The brand-new third-generation Apple TV 4K will formally launch on Nov. 4, however I’ve spent 5 days utilizing the $149.99 Wi-Fi + Ethernet mannequin. And whereas the newest streaming field retains the enduring black field design and the unbelievable Siri distant, it primarily supercharges it.
It’s powered by a sooner and extra environment friendly processor constructed in-house by Apple (AAPL) , boosts the storage, and engineers the interior parts. And at its coronary heart it’s nonetheless a streaming field that connects with HDMI, gives entry to a bevy of streaming providers, and affords deep integration with the Apple ecosystem.
Best of all, it’s cheaper for a best-in-class streaming expertise. So let’s unpack all that’s new and the great that’s staying the identical.
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A More Compact, Subtle Build
The newest era Apple TV 4K doesn’t diverge that removed from the earlier era. It’s nonetheless a black field, nevertheless it’s smaller and, fairly surprisingly, a lot lighter than the mannequin that got here earlier than it. It’s 20% smaller in its general measurement, and that largely comes with the peak of the unit.
The new 2022 or reasonably third-generation TV 4K weighs in at 7.5 ounces and measures in at 3.66 inches huge and 1.2 inches tall. And there’s solely a single small white indicator gentle on the entrance edge. You can simply retailer this in a house leisure cupboard, below your TV, and even connect it to the rear of your TV.
In phrases of different design modifications, there’s not a fan right here. Yep, the earlier Apple TV 4K had a fan, although as somebody who has used it day in and time out for a lot of many months, I’ve by no means as soon as heard it kick in. That’s gone right here, although, and it’s a testomony to the effectivity of the brand new A15 Bionic chip inside.
Up high, you’ll discover this Apple TV 4K solely has an Apple brand — it’s fairly delicate — nevertheless it drops the “TV” branding from the gadget itself. In the field it additionally comes with a Siri distant — up to date with a USB-C port — and an influence cable. You is not going to get a charging cable for the USB-C distant, although.
The $149.99 mannequin that I’ve been testing incorporates a trio of ports as nicely: ethernet, HDMI, and a regular energy plug. It additionally will get 128GB of storage which equates to loads of room. It additionally has a Thread border router in-built to assist join good residence units, however that gained’t be vital for everybody. Meaning that the $129.99 64GB Wi-Fi mannequin, shouldn’t be simply tossed apart.
Terrific Remote That’s Easier to Charge
Many marveled on the redesigned Siri distant when it initially dropped alongside the second-generation Apple TV 4K. It opted for a higher-end silver aluminum construct that was a bit longer and extra ergonomic to carry within the hand.
The largest change? Well it ditched a touchpad floor that you’d swipe on to manage and navigate for a click on wheel that’s harking back to the iPod. It’s full contact enabled although so you possibly can nonetheless swipe between apps or choices on display, or click on high, down, left, or proper. You can even click on within the middle circle to pick one thing, be it enter or to sort one thing in.
The choices are actually infinite and it’s very easy to get the hold of. Notably, it feels much less mechanical at occasions, or reasonably low cost, than different distant controls which might be packaged alongside streaming providers. It’s not an afterthought right here, however reasonably purposeful.
The click on wheel up high is joined by 5 different buttons beneath: again, play or pause, mute, TV (aka a customizable one), and a quantity rocker. The latter is de facto two buttons for adjusting the amount. On the suitable hand facet you’ll nonetheless discover a devoted button for Siri and above the clicking wheel is an influence button.
Here’s the kicker — a protracted press on it’ll allow you to flip off your complete residence leisure setup, TV and in addition to the Apple TV 4K. And it actually permits this distant to be the one to rule all of it. The solely change right here is the USB-C port on the underside, which could make it simpler to cost the distant.
You gained’t must cost the Siri distant usually although. With the Lightning variant from the previous-generation, I’ve gone two to a few months while not having to plug the distant in, and Apple included the identical measurement battery contained in the distant.
While I nonetheless assume it’s the very best distant on the market, the one factor nonetheless on my wishlist is Find My integration built-in. Because whereas it’s thicker and heftier than the earlier Siri distant, it might nonetheless get misplaced within the sofa cushions.
Now for these moments the place you wish to do all the pieces out of your iPhone, you possibly can simply use it as a distant. In reality, the Apple TV distant is baked into “control center” in your iPhone, permitting you to manage the expertise and use the iPhone’s keyboard to seek for one thing.
Lightning Fast Streaming
Apple actually supercharged the expertise right here … however let’s be clear, the earlier mannequin was actually no slouch. You may simply flip the field and your TV one, hearth up the TV app, and launch proper into “Ted Lasso.”
But the inclusion of the A15 Bionic processor inside–along with 4GB of RAM–really speeds issues up. Swiping via a house display feels extra prompt and opening any app happens in a flash.
Heck, the setup of the Apple TV 4K third-generation versus the second-generation lower the time and syncing off apps in half. I used to be able to go together with about 25 apps all downloaded and my iCloud synced in about two minutes flat.
And this extends to non-streaming purposes as nicely. Take NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition operating through Apple Arcade. Generation over era, the expertise feels extra seamless and extra prompt with much less latency. Additionally, it was a bit faster to connect with a PlayStation Dual Sense or Xbox controller. Apple can also be routinely increasing the aptitude of what you possibly can join right here.
Regardless of the $129.99 or $149.99 buy, the efficiency a part of the equation would be the identical. This can be a quick streaming field, that you should not have any fear about dropping assist or operating out of energy within the subsequent a number of years. I nonetheless have an Apple TV HD that’s rocking.
You additionally get assist for as much as 4K resolution–so whether or not you’ve got a 4K TV or not, this streaming field will current content material within the highest decision potential. Not to say, these with an HD TV can be future-proofed if you happen to ever make the soar to 4K. Apple additionally consists of assist for all the foremost requirements together with HDR, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. You additionally get high-frame-rate HDR assist which may be particularly helpful for taking in sports activities.
The different plus of going for the $149.99 mannequin is Thread connectivity built-in. And this is without doubt one of the predominant connectivity varieties for the upcoming good residence normal Matter. It will aid you get these units on-line and makes the Apple TV 4K extra of a full good residence bundle, however not everybody will want it. You see the HomePod Mini options this and so does all fashions of the second-generation Apple TV 4K.
tvOS Packs All The Streaming Services And All of Apple’s Services
One key benefit to the Apple TV 4K, say to a Roku, a Fire TV, or a built-in interface is entry to providers. Since the App Store on the Apple TV 4K is just like that in your iPhone, you usually gained’t have any challenge having access to streaming providers. When HBO Max and Peacock didn’t launch on all the foremost platforms on day one, they did provide an Apple TV app on launch day.
And that may be an enormous cause, particularly because the streaming wars proceed to warmth up. And as you would possibly suspect from an Apple made streaming field, you get direct entry to Apple TV+ right here. Which means you possibly can stream “Ted Lasso,” “The Morning Show,” and “Severance” to your coronary heart’s content material. Just bear in mind you’ll want an account sign-in for this, as nicely all of the streaming providers you’d wish to use.
The expertise is equally quick for “Ted Lasso” as it’s for “The Dropout” on Hulu or a present on Netflix. It’s simply depraved quick entry to actually any app.
Alongside Apple TV+, you’ll additionally discover an app for Apple Music, Photos, Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+. The Apple TV 4K is the field the place all of those shine and work in concord. You can pull up a recreation for household recreation evening or exhibit the lyrics in realtime on the large display throughout a dance half. I imply, all of us wish to belt out “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift, proper?
Siri can also be in full power right here and due to tvOS 16.1, she’s in a sensible place. Much like on the Mac and an iPhone, if you ask Siri the listening bubble seems within the backside left nook of the display. It not obscures the content material and the assistant is quite a bit sooner at answering queries or controlling one thing. There are additionally TV particular instructions like asking her to repeat one thing or for particulars on an actor. And if you ask for content material, Siri makes use of some common looking out smarts to search out it for you in a jiffy.
Is the New Apple TV 4K Worth it?
Between the worth lower, a smaller construct, and a swift processor, Apple acquired quite a bit proper right here. And the Apple TV 4K is a extra aggressive possibility in a brilliant crowded market. Chances are if you happen to’ve been wanting to leap for one or have an unique Apple TV HD or 4K laying round, now could be the time to improve.
And there are actually two clear paths — most people can be superb with the 64GB $129.99 mannequin that solely options Wi-Fi. You get all of the core elements of the expertise and it might nonetheless act as a house hub.
Those who want extra storage, wish to hardwire the connection, or want a Thread border router functionality, can soar to the $149.99 mannequin. But bear in mind, when you’ve got a 2021 Apple TV 4K or a HomePod Mini, you’re already coated within the Thread division.
Either manner, although, you’re getting a ton of worth. And whether or not you’ve got an iPhone, love Fitness+, or simply need easy accessibility to Apple’s providers, the Apple TV 4K can shortly kind from a need into a necessity.
Prices are correct and objects are in inventory on the time of publishing.
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