All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more
Amazon is pulling the plug on one of its own smart devices.
The Fire TV Blaster will stop working on January 31, 2026 as Amazon retires the Alexa-powered kit. The online superstore has emailed anyone who purchased one of these Fire TV accessories to let them know about its plans.
| The Fire TV Blaster originally launched back on December 11, 2019. Priced at £34.99, it was designed to be a clever bridge for your Smart TV and the rest of your Amazon Echo set-up.
For instance, if you have an Echo speaker in your kitchen and an older telly that doesn't play nicely with modern tech, the Blaster can then sit on your coffee table and use infrared signals – the same tech as your regular remote – to let Alexa control your TV and soundbar.
You could shout "Alexa, turn up the volume" from across the room, and the Blaster would sort it out.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
However, modern tellies now come with something called HDMI-CEC built in, which lets your devices talk to each other without needing a separate infrared gadget — eliminating the need for the Blaster.
This could be the reason Amazon stopped selling the device a year ago. The good news? Amazon is automatically crediting UK owners with a £34.99 gift card — the full price you originally paid for it. You don't need to lift a finger; it'll land in your Amazon account within 24 hours.
Although Amazon hasn't explained why it can't simply leave existing Blasters functioning as they are. If you're still relying on your Blaster for your older telly, this could put you in a difficult position.
However, Amazon does sell a modern alternative — the Fire TV Cube.
Upgrade your smart home set up with the Amazon Fire TV Cube
Enjoy Amazon’s fastest streaming media player yet, powered by an octa-core processor for lightning-fast performance—twice as powerful as Fire TV Stick 4K Max. With hands-free Alexa, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, and stunning 4K picture quality with Dolby Vision and Atmos, it seamlessly switches between streaming, live TV, gaming, and more — while keeping your privacy protected.
Upgrade your telly with the Fire TV Stick
Stream entertainment in Full HD with the Alexa-powered Amazon Fire TV Stick. It offers access to thousands of free films and TV episodes, plus hit apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Plug it into any TV’s HDMI port to enjoy live TV, music, and smart home control wherever you go.
Yes, the Fire TV Cube effectively replaces the Fire TV Blaster by combining all of its core functions into a single, more powerful device.
The Fire TV Blaster was designed solely to send infrared (IR) signals so Alexa could turn TVs, soundbars, and receivers on or off and adjust volume, mainly for older equipment. The Fire TV Cube does this natively, meaning it has built-in IR blasters that control your TV and audio gear without needing a separate accessory or an Echo speaker.
Beyond IR control, the Fire TV Cube adds hands-free Alexa, full 4K streaming, and HDMI-CEC support, which allows many modern TVs to be controlled directly through the HDMI connection. This makes your overall setup simpler and reduces extra hardware.