What you need to know
- Amazon has launched a redesigned Fire TV mobile app that now mirrors the updated Fire TV interface on televisions with five tabs.
- The new Fire TV app now lets users browse content, manage watchlists, and start playback directly from their phones.
- The updated Fire TV mobile app is rolling out across multiple regions including the US, India, UK, Canada, and more.
It’s been only a few weeks since Amazon started rolling out a redesigned UI for Fire TV devices in the U.S., and now the company is complementing that with a redesigned Fire TV app for Android and iOS as well.
Amazon told Android Central today that the company is rolling out a new Fire TV mobile app that will “transform how [users] interact with the Fire TV experience.”
Until now, the Fire TV app on Android mostly worked as a remote control. However, with the new update, Amazon is introducing features that will make the experience closer to that of the Google TV app.
Now, besides using the app as a remote, you can browse content, manage your watchlist, and start playing titles on your TV directly from your phone. Along with these features, the app has also received a visual refresh that matches the new Fire TV interface on the big screen.
The updated Fire TV app now features five tabs at the bottom. The first is the Remote tab, followed by tabs for Home, Search, Watchlist, and Account. The Search tab lets you search for new content, while the Home tab mirrors the interface you see on the Fire TV device connected to your TV.
Amazon says the goal of the new Fire TV app is to make it a second screen for discovering content. You will be able to add titles to your watchlist directly from the phone app and then access them later on the big screen. Although it’s worth noting that this is something the Google TV app has supported for quite some time.
While the redesigned Fire TV interface on TVs is currently limited to the U.S. and only available on select devices, the new mobile app update is rolling out more widely.
The updated Fire TV app is now available in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the U.K. You’ll need the latest version of the Fire TV app from the Google Play Store to see the changes on your phone.
Android Central’s Take
Honestly, this update feels long overdue. The Fire TV app has been stuck as a basic remote for years, while the Google TV app has offered a much better overall experience. That said, it’s good to finally see Amazon catching up.
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