Amazon launches first-party smart TVs in US

Amazon has announced the launch of its first smart TVs in the US built by the company.

Confirming rumours which gathered pace earlier this month, the company has revealed the new sets along with a new Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Starting at US$409.99 for the 43-inch model, the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series features 4K UHD, and support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus. The sets are available in sizes up to 75-inches and, as the title would suggest, run Amazon’s Fire TV operating system.

At the heart of the new TVs is a focus on the Alexa smart assistant. Rather than relying on a microphone within a remote, Amazon said that the new TVs will integrate far-field voice technology directly into the set for hands-free interaction and content discovery. 

Users can also pair their TV with Amazon Echo smart speakers for enhanced sound. 

Daniel Rausch, Vice President, Amazon Entertainment Devices and Services, said: “We’ve reimagined what a TV can do by building it with two of our most popular experiences at the core – the intelligent always-available power of far-field Alexa, and Fire TV’s content-forward approach to entertainment. Our new Fire TV Omni Series smart TVs, with hands-free access to Alexa, make controlling your TV faster, simpler, and more natural.”