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

Key Takeaways

Maintain 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 actually need them first.

The Apple TV 4K is definitely among the best streaming gadgets in the marketplace, 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 make the most of Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, one thing you may miss for those who 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 must improve, even when my machine is growing older an increasing number of by the day.

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

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In the event you’re questioning for those who ought to make an improve from the first-gen and even second-gen Apple TV 4K, I do not suppose there is a significantly compelling motive 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 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

Work out what you want and go from there

Weigh your choices

Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K

One of many largest 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 glossy new distant, you are able to do that. Exterior 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, nevertheless it’s lagging behind in recognition. As of proper now, Dolby Imaginative and prescient is way forward when it comes to merchandise that really assist the expertise. In case your TV makes use of HDR10+ and also you wish to use it, that is motive to improve to the third-gen Apple TV 4K. The next-end Samsung TV has an honest likelihood of HDR10+ assist, so ensure you double-check that. In the event you solely have entry to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is accessible on all generations of the machine, so there isn’t any motive to drag the set off on one thing newer.

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

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. Certain, the expertise is newer within the newest technology and the machine is most definitely sooner than my growing older first-gen Apple TV 4K, nevertheless it’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 machine, and if I am not going to make use of the brand new options, then I do not see a must make a change. Whereas smartphones really feel like they need to be upgraded typically on account of lowering efficiency, that hasn’t been the case with the Apple TV 4K, a minimum of in my expertise.

The primary-gen gadgets had been launched again in 2017, and it is virtually unparalleled to listen to about an Apple product lasting seven years, however that is how issues have labored for me. There isn’t any query that the newer gadgets have beefier {hardware} and extra options, however for anyone who simply makes use of the machine to observe TV and films, there isn’t any motive to make a change.

The primary technology 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 right this moment, it is extra of a buzzword than something. 4K TVs have solely not too long ago began to turn into the norm, and there are numerous individuals nonetheless hanging onto their 1080p TVs. Not like 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 authentic Apple TV 4K is loads sufficient, and out of doors of the HDR10+ assist from the third-gen machine, there’s not a lot of a distinction with image high quality. For some individuals, the Apple TV 4K is a future-proof machine for after they determine 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 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 intend on utilizing your machine for. For me, these upgrades are good, however I can not envision myself ever utilizing them recurrently, so there isn’t any want for me to get a more recent streamer.

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Apple is not giving me motive to improve

I am advantageous with ready

In the end, I haven’t got rather a lot to complain about as a result of its good Apple has given me a completely feature-rich product that is nonetheless working seven years later. You do not all the time see electronics with lengthy lifespans like this, and often, there can 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. Nonetheless, you will not discover me complaining a few consumer-friendly transfer. The Apple TV 4K nonetheless has the newest apps, and that is nearly all I am in search of.

I perceive different individuals have totally different wants, and for those who’re in search of one thing with extra RAM, space for storing, and higher gaming efficiency, then there is a good motive to make the leap to the newest technology. Nonetheless, for those who’re like me and do not want any of that, there’s nothing fallacious with staying with the older technology so long as it lasts. As anyone who has needed to change electronics before anticipated up 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 make the most of what Apple’s streaming field has to supply.