A new remote for the Amazon Fire TV line of devices has just gone through FCC approval. As always, there is no actual indication that this remote is made by Amazon, since Amazon always uses a different shell company for all of their FCC filings, but I have absolutely no doubt that this device is the new Fire TV remote.
The new remote carries FCC ID number 2ALBK-0445 and model number PE59CV. The most interesting thing the FCC documents reveal is that this remote uses Bluetooth, and not WiFi-direct like the existing Fire TV 2 and Fire TV Stick 2 remote.
When Amazon first introduced the current Fire TV voice remote with the release of the Fire TV 2, it was plagued with connection issues, which were finally fixed several months after release through numerous software updates. This could explain why Amazon has decided to revert back to using Bluetooth for their remote, like they did with the first generation Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The new Fire TV Edition television also uses a Bluetooth remote, so it seems like it’s going to be all Bluetooth remotes for the foreseeable future.
Top: 2017 FCC Line Drawing. Bottom: 2015 Fire TV Voice Remote.
Based on the new remote’s line drawing in the FCC filing, it seems as though the new remote is physically identical to the existing remote. The battery compartment, the labeling, and even the notches for the battery door match perfectly between the two remotes.
Amazon has been having a hard time keeping the current Fire TV voice remote in stock. It has been backordered for the majority of the last year, and when it does come back into stock, it’s only around for a few days before it goes out of stock for months at a time again. I’ve speculated that productions issues with the remote were partially to blame for the low Fire TV and Fire TV Stick stock earlier this year. This new remote might actually be a replacement for the existing remote, as opposed to just being slated for release with new Fire TV devices.
Amazon is currently working on a new “AFTN” Fire TV model. It’s expected that this new model will be released near the end of this year, just before the holidays. It’s pretty safe to assume this new remote will be packaged with that new device.
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I am always excited to see a new FTV come out. On the otherhand, my current FTV2 boxes are still great. Regardless, I’m sure I would ebay them and buy anything new that comes out. I use them so much it is worth it to have the latest and greatest.
I find your comments interesting about the remote backlog explaining the players being out of stock for so long earlier this years. I just wanted to buy a fire TV stick a few months ago and couldn’t believe I couldn’t get one and wouldn’t be able to for months. That was unbelievable to me and frustrating as hell. I eventually grabbed a gen 1 box instead when a few trickled into stock to go with my gen 2 box. Ultimately, the box was a better choice for me, but I just couldn’t believe that Amazon could actually be out of sticks for months.
Yeah, I think it was a “perfect storm” of sorts. I lay it out in the article I wrote in more detail, but I think the combination of remote production issues, UK/DE launch, and resellers draining supply combined to make that mess where they couldn’t sell one of their most popular devices.
But they never really went out of stock at official resellers right ? And it is not like the price ever came down due to the semi-short supply.
I don’t know if this was the case all over, but while the Stick was out of stock on Amazon, Best Buy in my area was out as well. Price never changed.
Humn, didn’t know that. One of my friends bought a FireTV Stick 2 that I helped with. But he ordered it thru Amazon Prime. It did take a week to arrive. But that was months ago. Thought the brick & mortar shops where still getting their inventory in. Amazon devices are still the best hardware for the price. Now one has really been able beat that. Specially now that the FTVS2’s are as powerful as the FTV1’s.
Best Buy and every other online outlet didn’t have them when I was looking for one over several weeks. Of course, the hoarders on eBay had them for 80.00 or more, but come on, right? Not paying that.
Good info Charlie. Really hope that this new remote solves that part of the issue. Most folks I know had FTVS1’s already & they mostly have cable still. I was never able to get use to the speed of FTVS1’s. But thought the FTVS2’s where good enough. Luckily my PreRooted FTV1’s are still going strong.
I hope this shortages do not repeat themselves. I’ve never understood folks that buy devices at twice the cost because of their laziness. I believe in open markets but re-sellers are just bastards & their buyers are complete idiots.
Bluetooth for a tv remote kinda sucks. I have a Nvidia Shield TV box and the bluetooth is a bit laggy. I really like the performance of the current Fire TV remote.
My Gen1 box and remote have worked great for multiple years now. The remote seems really quick, although it eats batteries 3x as fast as my Tivo Roamio does. Surprisingly the Gen1 box plays x265 material great when the bitrate is as low as Amazon Video and 2-channel audio. Will upgrade if they come up with a new box that still has an optical output or they stop supporting Gen1 and make it useless.
Yeap, only had FTV1’s for my self but have help friends/family with both FTVS’s. And I prefer the FTV1’s remote. I am surprised how much abuse (get drop multiple times a day) the have taken over the years. The only issue is battery drainage. But it still not horrible. 2-3 month battery cycle. Nothing a rechargable battery option won’t cure.
I have always hated the remote on the Gen2 box. PreOrderd a Gen2 box when they started to accept preorders and when it arrived it was a no-go for the remote. Returned the box until they reported the problems fixed, then reordered one. Then after a few months the remote went bad and when I wanted to order a replacement remote the back-order was so long, that I just stole the old remote from my Gen1 box. Gen1 remote with Gen2 box, perfect combo. So this is GREAT news.
I have gen 1 Fire TVs and I have gone through 3 bad remotes. I hope they make a better quality remote
I have a gen 1 and 2 box and have a Roku and Nexus Player and I for some reason love the gen 1 remote. It’s tiny and tight fitting and has that texture the gen 2 box remote lacks. Since I’m watching YouTube videos every day, the smaller size of fire TV remotes is appealing. The clunky Roku remote is definitely my last favorite.
AFTVnews keep up the great work
I like the original non-voice remote. It doesn’t work with Windows, though – anyone know why?
Screen is frozen. Remote wouldn’t do nothing. Remote model pe59-cv. Transmitter model ly73pr
The Bluetooth remote DEVOURS batteries. It’s insane.