Just What I Wanted
Great Fire TV for the price and features. Picture and sound are both good on the 50” version that still has local dimming. Some infrequent blooming but overall another TV that proves less dimming zones isn’t a detriment with proper processing. Peak brightness isn’t as high as more expensive TV’s but is still noticeable with HDR content and very acceptable at this price. HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision IQ all work well with good brightness range and color volume. Note: no Dolby Atoms for sound. I knew this, my TV is wall mounted high and tilted down slightly in a small bedroom and I have no need for a sound bar. NOTE: if using a sound bar with an optical cable, try turning the TV speakers off AND changing the output to PCM or Dolby Digital; and use HDMI 4 (ARC/eARC).This TV is a great value for my application and the budget I set for it.I’m just using the Fire TV interface and none of the HDMI inputs. So I can’t speak on Hue, Contrast and Color issues others may see. Out of the box, mine seems spot on and I currently have no want or desire to go in and adjust any settings based on the content from the various apps I’ve used.The interface isn’t as fast as the Fire TV Cube 3 or Fire Stick 4K Max but still pretty good overall. Note to new Fire TV users: the interface is slower when updates are being downloaded and installed. Check the Device Info for updates several times when first starting the TV. There will be several updates: some very big ones and 2 to 3 more little ones at the least. Keep checking back until it says that it’s “up-to-date”. THEN start to really enjoy the interface. Also the network connection and its QUALITY also plays a factor. This TV supports 2.4/5Ghz and wired (100Mbps).Ambient mode is great but just remember what the TV tells you. The power button on the remote TOGGLES between the Fire TV interface and ambient mode and that long pressing it turns the TV off. No issues with any widgets so far for me. Also, my TV easily recognizes when I enter and exit the room.If you have other Amazon products nearby that listen for “Alexa”, simply change the TV’s wake word to Computer, Amazon or Echo. Absolutely no issues with this.1. I haven’t found any “inescapable” ads to get to content. You can “click” on these shortcuts if you want but you can just user your voice to search for titles instead. Like every other TV interface or box, third party apps have their own interfaces, sign-ins, ads, etc. that can’t be controlled by Amazon, Apple, Google, TCL, etc. Third party apps also place their own ads onto the TV platform they are on based on the deals they have in place.2. The Fire TV interface is anything but complex. You can set it up anyway you want. Again, the various interfaces, profiles, etc. of third party apps are completely independent from Fire TV and on the makers of them and this would be the same on any other TV platform.3. YMMV on the interface. Third party crashes and bugs are possible too. Third party interface issues need to be reported to their makers. They manage the various versions of their app across various platforms and sometimes they aren’t all equal in performance or features offered by platform.4. It hasn’t quite been a decade for Apple to allow the removal of 1st party apps (2016) but maybe Amazon will allow certain apps to be deleted one day. But understand these devices are meant to interface with and promote Amazon products and services primarily.5. The remote button press sounds can be turned off in options for the main interface. Don’t know about the Alexa Home Theater mode but if there isn’t a way, find out if there is one and if not ask that it be implemented.6. Again, out of the box settings being what they may for everyone, at least there are detailed picture settings available for the TV and all of its inputs – all independent of one another to get things looking the way you personally prefer.

Defective
I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a bad purchase experience. I’ve had the 65” version of this tv in my cart for months waiting for a deal, checked it the other day and it said “early prime day deal”. The deal was so good I sprung for the 75” and I was ecstatic. To be fair it’s a beautiful tv, the picture is incredible, I love the smart home capabilities with Alexa, and I love having a huge tv for such a good deal. However, it has a major flaw.Setting the tv up and the initial update was difficult as it seemed to be having connectivity problems which was odd because I’ve had no issues with my internet otherwise, and I tried both on WiFi and connected with an Ethernet cable, but I eventually got passed the update and setup. As soon as I got to the Home Screen I went to download the apps I typically use. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube tv, YouTube, prime video, Spotify. None of them will install! I click the download button and it says “queued”. But it stays queued forever! It never installs. I researched online and it seems to be a somewhat common problem with this tv as other people are posting about this on forums, but none of the forums had a solution that worked. I tried all the troubleshooting steps I could find anyways and sure enough, nothing worked. So I had a friend who works in tech support look at it. After a couple hours of trying different things he says I got a lemon. So the next day I try going through the Amazon app to call their tech support and I only get error messages and can never actually call. Great.Now I decide to call customer service to see what my options are. I have no idea how I’d go about returning this massive tv as I don’t think I could even get it back in the packaging, and I KNOW I can’t drive it anywhere. The woman I spoke to from customer service tells me my options are exchanging it for another tv, OR I can be refunded my money WITHOUT returning the tv…then she puts me on hold and comes back changing her tune now telling me my only option is returning the tv for a refund, but they’ll send someone to pick it up. I’m thinking she meant someone that will actually come in my home, pack it up and take it away. I’m still not thrilled with the experience, and I was suspicious because I’ve never heard of that but she says she’ll email me instructions, so I agreed. Upon reading the instructions I realize I was correct, they don’t have a service where someone comes and packs it for you. The instructions were to box up the tv and leave it on my front step, after I told her I don’t think I’d be able to get this back in the box…This tv doesn’t do much without the apps. I know I can use other devices for these apps but that is not what I bought an Amazon fire tv for. My friends are telling me that’s why it was on such a good sale but the tv was not listed as refurbished or defective, it was listed as an early prime day deal. I’ve now canceled my return and have paid several hundred dollars for a very large monitor. I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to write a review in my life but this one takes the cake. Defective tv and horrible customer service. Stay away from Amazon fire tvs.