A cheap, fairly dim 1080p TV
Almost all TVs available today are 4K, but you can still find 1080p (and lower) models if you’re looking for smaller screens and lower prices. The Amazon Fire TV 2-Series is available in a 40-inch, 1080p version for $249.99 and a 32-inch, 720p version for $199.99. The 40-inch model is the cheapest TV we’ve tested in years—and it mostly performs like it. The 1080p resolution isn’t its main problem, though; it looks perfectly fine because the screen is fairly small. Instead, the TV’s big weakness is a very dim panel (that is even dimmer than the disappointing 4K Fire TV Omni). If you can increase your budget, the 2-Series is far outshined in terms of both picture quality and features by the $449.99 43-inch Fire TV Omni QLED.Design: Basic Black Bezels
Even though it’s an entry-level budget TV, the 2-Series isn’t an ugly, chunky-looking device. It lacks the nearly bezel-free design of most higher-end TVs, but its flat black bezel is narrow enough (0.3 inches on the top, 0.4 inches on the sides, 0.8 inches on the bottom) to almost disappear around the screen. It sits on two short, V-shaped black plastic legs and can be mounted on the wall.
The TV’s ports face right on the back of the screen, inconveniently closer to the center than the side, so you have to reach a bit deeper behind it to plug anything in. They include three HDMI ports (one ARC), one USB port, one optical audio output, one 3.5mm headphone jack, one 3.5mm IR blaster port (not included), an Ethernet port, and an antenna/cable connector.
The included remote is the same Fire TV Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced that comes with the Fire TV Omni. It’s a skinny black candy bar of a remote with a circular navigation pad near the top. A pinhole microphone for Alexa sits above the pad, along with Alexa and power buttons. Menu and playback buttons are below the pad, with volume and channel rockers further down and dedicated service buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix near the bottom.Features: Hands-On Alexa
Like you might have already figured out from the name, the Fire TV 2-Series uses Amazon’s Fire TV smart TV platform and effectively acts as if a Fire TV Stick was plugged into it. Fire TV is a capable system that covers all major streaming services including Apple TV, Crunchyroll, Disney+, Max, Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube, and of course Amazon Prime Video. It’s similar to Google TV in design and implementation, but obviously more Amazon-focused. It lacks any phone-streaming features like Apple AirPlay or Google Cast, but it does support Miracast/WiDi for wirelessly connecting your computer.
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is built into the Fire TV platform, and you can access it on the 2-Series by holding the Alexa button on the remote and speaking into it.
