New cheaper Apple TV 4K launches with HDR10+, but I expected more
>
Apple just announced its next-generation Apple TV 4K — the most powerful yet, according to the company. And with a starting price of $129 / £149 / AU$205, it’s also significantly cheaper than the previous one Apple TV 4K released in 2021.
The biggest change from previous Apple TV 4K versions is the company’s use of the A15 Bionic chip, the same one used in recent model iPhones and the iPad Mini (6th generation). Another major update is HDR10+, which is now supported along with Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range formats.
Apple’s new streaming box will be sold in two configurations. One is Wi-Fi only with 64GB of storage. An entry-level model has 128 GB of storage and also features Gigabit Ethernet with thread mesh networking for enhanced support for smart home devices.
The company’s press release touted the speed benefits of the A15 Bionic chip, which will boost the CPU performance of the already fast Apple TV 4K by 50 percent. Specifically, the GPU performance will get a speed boost of up to 30 percent over the previous version, which will improve responsiveness and graphics performance when playing games.
Apple’s 4K streamer will also include a new Siri remote with USB-C charging – a big change from previous generations, which used a Lightning connection. According to the company, new features coming to tvOS this fall will enhance Siri’s voice search and control capabilities, with the ability to recognize and respond to different users’ voices so they can easily resume navigation where they were. stayed.
The new Wi-Fi-only Apple TV 4K can be ordered today for $129 / £149 / AU$205, and the Wi-Fi plus Gigabit Ethernet version for $149 / £169.00 / AU$240. Both models are available from Friday 4 November.
Analysis: One more small step for Apple TV 4K
Apple’s unveiling of a next-gen Apple TV 4K amid its planned iPad and iPad Pro announcements surprised me. A new version of the company’s streaming box was expected towards the end of the year, but not so far before the Black Friday sales season.
Going through the list of specs and features of the new Apple TV 4K, I don’t feel an urgent need to upgrade from the last version the company released in 2021.
HDR10+ support is an advantage, although 4K movies and TV shows with that HDR format are significantly more limited than those with Dolby Vision and regular HDR10. And the new Siri remote with a USB-C port is another advancement, though not entirely unexpected international pressure on Apple to switch to USB-C from its own Lightning port for charging. (USB-C ports can also be found on the new ipad models that Apple just released.)
And there ends my list of welcome Apple TV 4K updates. The speed boost that the A15 Bionic chip brings about seems almost overkill in a device that was already sufficiently fast and responsive – more than other streamers.
Let’s also discuss what the next-gen Apple TV 4K is missing. There is no support for 8K video output. And while it could be argued that the availability of 8K content is extremely limited, that sort of feature is something you’d expect from a premium product like Apple’s streamer. While the included Siri remote now has the more universal USB-C port for charging, there’s no MagSafe or Qi wireless charging option.
Remotes also regularly get lost in the cushions of the sofa, right? That’s why it was surprising to learn that the new Apple TV 4K’s Siri remote is missing the company’s proprietary U1 ultra-wideband chip. The U1 is the same chip used in AirTags and for using your iPhone to AirPods Pro 2‘s case – another small object that can be easily lost.
Perhaps the best new feature of the Apple TV 4K is its lower price compared to the previous models, although it’s still high enough that most will opt for a cheaper one instead. Roku Ultra or Fire TV Stick 4K Max for streaming, or simply rely on the apps in the interface of their smart TV.
Apple’s new streaming device is definitely an upgrade — just not enough of an upgrade I think anyone will be motivated to run out of and buy.