The New Apple TV 4K Makes The Best Highend Streaming Device Better — And Cheaper

A year after the Apple TV streaming device update, we're already getting an update that brings a new processor, price, and additional smart home features to the Apple TV 4K lineup.

Apple's revamped Apple TV lineup will officially launch on Friday, November 4, but Apple is currently accepting pre-orders for the set-top box. There's a Wi-Fi-only model for $129, Apple's new low price for a streaming box, or a Wi-Fi and Ethernet model for $149, the old starting price.

I've been testing the $149 Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) for just under a week as a replacement for my personal 2021 Apple TV 4K when I tested it in a house with constant broadcasts. broadcast or video. Does the new Apple TV offer a better streaming experience? There is that, but there is more.

The best progressive streamer just keeps getting better

The latest Apple TV 4K is a great upgrade for those who own an older Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, thanks to improved performance and a new lower price. It's the new high-end streaming device to beat, but owners of last year's Apple TV 4K model can skip it for now.

The Apple A15 Bionic processor is in the new Apple TV 4K. It's the same processor found in the iPhone 13 and 6th-gen iPad Mini lineup, and the one we found delivers blazing speed on devices that likely demand more than that. Apple TV, which was developed primarily for video streaming.

Apple says the new Apple TV will offer up to 50% faster processing power and graphics performance should be up to 30% faster thanks to the processor upgrade. The 2021 Apple TV 4K for home TVs used an Apple A12 Bionic processor, so that performance isn't all that surprising.

I've been using the 2021 Apple TV 4K as my primary streaming device since launch, and after going through the initial setup process for the new Apple TV 4K, I immediately noticed a difference in app loading speed and the feeling of navigation. There was a noticeable difference at every level.

One area where the speed increase was noticeable was when I used Siri to request information, search the App Store, or start an excessive monitoring session. Not only did Siri load faster, it responded almost immediately. Of course, the reason Siri loads faster is because the new Siri interface, which looks more like Siri on the iPad, only takes up a corner of the screen instead of the entire TV.

Another area where performance seemed faster was how quickly the Apple TV app opened and filled with suggestions of what to watch next.

Over the weekend I spent a few hours playing video games on my Apple TV, something I hadn't done in probably five years since I've been playing Beach Madness with my youngest son every days.

However, Apple has done a lot in recent years to improve the gaming experience on all of its devices, including compatibility with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch consoles. So I paired the Xbox console with the Apple TV 4K, launched Apple Arcade, and looked for a game that came with my monthly Apple One Premier subscription. I love Lego games and have a small but growing appreciation for Star Wars, so I ended up downloading Lego Star Wars. The shipwrecked.

The experience was generally enjoyable, and I sometimes felt like I was using a games console rather than a set. Another time, when I was mostly navigating through menus and settings, it was clear that I was playing a mobile game on a TV with a console designed for a game console. However, I grabbed the Xbox controller instead of the Siri remote as soon as I sat down on the couch to spend a few hours.

The Siri Remote, which received a much-needed update in 2021, isn't the only one that didn't get an update this year. The remote has the same design, buttons and general functionality, but instead of using the Lightning port on the bottom of the remote for charging, you'll now find a USB-C port for charging.

It's the same type of port that Apple now uses in all current iPad models, including the new 10th generation iPad. And with Apple admitting it must comply with a recent EU ruling forcing the iPhone maker to switch from the Lightning connector to USB-C, the move to the Siri Remote means we're about to withdraw completely. Flash.

What this actually means in your daily experience is very little. I think I would need to charge my Siri Remote every three or four months if that was the case. But once all my Apple devices are connected to USB-C, I won't have to unplug the Lightning cable every few months just to charge the remote.

The switch to USB-C on the Siri Remote is a welcome step, but there's one feature I think every Apple TV user will want to see in the Apple app. Find my solution remotely. But it's not in the new Siri Remote.

I don't want or need a speaker on the remote that you can turn on to help find it if it's inevitably lost (although that would be nice). What I'd like to see is Apple add the Apple U1 ultra-wideband chip to the remote, which lets you use the Find Mine app to locate an object; I'm talking in inches.

I haven't lost this Siri Remote in the last week, but it's a common occurrence in my home and I assume everyone deals with it on a regular basis.

There are several new ways to add an AirTag to your Siri Remote, such as the $40 Nomad Goods Leather Case that includes a pocket for the AirTag. But the built-in Find My solution makes it the perfect Siri remote.

This year's Apple TV 4K lineup consists of two models. There's Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi) and Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet). As the name suggests, the Wi-Fi model can only connect to the Internet over a Wi-Fi 6 connection. The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model has a Gigabit Ethernet port on the back, so your Apple TV can connect to your home. network or to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

The differences don't stop at the communication options between the two models. The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model also includes 128GB of storage, more than double the 64GB capacity of the Wi-Fi only model. Apple TV storage is used to store apps and games, and unless you plan to download a lot of games, I have a hard time seeing the Apple TV's 128GB of storage being full.

If you're a smart home fan, there's another difference you need to know. Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) also includes Thread Radio, which acts as a Thread Borders router to help you control and manage all your Matter and Thread-equipped smart home devices.

If you already have a HomePod Mini, you don't necessarily need an additional Thread Border router in your home, but if you're just starting to update your smart home devices to support Thread, go for the cheaper Apple TV 4K option. Does it make sense?

The Apple TV range has often been criticized for its high price. This year, Apple dropped the starting price of the Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi) from $149 to $129, which is a good start, but if you look at the public streaming scene, it's still there. one of the most expensive offers.

Amazon Fire TV Sticks start at $40 for HD or $50 for the 4K model. Roku streaming devices start at $30 for the Roku Express with HD streaming or $40 for the Roku Express 4K+. Then there's Google's Chromecast, $30 and $50, with HD and 4K streaming, respectively.

Of course, this compares the streaming stick to a set-top box, which is more powerful and provides a better overall experience, but Apple TV and its users will benefit from a more expensive option than a set-top box.

A $70 or even $80 Apple TV chip capable of streaming 4K would be an instant hit.

storage	64 GB	128 GB	4GB	16 gigabytes
Dimensions:	3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 inches	3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 inches	4.9 x 5.0 x 1 inches	3.38x3.38x2.99 inches
ports	HDMI 2.1	HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet	USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0b, Ethernet 10/100	HDMI 2.1 in, HDMI 2.1 out, IR extender, 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0
video formats	4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, High Frame Rate HDR	4K, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, High Frame Rate HDR	4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision	4K, Dolby Vision, HDR
audio formats	Dolby Atmos	Dolby Atmos	Dolby Atmos	Dolby Atmos
Smart Assistant / Smart Home	to like	Hello, online chat	HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa	Alice:
Price:	$129	$149	$70	$140

This year's Apple TV 4K update adds impressive speed to our favorite high-end streaming device, with faster loading times, a lower starting price, and a minor Siri Remote update. You can't go wrong with either model, but it's worth taking a few seconds to think about which model to buy.

You don't need to upgrade from last year's Apple TV 4K to get a faster experience. However, if you've been using the original Apple TV 4K since 2017 or are ready to upgrade from HD to 4K, the $129 Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi) is more than enough for most. users. If you want to maximize your Apple TV streaming game while boosting your smart home network, Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) is an easy choice.

Apple TV 4K Review 2022: Speed ​​+ Privacy.

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