The new Fire TV interface has been released today and is currently rolling out to the Fire TV Stick Lite and the 3rd-gen Fire TV Stick because they are the newest devices. Amazon had previously said that other Fire TV models would also receive the new interface early next year but didn’t specify which models would or wouldn’t get it. They’ve now confirmed the full list of devices that will be getting the new interface and here it is.
Fire TV models that will receive the new redesigned interface include:
Fire TV Sticks
- 2nd-Gen Fire TV Stick (sold from 2016-2020)
- 1st-Gen Fire TV Stick Basic Edition (sold from 2017-2020)
- 1st-Gen Fire TV Stick 4K (sold from 2018-Present)
- 3rd-Gen Fire TV Stick (sold from 2020-Present)
- 1st-Gen Fire TV Stick Lite (sold from 2020-Present)
Fire TVs
2nd-Gen Fire TV Box (sold form 2015-2017)- 3rd-Gen Fire TV Pendant (sold from 2017-2018)
Fire TV Cubes
- 1st-Gen Fire TV Cube (sold form 2017-2019)
- 2nd-Gen Fire TV Cube (sold from 2019-Present)
Fire TV Editions
- “All current Fire TV Edition Televisions“
- Nebula Fire TV Edition Soundbar
- TCL Fire TV Edition Soundbar
Update
3/25/21This article originaly incorrectly stated that the 2nd-gen Fire TV would be receiving the new interface. It turns out that is not the case.
Essentially, the only stand-alone Fire TV streaming media players that are not receiving the new interface are the 2 oldest models released in 2014, which are the 1st-Gen Fire TV Box and the 1st-Gen Fire TV Stick. I’m waiting to hear back from Amazon to clarify what “current” means regarding Fire TV Edition televisions. It’s safe to assume that any Fire TV Edition still being sold today will receive the new interface, but I’m not sure if discontinued models are included. I’ll update this article when I hear back from them.
If you’re not sure which Fire TV model you have, the easiest way to find out is to install my Informer app. It will tell you exactly which version and generation Fire TV device you have. Alternately, you can check this guide for ways to physically identify each model.
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My poor little old Element Fire TV Edition won’t make the list. Not surprising, but I did learn a lesson with buying TV + OS combo device. (Somewhat obvious, but better to get a dumber TV and upgrade the input device than have a TV that may be dropped from service updates after a year or three.)
I too have an Element Fire TV Edition TV (discontinued). I knew the risks of buying a smart tv when I bought it, but had high hopes that since it had the Fire TV built-in, in partnership with Amazon that it would get updates the same as standalone fire devices. OH well, we’ll see.
FWIW – the Prime Video app interface (launched via that button on the remote) does slightly resemble the new Fire TV redesigned interface.
Will the 4K-stick get FireOS 7.x (= Android 9.x) too, considering it’s using the same SoC as the latest non-4K-sticks?
Is there a risk that this update could brick the device?
There’s no risk involved in updating your device. Its only when you unplug the device while updating that could cause a brick. If you do however end up with a brick, there’s an exploit on XDA to unbrick it and unlock your device. Yes you’ll still be able to have your apps and content if the update doesn’t roll out yet
So, there is a risk that the device will be bricked, but a tech savy consumer should be able to unbrick the device?
Yes, but the risk is, as mentioned, extremely low as you’d have to experience a power outage, a dog biting the power cable, a lightning strike, an accidental unplug, all while updating.
Many users power their fire tv from the USB port of their TV and most USB ports lose power when the TV is turned off. I keep all my electronics plugged into a UPS.
If the device doesn’t get the update, will it still be able to access the apps and content?
Yes
When the 4k fire stick gets the new interface or FireOS 7, will the fire stick natively recognize and add external storage devices like thumb or hard drives like the 3rd gen fire stick?
Will my Firestick 4K get the new OS 7 interface? It is April 12, and it hasn’t be updated yet,
I have every version of firestick, only version3 (pendant) has new interface as of 4/13/21.
With the new interface on my 3rd gen pendant, the bookmark apps that allow you to open firefox or silk and go to a specific url no longer show up as recently used apps. Have to go to apps to open them every time now. These are the most used apps for me and there is no way to have access to them on the home screen anymore.
My Fire TV 4K sticks got the most recent update, but nothing yet on the TCL Fire TV Edition Soundbar which is suppose to be a 4K stick but since it doesn’t seem to work with any of the “Mouse Toggle for Fire TV” versions, I’m not so sure that is the case.