if you need more length …
- Applications not necessarily expected as Arte, Deezer, VLC or Plex
- An electrical supply is provided to not run out of power (and even the batteries of the remote control).
But what’s Prime? An Amazon offer that allows you to enjoy:
- Free shipping in 1 or 2 days on Amazon.fr
- Access to unlimited movies and series on primevideo.com
- Free and unlimited storage of your photos
- Free loan of a Kindle EBook per month
* The trick is therefore
- To test free Prime on 30 days-for the 18-24 years, this is here to test for free Prime over 6 months
- To buy during this time the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition at €39.99
(7) What are the alternatives, less than €100, to the Fire TV Stick Basic Edition?
- The Google Chromecast 2 to benefit from the Google Play Store (€39 at Boulanger or on Fnac.fr)
- The Google Chromecast Ultra to switch to 4 K (€79.99 at Baker or on Fnac.fr)
- The Xiaomi Mi Box, for the 4 K and the remote control, for sale on Amazon.fr for less than €90 (J + 15) and on AliExpress for less than €70 (j + 5)
- The Roku Express, not yet on sale in France
Edit of 8/12/2017: Availability of Molotov for the Fire TV