You will learn everything you need about The Walmart Fire Stick TV from this article!
If you are looking around for the Fire Stick to upgrade your TV streaming, you may have come across an option at Walmart, which seems a bit cheaper than the one you can order from Amazon. Is it the same device and should you buy it?
The answer to both of those questions is no. It is not the same as the product available from Amazon, and it is also probably not worth buying. Read on as we explain exactly why.
But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get your next Android TV streaming device from Walmart. They have some great options available at great prices. Below you will also find our top five picks for Android TV boxes currently available from Walmart.
Can You Buy The Fire Stick 4K At Walmart?
If you have your heart set on the excellent Amazon Fire Stick 4K, you can’t buy it at Walmart. This is Amazon’s flagship product, so it should be no surprise that you can only get it directly from them.
You can read our full review of the Amazon Fire Stick 4K here, with links to where you can buy it on Amazon.
If you see a Fire TV Stick available at Walmart, this will be the Fire Stick Lite. This is an inferior version of the product that isn’t even made by Amazon. The dead giveaway should be that while it features the smiley arrow, nowhere on the stick does it say “Amazon.”
This looks like the premium Fire Stick, but the fundamental difference is that it only delivers 720p HD and 1080p HD. You won’t be able to watch Netflix or Prime Video in 4K. It also only comes with a “lite” version of the Alexa voice remote, which has less functionality when it comes to controlling your entire TV from the remote.
This is still a nice TV stick if you aren’t overly concerned about 4K images. But it is not to be confused with the genuine product.
Would we recommend buying this alternative Fire Stick from Walmart? Well, no. It costs around $40, and you can get the genuine 4K product from Amazon for only a few dollars more.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any Android TV sticks or boxes that are worth buying from Walmart.
Best Android TV Streaming Devices From Walmart
If you do want to buy your next Android TV streaming device from Walmart, skip their inferior Fire Stick and instead choose one of these better-quality options that are also available.
Dynalink Android TV Box
This powerful little Android TV box is a bargain for anyone who is interested in the Fire Stick 4K. This box basically does everything the 4K stick does including unlocking Netflix and Prime Video in full 4K thanks to Google certification. It also has a voice remote and smart home integrations, though powered by Google rather than Alexa.
The box isn’t powerful enough to act as a media hub or to run sophisticated versions of Kodi, but it is a great alternative to the Fire Stick 4K for anyone who does not want to be restricted by the Fire operating system. The Dynalink runs the normal Android 10.0 OS.
- Google Certified
- Netflix and Prime Video in 4K
- Voice control
- Smart home integrations
- Less than $30
H96 Max Android 9.0 TV Box
If you want a more powerful box to use for your own media library or to run sophisticated versions of Kodi, then the H96 Max available at Walmart is a good choice. It has a powerful core, which partners with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, all for less than $75. If you settle for just 32GB of ROM, you can get the same box for less than $50.
The box doesn’t come with voice control, but if you plan on using Kodi or gaming, you won’t be able to do much with a voice remote anyway. This box is more for people who want to do it themselves, rather than have the likes of Alexa spoonfeed them their content.
- 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM
- RK3318 Quadcore
- Full 4K output
- Android 9.0
- Less than $75
Dido TV MX10 Pro Box
If you are looking for a similarly powerful box for running Kodi or taking your gaming to the big screen, then this box from Dido is a great choice for less than $75. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, which is enough power and space to do most things, including running game simulators or mirroring Steam from your PC.
There is no voice command, but there is air mouse functionality that makes navigating much easier. You are free to customize, as it runs the stable Android 9.0 operating system, which is still the most stable for Android TV.
- Android 9.0 operating systems
- 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM
- Air mouse
- Less than $75
Fiewesey H96 Maz TV Smart Box
If you want a TV box running the latest Android 11.0 operating system, then this is an affordable option. It has modern but affordable specs that mean it is capable of delivering 4K at 60 frames per second.
It doesn’t come with a voice remote or smart home integrations, but the remote that is included does have air mouse functionality that makes navigating and searching for your content significantly easier. It also has the capacity to support gaming, torrenting, and Kodi with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM as standard.
- Android 11.0 operating system
- 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM
- Air mouse remote
- 4K at 60 frames per second
- Around $50
ONN Android TV Streaming Device
If you are looking for the cheapest possible device that will deliver 4K streaming, then the ONN Android TV box is a good choice at less than $20. It has 4K image and Doly Audio, plus voice command with voice remote included and delivered by the Google interface.
Again, this device is light on memory and processing power, so it should only be used for streaming from the main streaming services. It won’t be up for gaming, Kodi, or media hub use. But if you just want something affordable for streaming, you won’t find cheaper options.
- 4K and Dolby Audio
- Voice command
- Google interface
- Less than $20
How To Choose The Best Android TV Box
How do you decide which of the many Android TV streaming devices available is the right one for you? Well, principally it depends on what you want to use it for.
Ask yourself some of the following questions.
Do you have a 4K TV? If you don’t have a 4K TV, you won’t be able to stream in 4K, no matter how good a streaming device you buy. You can afford to get a cheaper streaming device without 4K features.
What do you want to use the box for? Generally speaking, people tell me they either want to just stream from the major streaming services, such as Netflix and Prime Video, or they want to use it to run Kodi to scrape the web for their content. You can learn more about Kodi here.
If you fall into the first category, you need to get a streaming device that is authorized to unlock these services in 4K. This means buying a brand-name device, like a Fire TV device, or a box that is Google certified like the Dynalink. These boxes tend to be less powerful as they are designed to run basic apps. Expect 2GB of RAM and 8GB of ROM. This is not enough power to run sophisticated versions of Kodi.
If you want to run Kodi, get into gaming, or use your Android TV box as a hub for your own media library, you need something more powerful, usually with a minimum of 4GB of RAM and 32GB of ROM. This means that it has enough processing power and space to do everything it needs to do.
The more affordable versions of these boxes generally aren’t authorized to access Netflix in 4K, and also don’t tend to come with features such as voice command or smart home integrations.
If you want a box that does it all, then you need to invest in a premium option like the NVIDIA Shield. This box is powerful but is also Netflix-authorized and has voice command and smart home integration with both Alexa and Google.
FAQs
Can you buy a Firestick at Walmart?
You cannot buy the Amazon Fire Stick at Walmart. This flagship product is best purchased directly from Amazon. The Firestick available at Walmart is made by another company, and it has lighter features than the genuine stick. It does not deliver 4K and does not come with an Amazon Alexa remote.
How much is the Firestick at Walmart?
The Walmart Firestick is currently available for $29.99. Bear in mind that this is not the same as the Fire Stick available from Amazon. It is less expensive as it has fewer features.
How can I tell if a Fire Stick is genuine?
Fire Sticks sold by Amazon are marked with the Amazon arrow logo and the Amazon trademark name. Inferior firesticks appear with only the arrow and not the Amazon trademark name.
Does the Amazon Fire Stick come with content loaded?
Fire Sticks are not “fully loaded” boxes that come with entertainment content pre-loaded. They will come with the most popular streaming apps, such as Prime Video and Netflix, pre-installed, but you need a subscription to these services to be able to access their content. There are other apps that offer access to free services, and some of these will be available on the stick as well. You can download a variety of other apps from the Amazon Store, or sideload apps that are not available there.
Is there a monthly subscription fee for the Fire Stick?
The Fire Stick is a one-off hardware purchase. There is no ongoing monthly subscription fee. However, in order to get the most out of the device, you may wish to subscribe to a variety of streaming services, such as Netflix. These come with monthly fees. You do not need to be a Prime subscriber to use the Fire Stick, but Amazon certainly promotes subscriptions through their user interface.
The Verdict
Don’t be fooled by similar branding. The Fire Stick available at Walmart is not the same as the Amazon Fire Stick. It is not made by Amazon, and it is a “lite” copy of the Fire Stick. It does not deliver 4K, and it only comes with a lite version of the Amazon Alexa remote. While it is a bit cheaper than the Amazon Fire Stick, it is probably worth paying the extra $10 or so for the genuine article.
But if you do want to get your next Android TV box from Walmart, there are plenty of great options worth buying. There are 4K streaming devices with sophisticated Google-powered voice commands, and powerful boxes that can support gaming or Kodi and are complemented by air mouse functionality.
Choosing the right device relies on knowing exactly what you want to use it for. This helps you set your priorities and then choose what represents the best value for money.
Have you bought an Android TV box from Walmart? Which would you recommend? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below.
