Amazon has, for the first time since its release in April of last year, listed the Amazon Fire TV as “currently unavailable” with the subtext: “we don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.” This doesn’t necessarily mean that Amazon will never sell the device again, but it’s a pretty strong indication that they’ve exhausted their supply and are not in a rush to produce more. For example, the Certified Refurbished Fire TV has been listed as “currently unavailable” in the past, only to be made available once again. Speaking of the refurbished Fire TV, Amazon has added a box to the Fire TV’s product page directing customers to purchase the refurbished version.
We’ve been seeing more and more indication that a new Fire TV is just around the corner, so this change in the Fire TV’s availability is another big sign of a new model on the horizon. Ever since Prime Day, the Fire TV has been mostly listed as out of stock with the availability date periodically moving further away. Yesterday, the Fire TV was listed as being in stock near the end of the month. It’s telling that the device is being listed as unavailable instead of just listing a distant availability date. The Fire TV Stick Non-Voice Remote, for example, has been listed as out of stock with the message “usually ships within 2 to 4 months” ever since Prime Day. While it might as well be listed as unavailable, the key difference is that you can still place an order an item with a distant availability date, like the non-voice remote, but you cannot place an order for something listed as unavailable, like the Fire TV is now listed.
When refurbished Fire TVs first became available back in November, they were being sold for $79. The price increase to $94, where they stand now, occurred a few months ago in June. It may be that Amazon just has a large stockpile of refurbished Fire TVs that they want to sell, so making the Fire TV unavailable is their way of redirecting customers to the refurbished units. Time will tell, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Fire TV’s availability.
Updates
8/16 7:38 am PT The Fire TV availability now seems to be bouncing back and forth between being unavailable and being in stock at the end of August.
8/20 4:57 am PT The Fire TV is now listed as “In stock on August 27, 2015.”
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Whether it’s right around the corner or not, I’m really curious to see what the next generation brings…. and the price point.
I’m guessing Amazon will follow the Kindle model. Same price at release but with improved specs: new processor, maybe more RAM, definitely more storage (16gb?)
Perhaps the new device (or its remote) will be always listening and offer the Alexa service that we see in the Amazon Echo. I hope not.
Do any other stores carry the fire tv other than Staples & Best Buy?
Radio Shack
New fire tv’s are still available on the UK Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KQEJBSW?keywords=amazon%20fire%20tv&qid=1439671540&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
Sorry, we can’t deliver this item to the United States
“In stock on August 23, 2015. “
currently, back in stock
I think they are waiting for the Apple event and see if a new Appel TV device comes out. If so, they will know if they need to have a new price point, specs, etc. It is an exciting time, that is for sure.
…and we’ll see if people that invested in Apple TV and were constantly disappointed that there was no app ecosystem added, etc and have moved on are willing to move to a new piece of hardware when Apple could have paid attention to the current one over the past years. It would have to be AMAZING to get me back on board. I have my Apple TV 3rd gen and never use it.
I’m more likely to upgrade my Fire TV or just keep using it because it already kicks Apple TV’s ass and I’m sure any future version will do the same.
I’m with you Pete. I never use my Apple TV anymore and I have migrated to Amazon for all my media purchases. If you look at the rumored specs on the new Apple TV it seems to be nothing more than a copy of the Fire TV. Interested to see what, if any, new features it will have. Otherwise, I will stick with the Fire which does everything I want and more.
These are out of stock at all Best Buys in Phoenix. I need a second unit. Hopefully they release this soon or I may just snag the Nvidia Shield TV.
I think they are going to phase out the Fire Tv. The Fire Tv Stick sold like hotcakes. I can see them just doing away with the Fire TV desktop(or whatever you want to call it) no reason to keep it if the other is selling sooo much better.
Its a pity tho. I’d pay a premium to have a Fire TV desktop with expandable memory(SD card), multiple USB ports, fastest available cpu/gpu, 3+ gigs of ram and 64+ GB internal space.
I think the biggest reason the stick sold so well was due to crushing the competition at it’s price point. I think if we see a $100 stick, the sales won’t be quite as hot. If they offer a prime, pre order discount, I’m in.
Still available in Germany as well.
I can power the stick from the USB port on the back of my TV. It turns a cheap tv into a high powered smart tv. The stick is definitely sluggish compared to the box, but it’s tolerable.
Thanks for that last comment. I have the FireTV and my son has the stick. The stick is [seems] sooooooo slow to react to the remote, I was beginning to believe there was interference or something.
I own both, and the stick definitely has some input lag. It is ok if you never used the box, but if you own both it is really annoying. Surprised by the lag, since the stick is still pretty powerful, especially compared to Roku for instance.
Amazon now shows the Fire TV available by August 23, 2015. Fire TV stick is available now.
This could just be something more related to lack of supply and they’re just manufacturing new units, but now that we know AFTV box & stick ate getting OS 5, I think maybe they’re slowing down production so they can market the devices that now feature a new OS which judging by the kindle preview is going to be a lot different than the old one at least in terms of looks.
Great article. For those who live outside US like me, you can access Netflix, Hulu and similar media stations on your Amazon Fire TV by using UnoTelly or similar tools.
Dont put time in Fire TV, it has the most worst interface on the market (launcher)! I thought Sony Android TV was the one, but it can be worst. Better spent a little bit more and buy the NVIDIA Shield TV, now with Android 8.0 on it you will have the complete freedom to put on your screen what you want…