The Apple TV 4K is Apple's most powerful box yet. It is now available for a lower starting price. The new Apple TV is powered by the same chip as last year's iPhone 13 and has support for the HDR10 Plus format, which is common on TVs from other manufacturers. The trend that will inevitably come for the iPhone is the transition to ausb-c port.
The second-gen 4K is noticeably lighter than the first-gen 4K. The cooling fan has been removed in favor of a passive thermal design. It appears to be the same old Apple TV with a glossy, dust-magnet sides. The box sits on a shelf and connects to your TV with a multi-foot cable. There is only an apple logo on top. The old Apple TV HD was discontinued after Apple announced the new device.
4K is now standard. There is still a significant difference between the two configurations of Apple TV. The base model doesn't have an ethernet jack. You will have to pay an additional $20 to get gigabit ethernet, double the storage, and Thread networking support. Future-proofing is an important measure for smart home lovers. There are two models that can act as HomeKit hubs, but only the 128gigabyte model is fully prepared for Thread and Matter accessories. If you opt for the cheaper unit, you will want to have a separate Thread border router to avoid missing out on the universal smart home.
The Apple TV 4K is more responsive than ever before and is powered by the A15 chip. When pulling up the multitasking view/app switcher, the last-gen hardware was already very quick. Every time, it is perfectly fluid. If you upgrade from the prior 4K, you wouldn't be able to feel that difference. The people coming from the Apple TV HD will appreciate the speedbump. TvOS never feels choppy or close to it. It's a straightforward user experience that's free from the homescreen ads and sponsored content you're used to. The A15 has a lot of power for an entertainment device. tvOS now supports a lot of third-party controllers, even if Apple Arcade hasn't taken off.
tvOS is notambitious when you take a step back. The Apple TV has never been able to change the way we watch TV. The future of TV might be apps, but only if you talk about the same streaming must-haves that are available on competing platforms. A number of early tvOS apps are buried in cobwebs and haven't seen updates in years, despite Apple's attempts to find a place on the TV screen for popular mobile apps. Many have stopped working
The tvOS homescreen is the same as always. You can use the Apple TV app to get personalized recommendations. You can rent, buy, and stream Apple TV Plus originals at this location. You can subscribe to some streaming services here and watch shows from those channels.
The heavy hitters don't integrate with Apple TV channels and still make you use their own apps. They can be seen in the Up Next row and throughout the recommendations. There is a dedicated kids section in the Apple TV app. I don't use what's intended to be a major hub often because it's so separate from the home screen.
There are still areas where Apple lags behind when it comes to live television. With the integration of streaming TV services like Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV into the OS, you can get a traditional cable-like guide when you want to peruse what's on.
It isn't as good as it could be.
That is what the Apple TV 4K can't match. Most other popular live TV services aren't supported to begin with, but it gets you some of the way there. Some providers, like Spectrum, allow you to use the Apple TV as a set-top box and access your full channel package through their software, but not the core tvOS software.
I mentioned in my review of the latest Fire TV cube that I could say "Alexa, tune to ESPN on Sling TV" The Fire TV jumped into live programming after I turned on my TV from an off state. The Apple TV 4K isn't as strong as I would like it to be. You can use your single sign-on credentials to pull up individual apps with the hands-free voice component if you have a HomePod or HomePod Mini. It is time for Apple to better accommodate some of these platforms. I would use the Apple TV app more often if there was a guide of live programming.
The Apple TV 4K isn't what you're looking for if you're trying to change the way you watch tv It can deliver a blissful experience, at times, and impressive cross- device function for people who are deeply entrenched in Apple's hardware and services.
tvOS is a great example of Apple's cross- device conveniences.
After you plug in the Apple TV, your Apple account, wi-fi credentials, and settings are transferred to the new device. It took less than two minutes for it to restore my homescreen layout and download all of my apps. You can use your familiar keyboard when logging in to all of those apps if you have an Apple device. Face ID or Touch ID can be used to verify purchases. You can pair AirPods with an Apple TV for private listening. Having tried all of the other platforms, Apple has the most flawless execution of all of them. If you don't own an Apple watch, you can use Apple Fitness Plus to show workout metrics on your TV, even if you don't own an Apple watch. HomeKit compatible smart home gadgets can be controlled with the Siri remote, and you can easily beam content from another device onto the big screen.
The amount of room on the screen has been reduced.
It is easier to keep an eye on what you are viewing.
It would be great to have a proper Home app on the Apple TV 4K itself, especially when it serves as a hub for that universe, but for now, you're stuck with Control Center. The Apple TV 4K still supports multiple user profiles, and later this year, will be able to distinguish between the voices of up to six people to switch profiles. Separating homescreens for each person is one of the things Apple needs to improve on. Streaming app developers tend to be lazy about linking their individual user profiles with tvOS profiles, leaving the whole concept useless for Apple's first-party services
tvOS 16.1 has a new interface for Apple's voice assistant. When activated, the Siri logo appears in the lower right of the screen, and any visual responses are pushed to the right side in a vertical list to avoid getting in the way of what you are watching. There are still many questions that produce an "I can't help you search for that here" response. I understand that there is entertainment on the Apple TV, but it is too rigid of a cutoff compared to other assistants. Asking for sports scores is fine, but tvOS won't do a simple math equation or tell you the president's name. Consistency is needed for Apple's assistant.
The included remote is the same as the previous generation. It's easy to use, and once you get down the clickpad's rotational gesture for quickly scrubbing through a movie or show, you won't bother with the old less efficient way of fast forwarding and rewinding. I wish Apple had included a U1 chip in the new remote that would have made it easier to locate a nearby phone. It would have been nice if a built-in speaker could have been used for a command. It still happens to the best of us, even though this remote isn't as easy to misplace as the previous one. It's possible to add backlighting and a raised nub on the play / pause button to my wish list.
The second-gen Apple TV 4K's home theater chops are the same as they were with the first-gen Apple TV, but with the addition of HDR10 Plus, it's a whole new ballgame. Apple's original programming is now streaming in the format, and many movies that you can rent or buy in the format should be compatible with compatible TV sets. Dynamic Metadata allows for per- frame adjustments to the picture that align with the intent of the filmmakers. The settings for matching dynamic range and frame rate are still available, and you should use them to keep the Apple TV from running in high definition.
Every smart device has a set of terms and conditions that you have to agree to before you can use it. It is not possible for us to read and analyze all of them. Since these are agreements most people don't read and can't negotiate, we're going to start counting how many times you have to agree to use the device.
You have to agree to use the Apple TV 4k.
Apple has terms and conditions for tvOS, cloud and game center.
Crash reports can be provided to Apple and developers.
There are six mandatory agreements and two optional agreements.
The third-gen Apple TV 4K will get a software update later this year that will add support for what is known as QMSVR. This makes it possible for compatible TVs to switch between different frames without black screens. You want to know how many TVs work with QMS. Zero at the moment. Next year, you will see them hit the market, and we will have more news about this feature at the Consumer Electronics Show. I will not miss the short flicker when changing frames.
The Apple TV 4K is a worthwhile upgrade for anyone still using the old model. If you want to enjoy the richest possible home theater experience, you need a streaming box that ticks off all the important boxes. The price is no longer excessive. It's still more expensive than the budget Fire TV streaming sticks of the world, but that added cost frees you from ads plastered on the homescreen and comes with some reassurance that Apple isn't as interested in tracking your viewing habits as some rivals. If you count yourself as an A/V nerd, I wouldn't hesitate to spend the extra 20 bucks for the 128 gigabyte model that includes Thread support. The Apple TV 4K will last longer in your media cabinet, thanks to it. The previous-gen 4K, which sold for $179, only had 32 gigabytes of storage.
If you already own an Apple TV 4K, you don't have to upgrade if you already own a 4K TV from a different manufacturer. There is plenty of time to wait for whatever Apple has in store for the Apple TV, since Thread / Matter is only just getting off the ground. It's not about making TV better. The Apple TV 4K makes its case slowly.
Chris Welch is a photographer.
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