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The goal of any streaming stick or streaming box is to be a simple and more affordable way to add some smarts to your TV. By having access to all the major streaming services, the streaming stick or box allows you to cast content from your phone—and even adds in the smarts of a virtual assistant.
The latest Apple TV 4K doesn’t shy away from any of these important performance enhancements. Now in its third-generation, Apple kept the black box build but has slimmed it down, supercharged the performance and lowered the price.
Starting at $129.99—or $149.99 for more storage and some extra smarts—Apple aims to deliver on value. Unlike some other more affordable options out there, the Apple TV 4K has more than enough power to stream content today and well into the future.
I’ve spent nearly a week with the third-generation Apple TV 4K and it’s clear if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, it’s likely the best choice for you.
Apple TV 4K Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Smaller overall size |
No charging cable for remote |
|
Fast performance for streaming or gaming |
More expensive than other brands |
|
Support for all the major standards |
|
|
More affordable starting price |
A Smaller Box With a USB-C Siri Remote
The third-generation Apple TV 4K is 20% smaller than the second-generation. I wasn’t expecting it to be that much of a difference, however, it’s significantly lighter in hand. The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model I’ve been testing weighs in at just 7.5-ounces and 1.22-inches in height. You can easily tuck this into a home entertainment cabinet, stick it to the back of your TV with some adhesion strips or get a stand for it.
It still comes in just one color—black—but ditches the TV branding for a discrete Apple icon. When it comes to the number of ports, the $149.99 model features a gigabit Ethernet port for those who need to hardwire, as well as an HDMI port and a power plug.
Under the hood Apple reengineered the layout and tossed in the A15 Bionic chip. So yes, this has a better processor than the 10th Gen iPad. Thanks to the efficiencies of the new processor, there is no longer a fan for cooling built into the Apple TV 4K. Now, the bottom of the device is flat with a rubberized finish. It’s completed with the pinhole power light on the front.
A Siri Remote with USB-C
Apple is still rocking the excellent Siri Remote as well. This new controller was introduced alongside the second-generation streaming box in 2021. It ditched a square touchpad on a thin remote for a click wheel that’s reminiscent of an iPod. It allows you to easily scroll to fast forward or rewind (aka clockwise or counter clockwise), click to go up, down, left or right, and swipe across the whole wheel if you choose.
The remote is made of a thicker and ergonomically curved piece of aluminum, with a traditional power button that can control your TV and other home entertainment devices. You can click it once to turn everything on and long press it to turn it all off. The Siri Remote also features a back, play or pause, mute, volume rocker and TV button. The latter can be customized, but by default jumps into the “TV” app. Like an Alexa Voice Remote, there is also a microphone button to quickly call on Siri.
The change with the third-generation? Well, Apple swapped the Lightning port for a USB-C port. This should make it easier to charge with other cables you have on-hand, since Apple doesn’t include a cable for charging the remote in the box. You may need to charge the remote every few months, so adopting a standard port was a good choice with the redesign.
And just like the Apple TV before this, you can also use the Remote that’s baked into your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch to easily control. You can navigate the whole interface, but you can also use the on-screen keyboard to more effortlessly sign into apps.
Buy the Apple 4K TV Streaming Box Here
Serious Performance For Now And The Future
An A15 Bionic Chip might seem like overkill with such a high-powered processor inside of a streaming box, but it’s really about the future. It’s a common theme that Apple has been repeating this year.
The faster processor makes setup happen very quickly, applications open in an instant and complete nearly any task instantly. I plugged the Apple TV 4K in, held my iPhone close to authenticate with my iCloud, and selected it to mirror my previous Apple TV 4K. It tossed me to the main screen and began to download apps, only to be fully restored and ready to go in about two minutes flat.
If you already have more products in the Apple ecosystem—meaning an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or AirPods—this is the streaming box that works the best with these. This is the ideal streaming device to get content from Apple’s services onto the big screen, like Apple Music, Photos, Fitness+, Arcade and TV.
During testing, I could open an app like Hulu or Disney+ in under a second and start streaming. I could also quickly connect to the unit via AirPlay from an iPhone or a Mac to share a photo or video on the TV screen. I could even fire up a mediation from my Apple Watch in Fitness+ to stream it on the TV. You can also start a game from the App Store or Apple Arcade, connect a controller and get to gaming.
Similarly, I can hold in the microphone button on the remote to ask Siri for the latest sports score or to find the latest film with Ben Stiller. And tvOS, now in version 16.1, runs very well with new features on the docket for future updates.
As you set up your account, you can have a customized profile for each user which is helpful for families. Apple will eventually update this to also detect your voice when chatting with Siri, in the same way a HomePod Mini can recognize a user.
If you get an Apple TV 4K third-generation, content appears sharp and Apple supports nearly all the major standards, such as:
- HDR
- HDR10
- HDR 10+ (which is a great addition for Samsung TV’s that don’t support Dolby)
- High-frame-rate content
- Dolby Vision
- Dolby Atmos
- 4K resolution
Looking towards the future, we have no doubts that this investment will last for many years to come. I’m using the original Apple TV 4K from 2017 and it still performs admirably. Plus with the App Store, you can download all the major streaming services. The A15 Bionic is a smart chip for now and later.
What’s The Difference Between The Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi and Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet?
There are two main differences between the $129.99 Wi-Fi and $149.99 Wi-Fi + Ethernet models.
- Storage. The entry-level features 64GB of storage and the upgrade edition features 128GB of storage. There is no option for external storage here either, and if you’re someone who wants the most, it might pay to opt for the $149.99—it’s only $20 more.
- Connectivity. The $129.99 Wi-Fi model only features Wi-Fi, which is still a strong way to connect. But for $149.99 you get an Ethernet port for a hardwired connection, which can be more stable if you have a way to make that connection.
The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model also features a Thread border router inside which can help you get smart home gadgets online. It’s also a key connection within the new Matter standard, which is now rolling out a variety of different ecosystems. But for Apple folks, you can really use it to get more devices connected within the Home app. If you have a second-generation Apple TV 4K, it already boasts this connection. Same goes for the HomePod Mini.
Simply put, if you need more storage, an ethernet port and are interested in the smart home, it makes sense to opt for the $149.99 Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet.
Is The Apple TV 4K Worth It?
For Apple users out there, the Apple TV 4K makes a lot of sense and they’ve finally lowered the price. For $129.99, you’re getting a streaming box that doesn’t cut corners, gives you access to all of Apple’s services, and offers access to all the major streaming services plus a bunch of other apps.
If you currently have the second-generation, you’re likely good to hold onto that box. But if you’re still using an Apple TV HD or a first-gen 4K, this is an excellent time to make the jump and upgrade.
Similarly, if you’ been an eyeing an Apple TV 4K for a while or if you’re shopping for someone who wants a piece of tech, either the $129.99 or $149.99 fits the bill well.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
