A week ago, I came across an eBay listing for $24.99 Amazon Fire TVs. The listing is still active and is for just the Fire TV itself, without the power adapter or remote. I was intrigued because the seller had sold hundreds, and the units were factory sealed by Amazon in made-to-fit small retail boxes, different from the standard retail box. I ordered one and it arrived today. Here’s what you should know if you’re considering buying one.
The eBay listing says these Fire TVs are new, but that’s not entirely true. Yes, they are factory sealed by Amazon with the same frustration-free pull tab found on the regular retail Fire TV packaging, so in that sense they are new. But what’s inside the box is obviously a refurbished device that was probably purchased by someone, returned, and repackaged by Amazon. A little research on the seller, Cargo Largo, reveals they deal in “the sale of undelivered and excess inventory”, so they likely purchased these units wholesale from Amazon.
The unit I received was practically new without a single scratch or fingerprint, however the plastic wrap and protective strip around the unit were not applied with the same precision as one would find on a brand new device. The serial number on the box matched the serial number reported by the Fire TV itself. The serial number indicated that it started life with version 51.1.0.1 of the Fire TV software. I had no trouble bypassing the initial update, but unfortunately it arrived with software version 51.1.3.0 so this particular unit was not rootable. I would guess that, just like the refurbished Fire TVs sold by Amazon, these will all have different software versions. Some will be rootable, while others will not be rootable; it’s luck of the draw.
If you’re planning to control your Fire TV with a keyboard anyway, this is a pretty great deal. Buying a $19.99 power adapter gets you a functioning Fire TV for $45 plus shipping. If you buy one to use with just a keyboard, be aware though that you’ll need a Fire TV remote to complete the initial setup since the first thing the Fire TV does is search for a remote and there doesn’t seem to be a way to get past that screen without connecting a remote. Once you’ve completed the setup, you won’t need the remote again. Even if you factor in the Fire TV Stick’s non-voice remote for $14.99, you’ve still got a complete Fire TV for just under $60.
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Not a bad deal. Too bad since they are refreshed we cannot tell if they are rootable or not.
Kinda a luck of the draw
Thanks, just ordered 2. That makes 5x FTV’s around the house for me :D!
Sold out already, son of a…
I received a DOA unit from Amazon and they replaced the box only with a unit packaged this same way. I was able to get two headed my way, ThanX
Same here, SuperX687. Mine just arrived today. Was yours root-able?
I let it take updates, side-loading has been good enough for me. Other than USB storage issue what are the benefits to rooting?
One benefit of rooting is that you can connect to the google play store.
You can have one of mine. Impulse buy, and really don’t need 2 on top of 3 I already have/use. Post your e-mail so I can contact you… I’ll let you have it at cost + shipping. I also ordered a non-Amazon power adapter off eBay for $15.
What power adapter did you get? Got a link?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361034024064
I would be interested in one of the extras if you still have one.
bnick007@gmail.com
Or you could buy a MeLE F10 and get a better remote in the process while still saving money over a new Fire TV.
I use this one and like it quite a bit: http://www.amazon.com/iRainy-Portable-Wireless-Bluetooth-Set-top-boxes/dp/B00KT09QPG/
Bought one of these to play with kodi pre loaded.
Look at that remote!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381021508212?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Sure hope they restock.. Sorry I missed it, it was a good value.
I bought 4 of these and unfortunately they were all on an a non rootable software…still a good deal though. Hopefully someone will find a way to root 51.1.3.0.
Just tried a friends that also bought one. It too is on 51.1.3.0
So I order one and its coming Tuesday. I just realized that they don’t come with power adapter. so I ordered that too. and then the game controller and the remote from amazon. I just need full kodi to replace my apple tv 2 that I sold for 170$. SHould I root and unlock bootloader if SN allows it, or kodi will have full functionality by sideloading it?
If you only want to do Kodi and don’t need launcher capabilities you can get by fine without root. If you CAN root it, and feel comfortable doing so, I would go ahead and root it just in case down the line you find a reason for root.
I got mine today. Has firmware version 5.1.1.3.0_user_513011520. Used all the plugs and remote for my existing one to get into it.
Works great!
I bought 3 and 2 of them are not rootable. I will have to wait to see if the third one is rootable. I have not read any posts that read any of that batch have been rootable. I believe all of them came with 5.1.1.3.0 I purchased an Amazon Fire TV streaming device when they first came out and I rooted it immediately so I do have one of tge 4 that are rooted. I don’t mind, it was still a great value at $30.