Amazon Fire TV Omni gets mini-LED backlighting and interactive ambient experiences

By Simon Cohen Published November 14, 2024

The Amazon-developed Fire TV Omni is now available with mini-LED backlighting, with up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness and up to 960 dimming zones, depending on the screen size. Known as the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series, the models also offer Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive and, for the first time, built-in Dolby Atmos. Amazon is also promising that a future software update will enable a new version of its Ambient Experience that uses onboard sensors to react in real time to movement in the room.

The Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series are available starting November 14 in four screen sizes: Buy at Amazon ($820), Buy at Amazon ($1,090), Buy at Amazon ($1,500), and Buy at Amazon ($2,100).

Amazon says the QLED mini-LED displays can respond to your room lighting conditions.  The TVs combine artificial intelligence, which identifies, analyzes, and optimizes scenes in real time to fine-tune picture details like landscapes, buildings, sports, and more, with light and color sensors, which adjust brightness and color temperature for optimal viewing.

These same sensors are used by Dolby Vision IQ, and HDR10+ Adaptive when viewing content presented in these HDR formats.

Gamers will appreciate the mini-LED Series support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and a 144Hz refresh rate when in gaming mode — two more firsts for an Amazon-built Fire TV.

But perhaps the most interesting aspects of the new Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series are two future additions: a responsive ambient experience and hearing aid-compatible dual audio.

Instead of a screensaver that shows static photos (like Google TV) or cinematic video (like Apple TV 4K), the Fire TV OS uses its Ambient Experience to show helpful information combined with artwork when the TV isn’t being used for streaming. That mode will soon use the TV’s new “high-fidelity radar sensor” to make onscreen animations (like fluttering butterflies, swimming koi fish, and colorful tiles) react as you move in front of the TV. You may have seen similar reactive projections in art galleries or other public venues.

Dual Audio lets people with Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA)-enabled hearing aids to get high-quality audio delivered directly to their hearing aids while others simultaneously listen through the TV’s speakers.

Speaking of speakers, the new models now come with a pair of stereo speakers and a built-in subwoofer. The 85-inch size gets two built-in subwoofers.

Finally, you’ll get better wireless connectivity: The Omni Mini-LED Series  TVs add support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. If you have a Wi-Fi 6E router, you’ll get faster, smoother, and lower-latency streaming.