Amazon Fire TV May Switch From Android to Linux in 2025
▼ Summary
– Amazon is expected to bring its proprietary Vega OS to Fire TV devices this year, based on evidence from a job posting.
– Most current Amazon Fire devices run Fire OS, which is a fork of Android that often results in outdated software versions.
– Some Amazon devices, like the Echo Hub and Echo Show 5, already run an OS based on a Linux kernel, believed to be Vega OS.
– A job listing specifically mentioned responsibility for the “Vega OS experience” on Fire TV, but this reference was later edited out.
– Amazon has declined to comment on the existence of Vega OS or its potential expansion to Fire TV.
A significant shift appears to be on the horizon for Amazon’s Fire TV ecosystem. Recent evidence suggests the company is preparing to replace the Android-based Fire OS with its own proprietary Linux-powered operating system, potentially as early as 2025. This move would mark a major strategic change for one of the most popular streaming device platforms on the market.
The catalyst for this speculation is a recently posted and subsequently edited job listing. Initially, the listing explicitly mentioned “Vega OS,” which is understood to be the internal codename for Amazon’s in-house operating system. The advertisement sought a software development manager to lead the “Prime Video Fire TV” team, assigning them full responsibility for the Vega OS experience. The listing noted that an app was scheduled for launch in 2025, indicating an active development timeline for the new platform on Fire TV hardware.
This potential transition would address a long-standing criticism of Fire OS. Currently, Fire TV devices and tablets run on a forked version of Android known as Fire OS, which is built upon the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This reliance has often resulted in devices launching with outdated underlying software. For instance, the 2024 Fire HD 8 tablet shipped with Fire OS 8, which is based on Android 11 from 2020. A move to a custom Linux kernel could give Amazon greater control over its update cycle and feature development.
Amazon is not starting from scratch. The company already uses its Vega OS on several other products. Devices like the Echo Hub, Echo Show 5, and Echo Spot all operate on a Linux-based system, as confirmed by Amazon’s own source code notices. However, the company has never officially announced the existence of Vega OS to the public.
Following inquiries about the job listing from industry publication Lowpass, the wording was quietly altered to remove all references to Vega OS. This editing of the listing, combined with Amazon’s standard policy of declining to comment on rumors, strongly implies that the company is actively working on this transition but is not yet ready to make a formal announcement. This strategic pivot could redefine Amazon’s position in the competitive smart TV and streaming device arena.
(Source: Ars Technica)