Fire TV is a versatile Smart TV platform that enables you to stream content online and browse the web on the most affordable devices. Fire TV Sticks are HDMI plugin streaming players that can instantly turn any TV into a smart one for as low as $30. Even if you own a Smart TV, you might want to get a Fire TV Stick to access apps or streaming services that aren’t natively available on your Smart TV’s app store.
Now using VPN or Virtual Private Network has become increasingly popular. VPNs offer the best security and privacy online. They prevent your Internet Service Provider(ISP) , Government or hacker from snooping on your browsing activity. When used with a Smart TV or Fire TV Stick, VPNs can help you access streaming services that aren’t supported in your region. They by-pass geo-restrictions or blocks by hiding your true IP address from the streaming provider.
A Quick Word on Free VPNs
VPNs are both paid and Free. I highly discourage you from using Free VPNs. They are usually very slow, don’t guarantee protection and are usually Ad-supported making their interfaces very sluggish. If you hope to use a Free VPN for streaming, it’ll most certainly not satisfy your needs. They are more likely to be detected by streaming providers too. Their bandwidth and speed caps alone won’t get you past your first movie or series episode. For instance HotSpot Shield free plans limit you to just 500MB/day and 2Mbps speeds. If you want to use a VPN for free, then choose a premium VPN with a 7-day or whatever period free trial .
Choosing a VPN for streaming
Since we are looking at VPNs for the Fire TV, then your requirements are clearly going to be different than those of ordinary Joe browsing Facebook or Twitter. In addition to other standard features, Speed is the name of the game here. Nobody can stand watching their favorite movies or series while their internet is buffering .
If you’re streaming a Full HD 1080p movie, 5Mbps internet speeds are recommended. If it’s a 4K HDR movie such as those from Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, then at least 10Mbps is recommended. Faster is better. Now, every VPN no matter the provider is going to slash on your internet speeds by a certain percentage. That’s because of the overhead encryption data that a VPN has to carry. The standard is about half like my Windscribe VPN. However, faster VPNs such as Express VPN will minimize this to as low as 5%. For instance, from my own tests with Expressvpn, I was able to achieve 18Mbps download speeds with Express VPN turned on for a 20Mbps internet package from my ISP. That’s quite impressive. Look out for VPNs that support Wireguard protocol as it’s apparently the fastest VPN standard.
Besides Speed, you want to consider server locations . This is dependent on the streaming service you are trying to access. If you want to access U.S Netflix, then clearly, your VPN provider should have a considerable number of servers in the United States. If you wish to access BBC iPlayer, then your VPN provider should have locations in the U.K. As mentioned, VPNs hide your true IP address by routing your traffic in different countries, fooling your streaming provider that you’re a resident of that country. However, streaming providers have recently upped their game discovering and blocking VPN users. The most notorious is Netflix. So using a VPN is no guarantee to work anymore.
Installing VPN Apps on Fire TV
To Install your VPN of choice, go Find on the main menu, then select Search. You can either type in the VPN name or say it using Alexa with remote Mic Button. You will be directed to the App page where you can download and install it. It’s pretty easy.
Find and Search to download and install VPN Apps on Fire TV
In Summary, the best paid VPN providers are ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, IPVanish and CyberGhost. But if you are looking for those that have some kind of Free plan, then consider ProtonVPN, HotSpot Shield.
Top paid VPN providers
- ExpressVPN – $12/month or $8.32/month billed annually
- NordVPN – $11.99/month or $4.99/month billed annually
- IPVanish – $10.99/month or $3.75/month billed annually
- Surfshark – $12.95/month or $3.99/month billed annually
- CyberGhost : $12.99/month or $3.95/month billed annually
- Private Internet Access : $9.95/month or $3.33/month billed annually
Top Free VPN Providers
- ProtonVPN – Free unlimited data with only 1 connection.
- Hide.Me – 10GB/month data, 1 connection, No Ads, No trackers & Logs.
- Windscribe – 10GB/month data, Ad and Malware protection.
We have made a Youtube video with step-by-step tutorial on how to connect a VPN to your Fire TV. You can watch it below;
Alright, in no particular order, here are the top 10 VPNs on the Fire TV platform.
ExpressVPN
If you’re in the market for a VPN to watch Netflix, then ExpressVPN is downright one of the most popular choices out there.ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs for streaming today. It’s fast, easy to use, supports multiple clients such as Smart TVs, Mac/Windows/Linux, Android/iOS, Fire TV, specific routers and much more. ExpressVPN runs over 3,000 remote servers in 160 locations and 94 countries. They recently released their own custom VPN protocol called Lightway which apparently is optimized for speed. However, it’s also the most expensive on the list. ExpressVPN’s best deal goes for $8.32 a month billed over 12 months. However, they offer a 7-days free trial for FireStick users.
NordVPN
This is another great option for streaming Netflix. It’s known to be capable of breaking through VPN blocks and is widely supported across a number of platforms. NordVPN has its own VPN protocol called NordLynx based on Wireguard which is fast. They have over 5,500 servers worldwide and offer upto 6 devices on a single account. It’s affordable if you pay for longer periods; $3.32 billed over 2 years ($89 on signup for two years of service).
SurfShark
Surfshark another great commercial VPN service provider for streaming available on Android TV. It’s a good option to obtain geo-blocked content thanks to 3200+ servers in over 65 countries. Its speeds are good, but not so great and the price is quite cheap too. It’s quite reliable and has good positive reviews overall. Surf shark’s best deal starts at just $2.49/month plan billed over 2 years making it one of the cheapest providers on the list.
IPVanish
IPVanish VPN is the most popular VPN used by Fire TV Stick users .. They own 2,000 servers spread across 75 countries. This is quite smaller than the other providers on this list. But that’s not to say it’s less powerful. The company owns 80% of its server hardware, has tight security and privacy policies such as full disk encryption, zero traffic logs. Your connection is protected with various VPN protocols including WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, and IPSec. Subscriptions go for $10.99/month billed monthly and $3.75/month billed yearly($44.99). They don’t offer any free trial, however they do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on their annual plans if you cancel within 30 days.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access(PIA) VPN offers robust connectivity with upto 10 simultaneous connection and numerous server locations of upto 78 countries. They have excellent speed test scores. PIA VPN offers no usage logs which is great for your privacy, unlimited bandwidth which is good for streaming and Ad blocking features. They support 5 devices simultaneously. They support both OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Wireguard VPN protocols. Pricing starts at $9.95 per month or $3.33/month ($39.5 per year) billed annually.
Windscribe
My favorite and the one I personally use is Windscribe. That’s because they have a generous free plan that offers upto 10GB/month free and additional 5GB if you tweet for them. It’s also widely supported across multiple platforms. I use it on Netgear DD-WRT router, Chromecast with Google TV and on Fire TV stick. Getting around Geo-restrictions is a hit or miss situation according to my experience, but it works most of the time.Windscriber offers a monthly data allowance of 10 GB for its free plan. The paid plan costs $4.08/month billed $49 every 12 months. But if you want only U.S servers, you can pay $2/month with their custom pricing plan.
ProtonVPN
With servers located in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is high up on security. Their reputation goes before them. But since we are talking about VPNs for streaming, ProtonVPN has a “streaming plan”. This plan promises VPN blocking bypass for popular streaming services like Netflix. ProtonVPN offers a free plan that supports only one VPN connection and unlimited bandwidth which is cool. It starts at $8/month billing $96 yearly. ProtonVPN has absolutely well designed Apps across multiple platforms with intuitive interfaces according to my experience.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is another excellent VPN for your Fire TV Stick. They have over 7,000 servers across 91 countries world wide most of which are located within the U.S and U.K. So if you Live in the U.S or Latin America and wish to watch BBC iPlayer, then you can easily connect to the U.K servers. They offer OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Wireguard VPN protocols which are known to be secure. A single subscription gives you protection for upto 7 devices simultaneously. So you can share your account with family and friends. Subscription goes for $12.99/month when billed every month which is hefty and $3.15/month billed $75.6 every two years .
Hotspot Shield VPN
The unique feature about Hotspot Shield VPN is that it offers a free subscription tier. However, it might be helpful if you wish to use it for streaming. With just 500MB of bandwidth daily, 2Mbps speeds and a restriction to only U.S based servers, you might use up your quota in just one movie or series episode. However, the paid-for plans offer upto 5 simultaneous connections with no data limit. You get access to over 80+ country locations including China, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam. Paid plans are billed $12.99/month monthly and $7.99/month yearly which is quite more than most providers on this list.
Hide.me VPN
Hide.me offers a free VPN service that offers 10GB/month with 1 simultaneous connection, 5 worldwide location and no logs policy. If you use up your 10 GB data, you can continue to use the free plan as an unlimited data transfer plan, however, you won’t be able to choose a server location. This will be randomly selected for you. Paid plans go for $9.95/month or $6.66/month billed annually .
- Firstly, Set up your VPN App to automatically connect to your default location whenever the Firestick starts. This way, you don’t have to manually connect the VPN each time you start your TV.
- And then always select the fastest location. This is usually the server that’s closest to you. This ensures your VPN connection doesn’t tremendously slow down your internet or affect your streaming experience.
- Another tip is experiment with the different VPN protocols depending on what’s supported by your VPN App. Wireguard is new but is generally fast. OpenVPN is more secure and widely supported, but not as fast as Wireguard. While, Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2) is highly rated, but not widely supported. And, L2TP or Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol is not secure and shouldn’t be used. These are the common ones although Some VPN providers have their own custom VPN Protocols.
Next, Always opt for paid-for VPN providers. ExpressVPN, SurfShark, NordVPN, ProtonVPN, IP Vanish, CyberGhost and Windscribe are tried and tested. Free VPNs are generally slow, have data caps and will slow down your Connection. Hotspot shield, ProtonVPN and Windscribe are paid-for VPN apps with Free tiers you can always try out.
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he’s not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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