Prime Video in 2026: From 'Young Sherlock' to the NBA and the Best Smart TVs

The spring of 2026 marks another watershed moment for streaming services here at home. It's no longer enough to just have a subscription; you need to know how to get the most out of the experience. And right now, there's one service making headlines for both its content and the way we consume it: Amazon Prime Video.

Guy Ritchie gives us the most unruly Sherlock yet

The debate is raging in sitting rooms across the country, and it's all about the same thing: Has Guy Ritchie just revived or parodied the Holmes mythology? His new series, which delves into a young Sherlock's first cases in 1890s London, is exactly as stylised and adrenaline-fuelled as you'd expect. Hero Fiennes Tiffin in the lead role as the young detective is a find – he balances genius-level arrogance with raw vulnerability. The series is, in every way, crafted to be the first major streaming phenomenon of the year on Prime Video, and it proves that Amazon can definitely hold its own against the big players when it comes to original drama.

The NBA lands in your living room: Basketball, but make it Irish

For those of us with a taste for sport, Prime Video has truly changed the game. I'm talking, of course, about NBA on Prime Video. It's not just the games; it's a full-scale production where you can tell they've been listening to the fans. The picture quality in 4K HDR is so sharp you can almost hear the squeak of the court under LeBron James' feet, and the expert panel before and after the games actually manage to deliver insight rather than just small talk. It's become a firm tradition in my house to round off the week with a bit of NBA on the big screen.

Finding the perfect match: The TV that makes all the difference

But all this talk about content is pointless if you're staring at a screen from the stone age. An older friend rang me the other day complaining that the basketball was blurry. I had to deliver the blunt truth: "It's your telly, mate." To get the full Amazon Prime Video experience, especially with sports and the dark scenes in "Young Sherlock," you need a screen that can keep up. Right now, there are two models I keep recommending to friends and family, depending on what they need:

• Xiaomi F2 Smart Fire TV 43-inch (108 cm): For you, if you want to get the absolute most from your subscription without emptying the savings. It has Fire TV built-in, so Prime Video and Netflix are right there. The frameless metal body looks far more expensive than it is, and with HDR10 and HDMI 2.1, you get great colours and support for the latest gear. It's perfect for the bedroom or a smaller living room, and with Alexa voice control, you won't be hunting for the remote in the middle of a whodunnit.
• Sony X90L 75-inch 4K LED Smart TV: Now, this is the big lad. If you're investing in one of these, it's because you're serious about the experience. Sony's picture processor is second to none, especially when it comes to upscaling regular TV signals, but it really comes into its own with 4K HDR content from Prime Video. The 75 inches (that's 190 cm wide) turns your sitting room into a cinema. Whether it's a dramatic sunset in a series or fast-paced action on the basketball court, the Sony X90L delivers with a depth and clarity that makes it hard to go back to a smaller screen.

The new reality of streaming

This is the reality in 2026. It's no longer enough to just switch on the screen. We need to navigate a sea of content, find the hidden gems like the new Holmes series, and at the same time, make sure our hardware can keep up with the developments. Whether you're into Prime Video's growing sports coverage, or you just want the best picture for the Friday night wind-down, it's all about choosing wisely. Because when Guy Ritchie's camera whips through the foggy streets of London, or Kevin Durant lines up for a three-pointer, the experience has to be absolutely spot on.