Why I am nonetheless holding out on the newest Apple TV improve (and also you would possibly wish to, too)

Key Takeaways

Hold your first-gen Apple TV 4K: it is quick, snappy, and has no main lacking options to date.
Image high quality would not considerably differ between generations, making upgrading not essential.
Newer fashions include upgrades like FaceTime and HDR10+ assist, however assess if you really want them first.

The Apple TV 4K is well probably the greatest streaming units available on the market, and it is my private favourite regardless of not having a single other Apple product in my household. There are three generations of the Apple TV 4K, and the common Apple TV goes again even additional. I picked up an Apple TV 4K to benefit from Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, one thing you may miss should you ever switch to Spotify, which meant I solely needed to seize the first-gen 4K mannequin. The newer fashions have extra bells and whistles, however I have never felt any have to improve, even when my machine is ageing increasingly more by the day.

Relying on what you utilize your Apple TV 4K for, you won’t have to make the improve any time quickly both. Outdoors of Apple Music, I primarily use my machine to look at 4K content material on Max, Netflix, and different streaming apps. There are issues you may decide up a more recent mannequin for like FaceTime, however that is not one thing that notably pursuits me, particularly since I do not even have an iPhone.

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In the event you’re questioning should you ought to make an improve from the first-gen and even second-gen Apple TV 4K, I do not assume there is a notably compelling purpose to do it. My first-gen Apple TV 4K remains to be fast and snappy, and there is not any function I am dying to have apart from what I have already got in entrance of me. The largest improve, in my eyes, is the distant — however there’s excellent news in that particular division.

Apple TV 4K (2022)

Model: Apple
Bluetooth codecs: 5.0
Wi-Fi: 6
Ethernet: Gigabit (128GB mannequin solely)
Storage and RAM: 64GB, 128GB

Determine what you want and go from there

Weigh your choices

Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K

One of many greatest upgrades of the Apple TV 4K over the generations is the distant, however you do not want new {hardware} for that. Though I’ve the first-gen machine, I’ve the second-gen distant. It connects seamlessly, so if you wish to decide up a modern new distant, you are able to do that. Outdoors of that, there’s not rather a lot else that catches my eye.

A giant change with the third-gen Apple TV 4K is the introduction of HDR10+ assist. This model of HDR is a competitor to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, but it surely’s lagging behind in recognition. As of proper now, Dolby Imaginative and prescient is much forward when it comes to merchandise that truly assist the know-how. In case your TV makes use of HDR10+ and also you wish to use it, that is an excellent purpose to improve to the third-gen Apple TV 4K. A better-end Samsung TV has an honest probability of HDR10+ assist, so be sure you double-check that. In the event you solely have entry to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is obtainable on all generations of the machine, so there is no purpose to tug the set off on one thing newer.

HDR10+ assist is rising, however Dolby Imaginative and prescient remains to be extra fashionable.

An Apple icon and a settings icon side by side.

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One other factor holding me again from taking the plunge is the worth. Positive, the know-how is newer within the newest era and the machine is most probably sooner than my ageing first-gen Apple TV 4K, but it surely’s not one thing I am certain is value it for round $150. As I stated earlier than, there’s nothing fallacious with my present machine, and if I am not going to make use of the brand new options, then I do not see a have to make a change. Whereas smartphones really feel like they need to be upgraded typically resulting from lowering efficiency, that hasn’t been the case with the Apple TV 4K, at the very least in my expertise.

The primary-gen units have been launched again in 2017, and it is nearly extraordinary to listen to about an Apple product lasting seven years, however that is how issues have labored for me. There is no query that the newer units have beefier {hardware} and extra options, however for anyone who simply makes use of the machine to look at TV and films, there is no purpose to make a change.

The primary era is already very mature

There aren’t many locations to go

An Apple TV 4K and a Siri Remote on a table.

Whereas 8K decision exists at the moment, it is extra of a buzzword than something. 4K TVs have solely lately began to turn into the norm, and there are a lot of folks nonetheless hanging onto their 1080p TVs. In contrast to a gaming console that may carry on pushing boundaries with its graphics, a TV present or film would not want beefy {hardware} to provide the finest image. The unique Apple TV 4K is lots sufficient, and outdoors of the HDR10+ assist from the third-gen machine, there’s not a lot of a distinction with image high quality. For some folks, the Apple TV 4K is a future-proof machine for after they resolve to improve to 4K.

The positive aspects that may be made come from different issues like lossless audio, FaceTime assist, and gaming efficiency. Having a stronger processor seen within the newer generations could make a giant distinction for individuals who prefer to connect a controller and begin gaming. Once more, it comes all the way down to what you intend on utilizing your machine for. For me, these upgrades are good, however I am unable to envision myself ever utilizing them frequently, so there is no want for me to get a more recent streamer.

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I am positive with ready

Finally, I haven’t got rather a lot to complain about as a result of its good Apple has given me a totally feature-rich product that is nonetheless working seven years later. You do not all the time see electronics with lengthy lifespans like this, and normally, there might be one thing that ultimately makes me improve. For gaming consoles, it is the tip of assist and the promise of elevated efficiency and graphics. For the Apple TV 4K, there’s been nothing of the kind. Nevertheless, you will not discover me complaining a couple of consumer-friendly transfer. The Apple TV 4K nonetheless has the newest apps, and that is nearly all I am searching for.

I perceive different folks have totally different wants, and should you’re searching for one thing with extra RAM, cupboard space, and higher gaming efficiency, then there is a good purpose to make the leap to the newest era. Nevertheless, should you’re like me and do not want any of that, there’s nothing fallacious with staying with the older era so long as it lasts. As anyone who has needed to exchange electronics ahead of anticipated prior to now, it is good to have one thing just like the Apple TV 4K that has confirmed it has some endurance. It lets me put my cash into different locations, like a encompass sound setup and a Dolby Imaginative and prescient-equipped TV that may benefit from what Apple’s streaming field has to supply.