Amazon is ready to launch a refreshed Fireplace TV Stick HD on April 29 for $35. For the primary time ever, a Fireplace TV Stick is ditching Micro-USB for a USB-C port. That change prompted Amazon to launch a brand new USB-C Ethernet Adapter for $20, and buried within the product itemizing is one thing fascinating.
It claims speeds of “as much as 480 Mbps,” which implies the adapter is technically Gigabit-capable. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a Ethernet customary between 100 Mbps and Gigabit, so the one method to hit 480 Mbps is with a Gigabit adapter. However Amazon simply isn’t promoting it that method.
Why can’t the brand new Fireplace TV Stick HD attain full Gigabit Ethernet speeds?
Amazon
In response to AFTV Information, regardless of the USB-C improve, the brand new Fireplace TV Stick HD is believed to be working a USB 2.0 port beneath. USB 2.0 caps out at 480 Mbps, and with real-world overhead factored in, you might be realistically taking a look at nearer to 350 Mbps. So whereas the adapter is Gigabit-capable, the stick itself is the bottleneck.
Amazon has not printed {hardware} specs for the brand new mannequin but, which is uncommon and telling. The report additionally means that the {hardware} could also be almost an identical to the six-year-old mannequin it replaces.
Is the brand new Fireplace TV Stick HD nonetheless value shopping for?
Amazon
The brand new stick is Amazon’s slimmest streaming system but, which not wants a wall plug, and it could actually draw energy instantly out of your TV’s USB port. It additionally helps Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Nevertheless, the large sticking level is Vega OS, Amazon’s new Linux-based working system that doesn’t assist sideloading apps. Nonetheless, the Gigabit-capable adapter might change into much more helpful if future Fireplace TV fashions like a brand new 4K Max arrive with correct USB 3.0 assist. For now, you might be getting half the potential.
It’s value noting that for many streaming wants, 350Mbps is greater than sufficient. A 4K stream sometimes wants round 25Mbps. However if you happen to’re working a Plex server or depend on quick native community transfers, you’ll really feel the hole.
