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

Key Takeaways

Preserve your first-gen Apple TV 4K: it is quick, snappy, and has no main lacking options thus far.
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 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 benefit from 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 not felt any must improve, even when my gadget is getting old an increasing number of by the day.

Relying on what you employ your Apple TV 4K for, you may not must make the improve any time quickly both. Exterior of Apple Music, I primarily use my gadget to observe 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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Should you’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 assume there is a significantly compelling cause to do it. My first-gen Apple TV 4K continues to be fast and snappy, and there is not any function I am dying to have moreover 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 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 gadget, I’ve the second-gen distant. It connects seamlessly, so if you wish to choose 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, however it’s lagging behind in recognition. As of proper now, Dolby Imaginative and prescient is way forward by way of merchandise that truly assist the expertise. In case your TV makes use of HDR10+ and also you wish to use it, that is an excellent cause to improve to the third-gen Apple TV 4K. The next-end Samsung TV has an honest likelihood of HDR10+ assist, so be sure to double-check that. Should you solely have entry to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, it is out there on all generations of the gadget, so there is no cause to tug the set off on one thing newer.

HDR10+ assist is rising, however Dolby Imaginative and prescient continues to be extra well-liked.

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 expertise is newer within the newest era and the gadget is more than likely sooner than my getting old first-gen Apple TV 4K, however it’s not one thing I am positive is price it for round $150. As I stated earlier than, there’s nothing flawed with my present gadget, 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 should be upgraded usually attributable to reducing 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 nearly extraordinary 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 gadgets have beefier {hardware} and extra options, however for anyone who simply makes use of the gadget to observe TV and flicks, there is no cause 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 this time, it is extra of a buzzword than something. 4K TVs have solely lately began to turn into the norm, and there are lots 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 would not want beefy {hardware} to provide the finest image. The unique Apple TV 4K is a lot sufficient, and out of doors of the HDR10+ assist from the third-gen gadget, there’s not a lot of a distinction with image high quality. For some individuals, the Apple TV 4K is a future-proof gadget for after they resolve to improve to 4K.

The features 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 propose on utilizing your gadget 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 an excellent cause to improve

I am high quality 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 at all times see electronics with lengthy lifespans like this, and often, there will likely 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 type. Nevertheless, 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 on the lookout for.

I perceive different individuals have completely different wants, and in the event you’re on the lookout for one thing with extra RAM, cupboard space, and higher gaming efficiency, then there is a good cause to make the leap to the most recent era. Nevertheless, in the event you’re like me and do not want any of that, there’s nothing flawed with staying with the older era so long as it lasts. As anyone who has needed to exchange electronics earlier than 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 benefit from what Apple’s streaming field has to supply.