Being in the Apple ecosystem means a lot of things to different people. For some, the iPhone is their essential “daily driver” and that is enough. Others utilize all the tech that Apple has to offer, from laptops to earbuds to tablets to smartwatches. For the latter group, the launch of the third-generation Apple TV 4K is exciting for a few key reasons. It promises faster performance, a slightly form factor, and a few features that will make accessing your favorite media easier.
Apple TV 4K Design
In terms of its design, the Apple TV 4K is slightly smaller than the previous generation. Without the internal cooling fan – swapped for a passive thermal design – the device requires a small amount of real estate on an entertainment center or desk. Outside of that, though, the Apple TV 4K looks mostly the same at a distance, outside the removal of the TV branding next to the Apple logo.
The Apple TV 4K is available in two different models: a 64 GB model that retails for $129 and a 128 GB model that retails for $149. The pricing is great for a streaming device regardless of which model users choose, but most will want the 128 GB model for the added Ethernet port and support for smart home connectivity. Because this is an Apple TV 4K, after all, the device will be using a lot more bandwidth, so being hardwired will typically deliver better results when streaming.
The remote for the Apple TV 4K is almost identical to the previous generation’s unibody aluminum design with one significant (for some) change. Instead of a lightning connection, the remote uses USB-C, which depending on the user will make it easier to keep the remote charged. That being said, the remote should be able to last for months on a single charge.
Navigation with the remote is simple and straightforward with just a few buttons. The scroll wheel supports gestures as in past models and can occasionally scroll past an item if a thumb brushes across it, but it’s very easy to get used to. For the most part, though, the remote is functional but is made better thanks to Siri.
Overall, the design of the Apple TV 4K fits well with Apple’s philosophy and won’t take up too much space wherever you choose to store it. The new thermal design didn’t seem to result in the device getting noticeably hot to the touch, and without the fan (for those who even noticed the previous models had one) it shouldn’t get any louder over time.
Apple TV 4K Performance
But it’s what Apple has packed under the Apple TV 4K’s hood that makes this model so exciting. With the relatively new A15 bionic chip, the Apple TV 4K is extremely responsive regardless of how one is using it. Switching between apps, triggering a piece of media, or just browsing the various menus is all very snappy and without even the slightest bit of lag.
For those who have been keeping up with newer generations of streaming devices, the Apple TV 4K’s performance isn’t going to blow you away. But users who have been on older hardware will appreciate how quick every action is.
TvOS 16 does not feature in major redesigns to the menus of the Apple TV or new integration with apps like HBO Max or YouTube. There is support for Apple TV+ and Disney Plus (among a few others) that will keep shows in an “Up Next” carousel but accessing other apps requires loading them from the full App menu. Because the Apple TV 4K is so fast it’s hardly a concern but it would be nice to have everything integrated into a single menu.
Siri makes that navigation even easier, though, with just the press of a button on the side of the remote. Like with manual browsing, Siri is responsive and will quickly swap between apps instantaneously.
Apple also plans to roll out a feature where Siri will recognize a user’s voice and switch between profiles. All users will need to do is either setup Siri controls on the Apple TV or use their iOS device and then they will be able to access their profile just by saying “Switch to my profile.”
While Siri cuts down on the button presses when it comes to switching apps, it would have been nice to see more of the voice assistant’s full power on display. Users can still get a lot of their questions answered like “What’s the weather like today” or “What was the score of the World Series game” but we had some instances where our questions were outside of the bounds of Siri search even though Siri on iOS would have answered them.
The faster chip and Siri integration make the Apple TV 4K more functionally modern and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ bring it up to technical standards as well. Obviously, the quality of the picture will depend on the TV, but on high-end panels the Apple TV 4K delivers exceptional visuals.
For gamers, the Apple TV 4K uses the A15 chip to deliver solid performance on Apple Arcade titles with support of up to 4K 60FPS. The device can also pair with any Bluetooth controller and offers support for Steam Link through the App Store. As of this writing neither Game Pass/XCloud or GeForce Now are available on the Apple TV 4K’s App Store but it would be nice to see how the A15 chip supports those services. However, if Apple Arcade gaming is all you are looking for then this third-generation device more than meets the challenge.
Regardless of where users fall in the streaming service device wars, the Apple TV 4K is more than worth a look for its performance, ease of use, and elegant design. There is still room for improvement in terms of app integration, but outside of that the device delivers everything that users should want and at a competitive price.
The Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) is available for $129 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model or $149 for the 128 GB Wi-Fi and Ethernet model.
Apple releases its third generation Apple TV 4K streaming device which boasts a lightning fast A15 bionic chip, support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, a Siri remote with voice navigation features, and a slimmer design focused on better thermals.
- A15 Bionic Chip for Lightning Fast Performance
- HDR10+ and Dolby Vision Support
- Siri Integration for Voice Navigation
- New Thermal Design
- New Remote with USB-C Port
- What’s Included: Apple TV 4K, Siri Remote, Power Cable
- Connective Technology: Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, Thread Networking, Bluetooth 5.0
- Ports (128GB Model): Power, Ethernet, HDMI 2.1
- Easy Setup and Use
- Unrivaled Performance
- Siri Makes Navigation a Snap
- Compact Design
- Support for Numerous Gamepads
- App Integration Could Be Better
- No Remote Finder Feature
