We see lots of new phones announced at IFA every year, but it's not exclusively a smartphone show. To that end, Amazon took to the stage this year to introduce new Fire TV hardware.
The new Amazon Fire TV Cube features a few notable upgrades over the first model that launched last year. Amazon touts that the new Fire TV Cube is more than twice as powerful as the first generation unit, packing a hexa-core processor.
Another notable feature of this new Fire TV Cube is a version of Local Voice Control. This on-device processing lets the Cube execute some frequent voice commands faster, and Amazon touts that the new model can process your Alexa voice requests up to four times as fast as the previous Cube.
Amazon's new Fire TV Cube also includes features like 4K Ultra HD at 60fps, eight far-field microphones and advanced beamforming for voice commands with Amazon Alexa, multi-directional infrared tech, cloud-based protocols, and HDMI CEC. All of those features are packed into a cube that looks just like the first generation model.
You can pre-order the new Amazon Fire TV Cube right now in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, and Japan for $119.99. It'll launch on October 10, except in Japan where it'll arrive on November 5.
Also announced today is the first Fire TV Edition Soundbar. Built in collaboration with Anker, the Nebula Soundbar – Fire TV Edition includes support for 4K Ultra HD, near-field Alexa voice control, and Dolby Vision passthrough, and it comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that'll let you use your voice to do things like turn your compatible TV on and off and control soundbar volume.
The Nebula Soundbar – Fire TV Edition is now available for pre-order in the U.S. ($229.99), the U.K. (£179.99), Canada ($269.99), and Germany (€209.99). It'll begin shipping on November 21.
Finally, Amazon revealed today that it's expanding its Fire TV Edition program in a big way. The retailer is partnering with Dixons Carphone, MediaMarktSaturn, and Grundig to bring new Fire TV Edition smart TVs to the U.K., Germany, and Austria.
These new models include JVC – Fire TV Edition smart TVs in 40-inch, 49-inch, and 55-inch sizes that'll include support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision. They will be sold at Currys PC World in the U.K. and through Amazon with a starting price of £349.
In Germany and Austria, Amazon is teaming up with IMTRON to launch Fire TV Edition smart TVs that'll launch in 2020.
Amazon is also working with Grundig in Germany and Austria to launch the first Fire TV Edition model with far-field voice control. The Grundig OLED – Fire TV Edition (shown above), which is also the first Fire TV Edition with an OLED screen, is available for pre-order today in 55-inch and 65-inch models with pricing starting at €1,299.99. It'll launch on November 21.
Amazon and Grundig are also launching the more affordable Grundig Vision 7 – Fire TV Edition and Grundig Vision 6 – Fire TV Edition televisions. The Grundig Vision 7 smart TV is available in 43-inch, 49-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch versions with pricing starting at €349.99, while the Grundig Vision 6 will be sold in 32-inch, 40-inch, and 43-inch sizes and will start at €239.99. Both models are available for pre-order starting today.