Why I am nonetheless holding out on the most recent Apple TV improve (and also you would possibly need 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 does not considerably differ between generations, making upgrading not essential.
Newer fashions include upgrades like FaceTime and HDR10+ assist, however assess if you actually need them first.

The Apple TV 4K is definitely the most effective 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 reap the benefits of Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, one thing you may miss if you happen to 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 not felt any have to improve, even when my gadget is getting older an increasing number of by the day.

Relying on what you employ your Apple TV 4K for, you may not have to make the improve any time quickly both. Outdoors of Apple Music, I primarily use my gadget to observe 4K content material on Max, Netflix, and different streaming apps. There are issues you may choose 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 if you happen to 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 characteristic I am dying to have in addition to what I have already got in entrance of me. The most important 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 gadget, I’ve the second-gen distant. It connects seamlessly, so if you wish to choose up a modern new distant, you are able to do that. Outdoors of that, there’s not quite a bit 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 reputation. As of proper now, Dolby Imaginative and prescient is much forward when it comes to merchandise that really assist the know-how. In case your TV makes use of HDR10+ and also you need to use it, that is an excellent purpose to improve to the third-gen Apple TV 4K. A better-end Samsung TV has a good likelihood 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 gadget, so there is not any purpose to drag the set off on one thing newer.

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

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 value. Positive, the know-how is newer within the newest era and the gadget is probably sooner than my getting older first-gen Apple TV 4K, but it surely’s not one thing I am certain is price it for round $150. As I mentioned earlier than, there’s nothing fallacious with my present gadget, 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 should be upgraded typically as a consequence of lowering efficiency, that hasn’t been the case with the Apple TV 4K, no less than in my expertise.

The primary-gen units have been launched again in 2017, and it is nearly unparalleled to listen to about an Apple product lasting seven years, however that is how issues have labored for me. There is not any query that the newer units have beefier {hardware} and extra options, however for someone who simply makes use of the gadget to observe TV and films, there is not any 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 in the present day, it is extra of a buzzword than something. 4K TVs have solely lately began to grow to be the norm, and there are lots 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 does not want beefy {hardware} to provide the greatest image. The authentic Apple TV 4K is lots sufficient, and outdoors of the HDR10+ assist from the third-gen gadget, there’s not a lot of a distinction with image high quality. For some folks, the Apple TV 4K is a future-proof gadget for after they resolve to improve to 4K.

The beneficial properties 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 an enormous distinction for individuals who prefer to connect a controller and begin gaming. Once more, it comes all the way down to what you propose on utilizing your gadget for. For me, these upgrades are good, however I am unable to envision myself ever utilizing them repeatedly, so there is not any want for me to get a more recent streamer.

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Apple is not giving me an excellent purpose to improve

I am positive with ready

In the end, I haven’t got quite a bit 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 finally makes me improve. For gaming consoles, it is the top of assist and the promise of elevated efficiency and graphics. For the Apple TV 4K, there’s been nothing of the type. Nonetheless, you will not discover me complaining a couple of consumer-friendly transfer. The Apple TV 4K nonetheless has the most recent apps, and that is nearly all I am in search of.

I perceive different folks have completely different wants, and if you happen to’re in search of one thing with extra RAM, cupboard space, and higher gaming efficiency, then there is a good purpose to make the leap to the most recent era. Nonetheless, if you happen to’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 someone who has needed to exchange electronics prior to anticipated previously, 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 reap the benefits of what Apple’s streaming field has to supply.