Amazon quietly slipped one of its biggest software updates past most people during the CES 2026 announcements. Now that redesigned Fire TV interface is finally here, rolling out today for US viewers as a free update.
So what exactly changed? Quite a bit, actually — and most of it sounds genuinely useful.
Rounded Corners and a Faster Feel
The most obvious visual shift is softer edges throughout the interface. Amazon leaned into rounded corners across the whole design, giving Fire TV a cleaner, more modern look compared to the boxier style users have gotten used to.
But looks aren’t the whole story here. Amazon is also claiming some serious speed improvements with this update. We’re talking 20 to 30 percent faster interactions across the board. That means less waiting around when you’re just trying to pick something to watch on a Friday night.
And honestly, that kind of snappiness matters more than most people realize. Nothing kills the mood like a sluggish menu when you’re trying to jump between apps.
20 Apps on Your Homescreen? Yes, Really
One of the most practical changes in this redesign is how many apps you can pin to your homescreen. Previously, Fire TV let you pin six apps. The new design bumps that number all the way up to 20.
That’s a massive jump. For anyone juggling Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Apple TV+, and a handful of others, this is genuinely welcome news. Plus, having everything visible at a glance means less digging through menus to find what you actually want.
Alexa+ Steps Into the Living Room
The update also brings Alexa+ integration into the mix. This is Amazon’s AI-powered voice assistant upgrade, and it connects directly to your Fire TV experience.
Want viewing suggestions based on your mood? Alexa+ can handle that. Need to organize your watch queue? Also covered. It’s designed to make the whole “what should I watch?” decision a bit less painful — which, for anyone who has spent 20 minutes scrolling without picking anything, sounds like a real win.
Whether you lean on voice assistants regularly or barely touch them, having the option there adds flexibility without forcing anything on you.
Who Gets It and When
The redesign starts rolling out today across the US, and it comes as a free update. No subscriptions, no hardware upgrades required. If you’ve got a Fire TV device, this one should land automatically.
Amazon made the announcement back at CES 2026 in January, but it was easy to miss in the avalanche of news that week. Now that it’s actually arriving on devices, Fire TV users have a real reason to scroll through their homescreens and see what’s changed.
It’s a solid refresh for a platform that a lot of people use every single day. Faster navigation, more app space, and smarter voice features — all for free. That’s a combination worth getting excited about.
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