Apple has just announced its new generation of Apple TV 4K – the most powerful ever, according to the company. And with a starting price of $ 129 / £ 149 / $ 205, it’s also significantly cheaper than the previous one Apple TV 4K released in 2021.
The biggest change from previous versions of Apple TV 4K is the company’s use of the A15 Bionic chip, the same chip used in the latest iPhone and iPad Mini (6th generation) models. Another key update is HDR10 +, which is now supported along with Dolby Vision and HDR10 High Dynamic Range formats.
The new Apple streaming device will be sold in two configurations. One is Wi-Fi only with 64GB of memory. The premium model has 128GB of memory and also supports Gigabit Ethernet with a threaded mesh for better support for smart home devices.
The company’s press release touted the speed benefits of the A15 Bionic chip, which will increase the processor performance of the already fast Apple TV 4K by 50 percent. It is worth noting that the GPU performance increases by up to 30 percent compared to the previous version, which improves the responsiveness and graphics performance when playing games.
Apple’s 4K Streamer will also feature the new Siri Remote with USB-C Charging – a big change from earlier generations that used a Lightning connection. According to the company, new features coming to tvOS this fall will improve Siri’s voice search and control capabilities, with the ability to recognize and respond to different users’ voices so they can easily resume navigation where they left off.
The new Wi-Fi-only 4K Apple TV can be ordered today for $ 129 / £ 149 / $ 205, and the Wi-Fi plus Gigabit Ethernet version for $ 149 / £ 169.00 / $ 240. Both models will be available from Friday, November 4.
Analysis: One more small step for Apple TV 4K
Apple’s unveiling of the new generation Apple TV 4K among the planned iPad and iPad Pro announcements surprised me. A new version of the company’s streaming device was expected by the end of the year, but not so far ahead of the Black Friday sales season.
Looking at the list of specs and features for the new Apple TV 4K, I don’t feel an urgent need to update from the last version released by the company in 2021.
Support for HDR10 + is an advantage, although 4K movies and TV shows incorporating this HDR format are much more limited than those with Dolby Vision and regular HDR10. And the new Siri remote with USB-C port is another improvement, though considering it’s not entirely unexpected international pressure on Apple switch to USB-C from the proprietary Lightning port for charging. (USB-C ports can also be found on new iPad models that Apple just released.)
And that ends my list of welcome Apple TV 4K updates. The speed boost that the A15 Bionic chip causes seems almost overkill in a device that was already fast and responsive enough – more so than other streamers.
Let’s also talk about what’s missing from the next-gen Apple TV 4K. There is no support for 8K video output. And while it could be argued that the availability of 8K content is very limited, this kind of feature is something you’d expect from a premium product like Apple’s streamer. Also, while the included Siri Remote now has a more versatile USB-C charging port, it doesn’t have MagSafe or Qi wireless charging options.
Remote controls also often get lost between the sofa cushions, right? Therefore, it was surprising that the new Siri Apple TV 4K remote control lacks the company’s proprietary ultra-wideband U1 chip. AirPods Pro 2Coincidence – another small item that can be easily lost.
The best new feature of Apple TV 4K may be its lower price compared to previous models, although it’s still high enough that most will opt for the cheaper one instead Roku Ultra or Fire TV Stick 4K Max for streaming or just rely on the apps in the smart TV interface.
Apple’s new streaming device is certainly an upgrade – just not enough of the improvements I imagine anyone will be motivated to run out and buy.