The benefits of a smart TV are too numerous to list, but sometimes you’re perfectly happy with your existing TV — you just want to give it a little feature boost. The easiest way is through a streaming stick such as the incredibly popular Amazon Fire TV Stick, on sale for only $22.

Why is this a good deal? 💰

This is the lowest price we’ve seen so far this year. In fact, the last time the price dropped lower than this was during Black Friday of last year; it didn’t even hit this price at Christmas. If you’re waiting for a better deal, you might be waiting for a while.

Why do I need this? 🤔

Streaming devices pretty much fall into one of three camps: an Amazon Fire Stick, a Roku or the less common Apple TV. The Fire Stick is one of the easiest to use — and the most budget-friendly, especially if you’re only trying to stream in high definition instead of 4K. (For 4K, consider this version, also on sale.) It’s just so easy to use that it’s hard not to recommend.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick plugs right into an HDMI port in the back of your TV, so it’s nice and tidy. The remote is intuitive, and the Alexa Voice button is a simple matter of pressing and holding while you ask your question. You can turn smart devices on and off, ask for movie suggestions and even do a bit of online shopping with this handy gadget. There’s also a ton of free content available, thanks to free streaming services including Tubi and Pluto TV. You’ll get access to over 300,000 titles without paying a dime. Nice, huh?

What reviewers say 💬

You can read plenty about how this tiny device has changed users’ TV time for the better — it has over 391,000 five-star fans.

Pros 👍

“This is so easy to set up and use, I wish I got this years ago,” raved a once-clueless fan. “I’ll be honest, and I feel a bit foolish admitting this, but despite hearing about the Fire TV Stick’s existence for years, I never considered it because I thought there was a monthly fee! I didn’t want to pay for anything beyond my subscriptions, so I never even read the details.”

Take if from this charged-up cord-cutter: “This purchase right here? Absolute game changer! I mean, I was fed up with those ridiculously expensive cable TV subscriptions. So I took matters into my own hands and got this amazing device. And guess what? Now I’m practically running my own TV network!”

One shopper shared that this is easy to use, even for older folks. “I got this for an elderly lady that doesn’t have cable, and her regular TV antenna would always lose signal,” said one thoughtful buyer. “I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. She is now streaming shows and movies, she learned to speak to Alexa at 87 years old. I am very happy with the product, and I highly recommend it. It is very easy for anyone to use, from children to the elderly.”

Cons 👎

One user pointed out that storage could be a problem. “The only downside is that there is limit to the memory, so be careful not to load up too many apps,” one user cautioned. “Only put on the ones you frequently use.”

This reviewer had a rueful reflection: Another wished that mirroring your screen was simpler. “My only complaint is that screen mirroring from other devices isn’t as easy as would like it to be.”

Amazon

Monthly fee? No. Easy access to streaming content, including free movies and shows? Yes.

$22 at Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

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