Does Amazon Make TVs in 2023? Yes, And They‘re Surprisingly Impressive
The answer is a resounding yes! Amazon entered the TV manufacturing business back in 2014 and today produces a popular line of smart Fire TVs. In fact, Amazon‘s share of the US smart TV market has rapidly grown to around 15% as of 2022.
As an experienced Amazon seller, I‘ve been impressed with the value Fire TVs offer shoppers. Amazon‘s affordable pricing and robust feature sets earn largely favorable reviews from both experts and everyday consumers.
In this detailed guide, we‘ll explore Amazon‘s journey into TV production and how Fire TV models stack up against the competition. Let‘s dive in!
From Online Retailer to TV Manufacturer: Amazon‘s Surprising Pivot
Given its beginnings selling books online, Amazon‘s expansion into manufacturing TVs took the business world by surprise.
Yet behind the scenes, the move made strategic sense. With Fire TVs, Amazon could:
Tighten integration with its streaming services and Alexa voice platform.
Grow its hardware ecosystem beyond e-readers, tablets and speakers.
Increase touchpoints with consumers in the living room.
In 2014, Amazon unveiled its first Fire TV models:
The Fire TV set-top box for streaming media to existing TVs.
The ultra-affordable Fire TV Stick to add smart capabilities to HDMI-equipped TVs.
And with that, the company that built its name on shipping packages was now shipping TVs to customer‘s doorsteps!
Examining Amazon‘s Current Lineup of Fire TV Models
Nearly a decade later, Amazon‘s Fire TV lineup has expanded to serve both bargain hunters and buyers wanting premium features:
Fire TV 4-Series
Amazon‘s budget-friendly 4K and HD smart TVs range from 43" to 75" screens:
1080p and 4K UHD resolution options
Powered by Fire TV OS for streaming apps and Alexa voice
Affordable pricing starting at $349.99
Fire TV Omni Series
The higher-end 4K Omni models add Dolby Vision, far-field microphones and slimmer bezels:
Hands-free Alexa thanks to built-in mics
Stunning 4K visuals with Dolby Vision HDR
Sizes ranging from 43" to 75"
Starts at just $509.99
Fire TV Stick and Cube
Amazon‘s plug-in devices make existing TVs smarter:
Access apps like Prime Video and Netflix
Stream in HD, 4K and HDR
Alexa voice remote for hands-free control
Compact, affordable add-on starting at $29.99
Across its lineup, Amazon aims to deliver robust smart TV functionality at budget-friendly price points compared to brands like Samsung, Sony and LG.
Fire TV Omni Series – A Contender Against Premium TVs?
Amazon markets its Omni Series as its most advanced TV ever, with specs and features to rival top-tier televisions.
But does the quality match the marketing hype? Let‘s examine some standout Omni capabilities:
Crisp 4K Picture Quality
Omni‘s 4K Ultra HD displays boast over 8 million pixels for excellent clarity and sharpness.
Support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG translates to vivid colors and enhanced contrast.
Amazon fine-tuned the 4K image processor to upscale lower resolution content.
Seamless Alexa Integration
Far-field mics pick up Alexa requests from anywhere in the room.
Ask Alexa to search content, check weather, control smart home devices, and more.
Access a growing array of Alexa skills, features and integrations.
Sleek, Modern Design
Bezels slimmed down to just 0.4 inches for a nearly all-screen look.
Wood-grain finish on stand adds tasteful accent to any room.
Cable management solution keeps wires neatly tucked away.
Reviewers praise the Omni models for offering premium 4K picture quality and robust smart features at mid-range prices starting under $600. It‘s a compelling rival to pricier models from Samsung and LG.
Fire TV 4-Series – A Fantastic Bargain Smart TV
The 4-Series may lack some bells and whistles, but it still packs impressive specs:
Sharp HD and 4K Ultra HD resolution options
HDR support for vivid colors and contrast (select models)
Quad-core processor ensures smooth streaming and navigation
Voice-controlled Alexa remote makes searching content a breeze
Perhaps most appealing is the pricing. A 50-inch 4-Series 4K model costs just $469.99, compared to $697.99 for a similarly sized entry-level Samsung 4K TV.
The 4-Series consistently earns high praise as a bargain smart TV. As CNET puts it, the Fire TV 4-Series is "one of the best budget TVs with excellent picture quality."
How Do Amazon Fire TVs Measure Up to the Competition?
When you look at key metrics like price, features and performance, Fire TVs hold their own against brands like Samsung, Sony, LG and TCL.
Price Comparison
| Screen Size | Fire TV Price | Samsung Price |
|---|---|---|
| 43" 4K | $349.99 | $447.99 |
| 55" 4K | $559.99 | $697.99 |
| 65" 4K | $829.99 | $897.99 |
Features
Fire TV and Samsung Tizen offer comparable smart TV interfaces and app selection.
Hands-free Alexa voice on Fire TV compares to Bixby voice on Samsung.
Both support modern formats like 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos.
Picture Quality
Reviewers praise color accuracy and contrast on Fire TV models.
Omni delivers crisp 4K image quality that competes with more expensive models.
Samsung‘s QLED displays offer superior peak brightness and black levels.
While Samsung provides better picture at the high end, Amazon‘s models offer excellent quality for budget and mid-range buyers.
Who Actually Manufactures Amazon‘s TVs?
You won‘t find Amazon‘s name on any TV manufacturing facilities. Instead, the company partners with third-party producers:
Insignia, owned by Best Buy, makes Amazon‘s lower-end HD 4-Series models.
TCL, one of the largest TV makers globally, manufactures Amazon‘s high-end 4K sets.
Amazon‘s Lab126 subsidiary handles product design, software development and supply chain coordination for Fire TVs.
This arrangement gives Amazon the production capacity needed to deliver TVs at mass market scale.
Just How Affordable Are Amazon‘s TV Offerings?
Here is a detailed look at current Fire TV pricing across screen sizes and models:
Fire TV 4-Series Pricing
| Screen Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 43" | 4K | $349.99 |
| 50" | 4K | $469.99 |
| 55" | 4K | $519.99 |
| 65" | 4K | $699.99 |
| 75" | 4K | $1,099.99 |
Fire TV Omni Series Pricing
| Screen Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 43” | 4K | $509.99 |
| 50” | 4K | $559.99 |
| 55” | 4K | $649.99 |
| 65” | 4K | $829.99 |
| 75” | 4K | $1,099.99 |
Keep an eye out for discounts, especially during major sale events when prices can dip $100 or more below MSRP.
How Reviews And Ratings Measure Up For Amazon Fire TVs
Let‘s examine how both professional reviewers and verified buyers grade the picture quality, features and overall value of Amazon Fire TVs:
Expert Review Highlights
| Publication | Review Quote | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| CNET | "Excellent picture quality for the money" | 8.6/10 |
| Rtings | "Very good picture quality in SDR and HDR" | 7.6/10 |
| Digital Trends | "Solid smart TV platform and excellent pricing" | 4/5 |
Amazon Customer Feedback
75% of Fire TV Omni buyers award 5 stars (8,200+ ratings)
Praise for easy setup, intuitive interface and Alexa integration
Some complaints of speaker quality and wifi connectivity issues
The consensus is that Amazon TVs deliver impressive performance and features given their reasonable pricing tiers.
The Rapid Rise of Amazon‘s TV Business
Despite entering an intensely competitive market dominated by entrenched players, Amazon has carved out notable market share in just under a decade:
Amazon Fire TV sales expanded by 35% YoY in 2021 according to Strategy Analytics.
As of Q4 2022, Amazon holds 15% US smart TV market share per Omdia – up from just 8% in 2019.
Over 50 million Fire TV devices have been sold globally to date based on company disclosure.
Clearly, the company‘s investments into R&D, supply chain logistics, licensing and manufacturing partnerships is paying off.
Amazon also continues working to address early Fire TV complaints around wifi reliability and software bugs – showing its long-term commitment to the TV space.
Should You Buy an Amazon Fire 4K TV?
After examining the specs, features, reviews and value proposition, my verdict is…
Yes, Amazon‘s Fire TVs are absolutely worth considering, especially if your budget is under $1,000.
The positives of Amazon‘s 4K smart TV lineup include:
Sharp 4K picture quality rivaling pricier models
Smooth Fire TV OS with thousands of apps
Alexa integration for hands-free voice control
Dolby Vision and HDR for vivid colors and contrast
Wide range of screen sizes from 43" up to 75"
Of course, you can get superior brightness, contrast and features from premium OLED and QLED TVs that cost 2-3x more from LG, Samsung and Sony.
But for shoppers wanting excellent 4K performance without breaking the bank, the combination of quality and value offered by Amazon Fire TVs is unbeatable.
