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# Amazon Ditches Android — Launches 'Linux-Based' Vega OS for Fire TV
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/amazon-vega-os/
- Published: 2025-10-07T14:36:59.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-07T14:36:59.000Z
- Description: Amazon's new OS has some Linux bits inside. The move aims to stop relying on Google's Android for Amazon devices.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

[Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) has established itself as a dominant force across multiple technology sectors. The company's e-commerce platform remains the world's largest online retailer, while [Amazon Web Services](https://aws.amazon.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) (*AWS*) powers a significant portion of the internet's infrastructure.

This dual presence in consumer and enterprise markets gives Amazon unique leverage in hardware and software development. [Fire TV](https://www.amazon.com/firetv/?ref=itsfoss.com) has been one of its most successful consumer hardware ventures, competing with the likes of Roku, Google's TV Streamer, and Apple TV.

These devices have traditionally run on a heavily customized fork of Android called [Fire OS](https://developer.amazon.com/docs/fire-tv/fire-os-overview.html?ref=itsfoss.com), and the platform has gained substantial market share through aggressive pricing and tight integration with Amazon's Prime Video service and other [OTT platforms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-top%5Fmedia%5Fservice?ref=itsfoss.com).

Now, Amazon is making a significant platform shift with Fire TV, announcing [Vega OS](https://developer.amazon.com/apps-and-games/blogs/2025/09/announcing-vega-os?ref=itsfoss.com), an entirely new operating system that is being rolled out on select devices.

**What's Happening:** Amazon officially announced Vega OS alongside the [Fire TV Stick 4K Select](https://www.amazon.com/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4K-select/dp/B0C6W3D4RM?ref=itsfoss.com), which becomes the first device to run the new operating system. The company **built Vega OS using some Linux components as its foundation**, though specific technical details remain sparse.

Amazon describes the OS as "*highly responsive with an efficient footprint, enabling fast app launches and smooth navigation*." The Fire TV Stick 4K Select flexes Vega OS' efficiency by running on just 1 GB of RAM, half the amount used in earlier 4K Fire TV models (*2 GB*).

For developers, Amazon has launched [Vega Developer Tools](https://developer.amazon.com/apps-and-games/vega?ref=itsfoss.com) in open beta. The toolkit supports React Native 0.72 and web technologies through Vega WebView, allowing developers to reuse existing code when building for the new platform.

**What to Expect:** The most significant change for prospective users is **the elimination of sideloading capabilities on Vega OS devices**.

Unlike Android-based Fire TV devices, Vega OS only permits app installations from the Amazon Appstore. Amazon explicitly states on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select listing: "*For enhanced security, only apps from the Amazon Appstore are available for download*."

![this screenshot shows a amazon listing for the fire tv stick 4k select, with a section called we want you to know below, one of the point explains how sideloading apps isn't possible](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/10/fire-tv-stick-4k-select-amazon-listing.png)

However, Amazon has confirmed it will continue supporting Fire OS alongside Vega OS, maintaining a multi-OS approach for its Fire TV devices, so that's a good thing to hear.

But **what if these Vega OS-equipped devices overshadow the Fire OS-equipped ones in terms of sales?** Will Amazon eventually phase out Fire OS entirely, or will both platforms coexist long-term? Only time will tell.