Amazon won’t release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore

Amazon will no longer release Fire Sticks that support sideloading, tightening its walled garden and alienating power users who rely on alternative app stores like Aptoide TV. The decision effectively kills a key feature that made Fire Sticks 35% more versatile than the average rival streamer from Roku or Apple TV. Without sideloading, users lose access to unofficial apps and emulators—a core reason Fire Sticks captured 18% of the streaming hardware market. This move lags behind #9’s constraints by favoring control over flexibility, reducing the device’s appeal to tech enthusiasts who prize customization over convenience.