Class-Action Suit Claims Amazon 'Bricked' Early Fire TV Streaming Sticks

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Amazon, claiming the company deliberately made early Fire TV Stick devices obsolete to drive hardware upgrades. Plaintiff Bill Merewhuader alleges that his second-generation Fire TV Sticks, purchased in 2018, became increasingly slow and eventually unusable, leading him to purchase new devices in 2024. The suit asserts that Amazon intentionally degraded the performance of older devices, effectively “bricking” them before their expected lifespan.

The complaint further states that Amazon failed to disclose to consumers that Fire TV Stick devices would lose functionality over time and that the performance of early models did not align with the company’s marketing promises. The proposed class action is open to US residents who owned first- or second-generation Fire TV Sticks as of January 1, 2023, or April 1, 2023, respectively.

The lawsuit highlights a common issue with streaming devices as they age and struggle to support newer apps and features. While older devices from companies like Apple, Roku, and Google also experience diminished functionality, the suit specifically accuses Amazon of intentional obsolescence.

(Source：CNET)