The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Max are two of the most popular Fire TV devices in the UK. Both stream in 4K with Dolby Vision and Atmos, but there are meaningful differences that affect which one you should buy — particularly if you plan to use IPTV.
Quick comparison
Wi-Fi: the most important practical difference
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus uses Wi-Fi 6. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest gen) uses Wi-Fi 6E. For everyday streaming on Netflix or Disney+, you won't notice the difference.
For IPTV, it can matter. Wi-Fi 6E operates on the 6 GHz band in addition to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz — a band with less interference from neighbouring networks and other household devices. In a home with many wireless devices (phones, laptops, smart speakers, other TVs), Wi-Fi 6E provides a more stable connection, which directly reduces IPTV buffering.
If your router supports Wi-Fi 6E and you have multiple competing wireless devices, the Max is the better choice. If your home network is less congested, or if you can use an Ethernet adapter, the 4K Plus is sufficient.
Performance: processor and RAM
The 4K Max has a faster processor and more RAM than the 4K Plus. In practice this means IPTV player apps like TiviMate and IPTV Smarters Pro run more responsively on the Max — channel lists load faster, the EPG scrolls more smoothly and switching between channels is quicker.
If you use IPTV heavily as your primary TV source, the snappier performance of the Max is noticeable over extended use. For casual IPTV viewing, the 4K Plus handles it well.
4K streaming quality: identical
Both devices support 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. For picture and sound quality on streaming services, there is no difference between them.
Price: £20 difference on device, £19–19 on packages
The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus is £79.99 (device). The Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest gen) is £99.00 — a £19.01 difference. With Ryanix Store IPTV packages, that translates to:
- 4K Plus 1-Year IPTV package: £139.99
- 4K Max (Newest) 1-Year IPTV package: £159.00
- 4K Plus Lifetime IPTV package: £279.99
- 4K Max (Newest) Lifetime IPTV package: £299.00
Which should you choose?
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus if: You want 4K IPTV streaming without paying the Max premium, your home network is reasonably uncongested, or you're adding a second streaming device to a bedroom.
Choose the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest gen) if: IPTV is your primary TV source, you want the best wireless stability available, your router supports Wi-Fi 6E, or you want the fastest app performance in the Fire TV stick range.
Both are available as Ryanix Store Firestick IPTV packages with 1-Year or Lifetime IPTV subscriptions.