How To Check Which Firestick Generation You Own

Want to know what generation or model of Amazon Firestick you own? Been gifted an Amazon device but don’t know which version it is? This page will help you identify the type and model of Amazon Fire TV device you have with a couple of simple checks.

The Amazon Fire TV series of devices includes the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Pendants, Fire TV Cubes and even Fire TV Edition televisions. As the TV Edition televisions are standalone smart TVs with Alexa built in, I won’t go into those but the other range of portable devices can be more confusing.

The Fire TV Pendant is no longer available as it was retired. There are several versions of the Fire TV Stick and only one cube as the cube was only released last year. So which is which?

Which Firestick generation do you own?

There are some minor differences between the models of Firestick but you would be forgiven for not noticing as they are very subtle. All Firesticks are roughly the same shape and size and have an HDMI connector. The remotes are similar too and not a reliable way to differentiate between them. You have to look a little closer than that.

1st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick

The 1^st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick has an HDMI connector and has the Amazon name above the smile logo on it. It was released in November 2014 and should have the model number W87CUN.

The 1st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick had 8GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, Alexa Voice Remote, external storage support, USB support, Bluetooth and WiFi.

1st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

The 1st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K looks very similar to the 1^st gen but won’t have the Amazon name above the logo. It is slightly larger than the 1^st gen and should have the model number E9L29Y.

The 1st generation Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K has 6GB of storage but only 1.5GB of RAM, no support for external storage, no support for USB devices but support for Dolby Atmos and 7.1 surround sound, WiFi and Bluetooth.

2nd generation Amazon Fire TV Stick

The 2nd generation Amazon Fire TV Stick looks almost the same as the 1^st gen as most of the changes were internal. You may have a very similar remote and the look and feel are almost identical. It should have the model number LY73PR and was released in October 2016.

The 2nd generation Amazon Fire TV Stick also has 8GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, MicroSD support, Dolby Digital Plus support, Bluetooth and WiFi.

Fire TV Stick Basic Edition

To complicate matters, there is another version, the Amazon Fire TV Stick Basic Edition. This also has the model number LY73PR but comes with a basic remote without voice control. If you cannot use voice to control your Firestick, this might be the one you have.

The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition has 8GB of storage, 1GB of RAM, no support for external storage, no support for USB devices, support for Dolby Digital Plus and 7.1 surround sound, WiFi and Bluetooth.

How to find the model number on a Fire TV Stick

I mentioned model numbers when describing the different Firesticks, but how do you find it? You have two options, check the packaging or check the Firestick itself. If you kept the receipt or are able to check your Amazon invoice, that may tell you too.

The packaging your Firestick came in will have the model number by the name and details by the barcode. That should be on the bottom of the package in small print. Look for W87CUN, E9L29Y or LY73PR.

The model number is also imprinted onto the Firestick itself. You will need to remove the Firestick from your TV to get at it but it is there. Turn it upside down and you should see Model No. XXXXXX. Again, look for W87CUN, E9L29Y or LY73PR.

Fire TV Cube

Identifying a Fire TV Cube is much easier as there is only one of them right now. It was only released in June 2018 and has yet to be revised. If your device is a cube shape, it’s a Fire TV Cube.

The Fire TV Cube has 16GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, HDMI audio with Dolby Atmos, support for external storage and USB devices, Bluetooth and WiFi.