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Roku and Amazon are gearing up to launch new streaming devices.
The proof? Both brands have submitted new remote controls for approval with the Federal Communications Commission, an independent agency of the US government that rubber-stamps new hardware with communication capabilities as part of its duties to regulate interstate and international communications.
The as-yet-unannounced remote controls, spotted by blog Lowpass, hint at incoming new streaming devices ahead of the Christmas shopping rush. Unfortunately, there's only so much that can be determined from an FCC filing.
That's because both filings are heavily redacted, with manuals and photographs of the devices not available to the public. However, the documents filed alongside these new remote controls do provide some clues.
Amazon's next Fire TV remote is roughly the same size as the existing Alexa Voice remote for Fire TV streamers, which was released in 2024. Based on the filings, this remote only relies on Bluetooth Low Energy.
Bluetooth lets you point the remote anywhere and still be able to communicate with the Fire TV set-top box, whereas IR (Infrared) requires line-of-sight to the box. Fire TV remote controls rely on IR to control functions on the television, like switching off your entire setup or controlling the volume of your television or soundbar.
Amazon is slowly refreshing its Fire TV Stick lineup, with the newest models running its custom-designed Vega OS, based on Linux, that promises snappier performance on older or low-powered hardware. This operating system also promises to quash piracy on the platform, with Fire TV Sticks often linked to dodgy streaming in the UK.
If Amazon sticks with its typical schedule, we'd expect to see a slew of new devices announced in late September or early October — ahead of the Black Friday sales.
With the thumbs up from the FCC, we could be a few weeks away from the launch of a new Fire TV Stick, Alexa Voice Remote, or other gadgets from the US retailer.
Roku has submitted four new remote controls for approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
Two of the four will not ship with the trademark cloth tag, complete with the Roku logo, that peeks out from the bottom of its other remote controls. That suggests it could be used to control a non-Roku device.
The US streamer brand has launched partnerships with several brands, including NOW in the UK, and this could be the latest collaboration.
According to the paperwork, these new Roku remotes boast an integrated buzzer for location tracking and rely on replaceable batteries, rather than the internal rechargeable cell found in the Voice Remote Pro. This strongly suggests they are standard bundled remotes intended for forthcoming device updates.
Compared to earlier remotes, Roku appears to have increased output power, which should improve connectivity.
You'll need to wait until Roku and Amazon announce their newest hardware to find out more about these remote controls and the devices they control. It promises to be a packed autumn for those who want to upgrade their streaming set-up, with whispers about a supercharged new Apple TV 4K box in the works.
