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

Key Takeaways

Maintain your first-gen Apple TV 4K: it is quick, snappy, and has no main lacking options up to now.
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 top-of-the-line 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 reap the benefits of Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, one thing you may miss in the event 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 system is growing old increasingly more by the day.

Relying on what you utilize your Apple TV 4K for, you may not have to make the improve any time quickly both. Exterior of Apple Music, I primarily use my system to look at 4K content material on Max, Netflix, and different streaming apps. There are issues you possibly can choose up a more moderen 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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For those who’re questioning in the event you 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 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 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 system, 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. Exterior 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 way 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 a superb purpose to improve to the third-gen Apple TV 4K. A better-end Samsung TV has an honest likelihood of HDR10+ assist, so be sure to double-check that. For those who solely have entry to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is accessible on all generations of the system, 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 common.

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. Certain, the know-how is newer within the newest technology and the system is most definitely sooner than my growing old first-gen Apple TV 4K, but it surely’s not one thing I am positive is value it for round $150. As I stated earlier than, there’s nothing fallacious with my present system, 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 usually on account of lowering efficiency, that hasn’t been the case with the Apple TV 4K, not less than in my expertise.

The primary-gen gadgets have been launched again in 2017, and it is virtually remarkable 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 gadgets have beefier {hardware} and extra options, however for someone who simply makes use of the system to look at TV and films, there is no purpose 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 in the present day, it is extra of a buzzword than something. 4K TVs have solely just lately began to develop into the norm, and there are a lot of 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 does not want beefy {hardware} to provide the greatest image. The unique Apple TV 4K is a lot sufficient, and outdoors of the HDR10+ assist from the third-gen system, there’s not a lot of a distinction with image high quality. For some individuals, the Apple TV 4K is a future-proof system for after they determine to improve to 4K.

The positive factors 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 wish to connect a controller and begin gaming. Once more, it comes right down to what you intend on utilizing your system for. For me, these upgrades are good, however I can not envision myself ever utilizing them repeatedly, so there is no want for me to get a more moderen streamer.

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Apple is not giving me a superb purpose to improve

I am wonderful with ready

Finally, I haven’t got quite a bit 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 at all times 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 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 newest apps, and that is nearly all I am searching for.

I perceive different individuals have totally different wants, and in the event 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 technology. Nonetheless, in the event you’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 someone who has needed to substitute electronics ahead of 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 reap the benefits of what Apple’s streaming field has to supply.