What Apple TV Should I Buy

Why You Shouldnt Buy Apple TV 4k

That’s ultimately the biggest downfall of the Apple TV 4K . If someone isn’t heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, it’s hard to justify the $179 price tag. If all someone wants is a 4K streaming device, it makes a lot more sense to get a Fire TV Stick 4K, Chromecast with Google TV, or Roku Streaming Stick+ all of which are available for $49 MSRP. All three of those also deliver 4K, HDR, and access to all major streaming apps. From that perspective, the Apple TV 4K doesn’t make much sense.

The Apple TV 4K could also be a tricky sell even for some Apple users. The Roku Streaming Stick+ has a free iPhone app for a virtual remote, and it even supports AirPlay. None of the Apple services mentioned above are available, and the interface isn’t as polished. But when there’s a difference of $130 between the two, some Apple fans might be willing to put up with those compromises for such a drastic difference in cost. The Apple TV 4K is a virtually perfect streaming box on its own, but being priced as high as it is adds a huge asterisk to what would otherwise be an easy recommendation.

Apple Sells Two Kinds Of Apple TV: The 4k Apple TV And The 4th Gen Hd Model Here’s How The Apple TV Hd And Apple TV 4k Compare

• > Verdict

The Apple TV is Apple’s set-top box that enables you to watch films and TV shows on your big-screen telly through a raft of other online services including Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Prime and many of the OnDemand channels. Now in its sixth generation, the Apple TV has evolved a lot over the years there are currently three models to choose from, and a number of buying options for each.

In this feature, we’ll look at the different models of Apple TV and what each one offers – and costs – to help you decide which is the best for you. So before handing your cash over to Apple, let’s take a look at the different Apple TV models.

If you do manage to reach a decision, you can buy directly from Apple or browse our roundup of the best Apple deals.

It’s important to note that various TV manufacturers now include the Apple TV app and AirPlay 2 support with their sets, plus Roku and the Amazon Fire include the Apple TV app. So you don’t need to buy an Apple TV in order to watch Apple’s content, or to stream to your TV from your iPad or iPhone. Read more about the TVs that offer Apple TV app and AirPlay 2.

Verdict: Your Old Apple TV Is Just Fine

We can’t answer this question for sure until we get the new Apple TV 4K in for testing. However, based purely on the changes listed aboveâand the fact that there simply aren’t manyâyou probably shouldn’t spend upward of $200 to upgrade from your current Apple TV 4K if you have one. The new remote looks nice, but you can buy one for your existing Apple TV for $59. And the color balance feature seems promising, but it’s also coming to previous Apple TV devices, so you don’t need to spend a dime to get it on your current Apple TV.

The new Apple TV 4K ships in May, so check back soon for a full review. Until then, head over to the best media streamers we’ve tested.

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What Is Apple TV 4k

While priced higher than all of its competitors, Apple TV 4K may end up being the best bargain in streaming devices. Apple TV 4K is great for many reasons, the best of which being that if you own one, Apple will upgrade your iTunes movie library to 4K.

The average cost difference between an HD version of a movie and a 4K version of a movie is around $5-$10. If you have ten movies in your iTunes movie library, you are getting around a $75 value in the upgrade to 4K alone. If you have twenty-five movies, Apple TV 4K practically pays for itself.

If you don’t already own a movie, Apple will let you pick up the 4K version for the same price as the HD. You won’t have to pay a premium to get the same movie in its best format.

In terms of picture quality, Apple TV 4K supports both 4K resolution and HDR10. While 4K has all the buzz, High Dynamic Range may be more important to picture quality. As Apple puts it, 4K gives you more pixels on your screen, while HDR gives you better pixels. Instead of just increasing the resolution, HDR gives you a higher range of colors that increases the quality and depth of the image. Apple TV 4K also supports Dolby Vision, which is a form of HDR with an even higher color range.

But Apple TV isn’t just about streaming video. Its powerful processor makes it able to play games, and it has so much power that you might start seeing productivity apps like Numbers and Pages come to the Apple TV.

What Is The Latest Apple TV Model

Apple TV 4K is the latest Apple TV model. It gives you a higher definition of TV, as well as all the things you love about the original Apple TV. the new Siri remote is impressive, with a touch-enabled click pad that makes everything even easier. And the Apple TV 4K comes with two storage options the Apple TV 4K 32gb and Apple TV 4K 64gb.

^Discounts apply to most recent previous ticketed/advertised price. As we negotiate on price, products are likely to have sold below ticketed/advertised price in stores prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport & express stores.

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What Devices Does Apple TV Support

Apple TV Plus is available in the Apple TV app on all Apple devices. Its not quite as accessible as other streaming platforms, but odds are you have several devices in your house that can access Apple TV.

For Apple devices, any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with the latest software update can access Apple TV Plus directly through the app, which should be pre-installed. Apple TV set-top boxes that are third-gen or newer are also compatible.

Read also: The best media streaming devices you can buy

Several other popular streaming devices such as those made by Roku and Amazon are also supported, as are newer smart TVs from some of the most popular brands. On many newer smart TVs, the Apple TV app is already installed, but models from 2018 may need to search for the app and install it manually.

Certain Smart TVs that arent compatible with the Apple TV app may still be able to access the service using AirPlay 2. This allows you to share your screen from any Apple device. You can see a list of supported Smart TV model numbers here.

Android devices are notably excluded from the list since the Apple TV Plus app is not available on the . Still, the platform can be accessed on Android devices via the web portal on just about any web browser, just like on Macs and PCs.

You can also set up the Apple TV Plus app on your PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S consoles.

Heres the full list of Apple TV compatible devices:

• Apple TV
• Roku
• Xbox Series S

The Differences Between Apple TV Apple TV+ And The Apple TV App

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• Thanks to the 4K HDR resolution, you can watch movies and photos in Ultra High Defintion quality.
• Apple TV 4K supports many apps, such as Netflix, iCloud, and Takeaway.
• Play games with friends and use the Siri Remote, iPhone, or iPod touch as a controller.

• You can only enjoy the 4K resolution and HDR with a television that supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. You also need a HDMI 2.0 cable to connect Apple TV 4K with.
• An HDMI cable isn’t included to connect Apple TV 4K to your television.

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Technical Support And The Apple TV Warranty

• Every Apple TV comes with complimentary telephone technical support within 90 days of your Apple TV purchase. In addition, Apple TV and all accessories are covered against defects for one year from the original purchase date by a limited hardware warranty.
• Visit the Genius Bar at any Apple Store. There you can get expert advice and friendly face-to-face support for your Apple TV. Make a reservation ahead of time to guarantee your spot.
• Learn more about the Genius Bar and the Apple Store

* Monthly pricing is available when you select Apple Card Monthly Installments as payment type at checkout at Apple, and is subject to credit approval and credit limit. Financing terms vary by product. Taxes and shipping are not included in ACMI and are subject to your cards variable APR. See the Apple Card Customer Agreement for more information. ACMI is not available for purchases made online at special storefronts. The last months payment for each product will be the products purchase price, less all other payments at the monthly payment amount.

To access and use all the features of Apple Card, you must add Apple Card to Wallet on an iPhone or iPad with the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Update to the latest version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install.

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Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch.

Display Resolution Dynamic Range And Audio Output Options

Now that you know which Apple TV supports 4K, HD, HDR, and SDR, its time to explain what all of that means:

• 4K and HD relate to the number of pixels, or dots, that make up an image. This is also called resolution. 4K TVs have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, whereas HD TVs only offer 1920 x 1080 pixels. The more pixels, the sharper the image. So, because 4K TVs have more pixels, they look noticeably better, particularly on larger screens.
• HDR and SDR relate to the number of colors a display can produce, as well as its maximum brightness. TVs capable of HDR can display deeper blacks and brighter whites than those that only offer SDR. Unlike 4K TVs , HDR is immediately obvious, no matter the screen size.

Both models of Apple TV 4K support both of the following:

• Dolby Vision is a version of HDR. Unlike standard HDR, it uses frame-by-frame metadata that provides additional information to the TV. Dolby Vision also supports improved brightness when compared to standard HDR.
• Dolby Atmos is a version of surround sound that doesnt map sounds to specific speakers. Instead, it maps them to 3D space between those speakers. This allows improved positional audio on setups that support it.

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Should I Buy An Older Apple TV

The specs of the 2021 Apple TV 4K are very similar to the 2017 Apple TV 4K, although there are some significant differences: the faster A12 processor, the ability to play 60fps, and the newer Wi-Fi standard. If you find one of these previous generation Apple TVs you may be tempted to buy. OUr advice would be that if the price is good enough then by all means buy one, but keep in mind that, at least in the UK, the newer 4K model is now £10 cheaper than it was, so the saving needs to take that into consideration.

If there are any deals on the 2017 Apple TV 4K they will appear below:

Apple TV 4K 2017, 32GB, was £179/$179

Amazon Fire TV Stick Vs Apple TV: Which Is Right For You

Since the Fire TV Stick and Apple TV offer the same streaming quality and the same features, this battle really comes down to how much you’re willing to pay for a home screen you control.

The Fire TV Stick 4K gives you most of the streaming features of the Apple TV 4K for $130 less. A similar price difference is found when you look at the normal $39 Fire TV Stick and the $149 Apple TV HD, which is $110 more.

HBO Max and Peacock should eventually come to the Fire TV, but the Apple TV has had them since day 1 and the Fire TV Stick is still making us wait, months later.

But for most people, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K is the better streaming device of these two. If you don’t like the interface of the Fire TV OS, consider the Roku Streaming Stick Plus or , which are two of the best streaming devices for folks who don’t want to go with Apple or Amazon .

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If You Use An Apple TV 4k

If you already own an Apple TV 4K, there is no compelling reason to spend $179 for the few niceties the new Apple TV 4K brings:

• The second-generation Siri Remote
• Faster networking with Wi-Fi 6
• Support for the Thread cross-platform home automation protocol, which might become interesting
• Support for HDMI ARC passthrough so if you have an ARC-enabled TV, you can output audio from any HDMI-connected device to a HomePod

Apart from the second-generation Siri Remote, none of those are likely to change your overall viewing experience that much. But if one seems important to you, it might be worth the upgrade.

That said, even those interested in upgrading might want to wait a bit. There isnt much HDR 60 fps content just yet, and Apple might announce some intriguing new features in tvOS 15 that take better advantage of the new hardware. And while Apple TVs arent often discounted, you might luck out or find a refurbished model later.

Does Apple TV Work With Homekit

Apple TV also gives you access to Siri and can become a base station for HomeKit. The remote includes a Siri button, allowing you to control your TV by voice. You can also use the Siri-like functionality for requests such as telling you the actors in a specific movie or asking it to display movies from a specific genre, actor, or director.

HomeKit works as the headquarters for your smart home. If you have smart appliances like a thermostat or lights, you can use HomeKit to control them. You can even use your iPhone away from home to communicate with Apple TV in your home to control your smart devices.

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Should I Buy The Apple TV Hd

The Apple TV HD was introduced in 2015. It’s old. It’s also expensive for what it is. £139/$149 is a high price to pay for a TV streaming box when you can buy a Fire TV Stick 4K for £49.99 at Amazon here or the Fire TV Stick Lite for £29.99 here. Similarly the Roku Streaming Stick can play Apple TV+ shows and other Apple content, and is often discounted. The 4K model is normally £49.99 and available from the likes of Currys PC World, but you may find a bigger discount on

As with the Apple TV 4K, the only reason to buy an Apple TV is if you want to use the App Store or Apple Arcade gaming service. If you have a recently purchased smart TV or one of the alternative streaming sticks mentioned above you don’t really need the Apple TV.

Read: Which smart TVs are compatible with AirPlay or have Apple TV?

Amazon Fire TV Stick Vs Apple TV Specs

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Apple TV Takes The Idea Of Smart Television To The Next Level

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• Should I Buy a Non-4K Apple TV?

Apple TV isn’t an actual television set. It’s a streaming device similar to Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV used to access streaming content from all your favorite TV and movie providers.

The little black box is an inch-and-a-half tall, less than four inches along its sides, and runs on a platform similar to the iPhone and iPad, which means you can download a whole host of apps and games including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and others.

Same Box And Basic Features

Whereas the remote got an overhaul, the Apple TV 4K’s actual box looks virtually identical to the square black puck of its predecessor. There are no new ports along its glossy sides and the rear of the device still houses ports for power, HDMI-out and Ethernet.

The Apple TV runs on the latest version of the TVOS software, with the same tile-heavy interface that has been featured on Apple TVs for years. It will work with Apple services like Arcade, Apple TV Plus, Apple Music and Fitness Plus and the software also supports all the major streaming services including Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu, , YouTube TV and Sling TV.

Setting up the device was simple. My iPhone quickly acknowledged it with a pop-up appearing to sync my iCloud account and Wi-Fi settings to the Apple TV. The device even pulled in apps from my old Apple TV, but I still needed to manually log back into apps like Netflix and Disney Plus.

Under the hood, the Apple TV 4K has received a sizable boost in the form of an upgrade to the company’s A12 Bionic processor. The older box, which was first introduced in 2017, ran on what’s now an aging A10X chip.

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Apps opened quickly and at times seemed to be a bit faster compared to the older Apple TV 4K. But it is not like they struggled on the prior box.

The real test will be in how the device handles more intensive tasks like gaming which for now still leaves plenty to be desired.

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