Is it worth buying the new Apple TV 4K and who is Apple TV for?

At the April conference, Apple showed not only AirTag, iPad Pro, or a new iMac computer. It was an opportunity to refresh the Apple TV 4K. One of the cheapest Apple devices has reached the next generation. What is Apple TV 4K? And above all, is it worth buying them about everything worth knowing about it.

Apple TV 4K 2021 is the 6th generation of the set-top box

Apple TV 4K is an Apple set-top box dedicated to TVs. Media player with access to dozens of applications running on tvOS. This is a specially modified version of the system known from iPhones and iPads, adapted to the needs of a large screen and remote control. The history of Apple TV set-top boxes is really long. The first device appeared on the market in January 2007, exactly at the time of the launch of the iPhone. However, the device has been very functionally limited for years. Only version 4 from 2015 gained access to the App Store and then the tvOS system appeared. Since then, there have been more features and two more generations. In 2017, a version with support for 4K debuted, and now its refreshed variant with a more powerful A12 Bionic processor (formerly A10X) has appeared.

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How much does Apple TV 4K cost?

The appearance of the device itself has not changed much since 2015. It's not a big black cube. Apple TV 4K is available in variants with 32 or 64 GB of memory for PLN 899 or PLN 999. On the back of the device, we only find space for the power cord, HDMI 2.1 port and Ethernet port. Of course, we can also connect to the Internet wirelessly and in the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard.

New Remote - more convenient control of the TV as well

The biggest real change in the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or 2021 if you prefer) is the remote control. Called Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote. It has been completely redesigned, there is no longer a trackpad, and visible directional arrows. The Siri button (in Poland and so not working even in English) has been placed on the side. It also has a clearly marked switch to control the TV. The remote control should be more comfortable to use. Users of older generations can buy the Apple TV Remote separately for PLN 289.

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HFR - high frame rate is the main change in the features of the new Apple TV

The new Apple TV 4K should run smoothly and efficiently for longer. The biggest change technically concerns support for 4K in 60 frames per second, i.e. with a high frame rate. However, there was no support for 120 fps used, for example, in console games. For now, it is not known whether it will be possible to unlock these functions in the future, for example with a software update. The first Apple TV 4K will go to customers at the end of May 2021.

Thread support - new to HomePod Mini

Another significant change is support for the Thread protocol. This is a new standard for smart home devices - for which Apple TV 4K can be a hub (central). Until now, this protocol was only supported by the HomePod Mini speaker. More and more new SmartHome devices support Thread, for example Eve devices or Nanoleaf bulbs.

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IPhone image calibration

With the presentation of the new generation of the adapter in tvOS 14.5, there is an option to adjust the color balance using the iPhone. This feature is available on the Apple TV HD (previously called Apple TV 4th Gen) and the previous Apple TV 4K (2017, 1st Gen). Works with iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and later). We put the phone in the marked place in the middle of the screen and after a while we receive a proposal for a new image display. The function does not change the settings on the TV itself, but it improves the image displayed by Apple TV.

This form of calibration cannot be compared to professional image calibration. However, for people who do not set the picture on their TV set at all, it may be helpful to get better results during the screenings.

What is the Apple TV 4K for?

Many people may wonder what the Apple TV is for? What does this adapter give that Smart TVs do not have, what is it needed for. First of all, tvOS is an alternative to Android TV, Tizen, WebOS and other systems on TVs. It is a system with access to dozens of VOD applications, the core of which is an application called Apple TV. In Poland, it includes productions from the Apple TV+ service and movies that can be purchased or rented in iTunes Movies. Added to this are additional services such as the Noggin service for children.

In Poland, the list of additional services related to the application is very short. In the US, without leaving the app, you can view video content from cable, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO and many other VOD services. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for us. On the tvOS, we will find the vast majority of popular VOD applications - Ipla, Player, HBO GO, Netflix, Canal+Online and others. WP Pilot and smaller websites are missing, but the most important thing is present. Although the Player and Ipla applications leave much to be desired when it comes to the quality of workmanship and adaptation to the interface of the Apple system. However, this is the fault of the developers and providers of these platforms themselves.

In tvOS we will of course find access to Apple Music, i.e. Apple streaming, but you can also download Tidal or Spotify. There's also a Photos app that lets you view photos from iCloud. You can also connect a pad to the device and play games from both the App Store and the Apple Arcade subscription service. The list of games and offer is still modest. It's definitely not a competition for typical consoles. However, offers for Sunday players will be found.

One of the important features of tvOS is AirPlay, which is the option to stream video and audio from an iPhone, iPad or Mac wirelessly. We can quickly and wirelessly transfer the image from the iPhone to the TV. This can be done by our friend who is staying with us and shows us vacation photos on a large screen. However, from Apple TV you can send sound to speakers such as HomePod, Sonos, Denon Home and many others with AirPlay support via AirPlay. For large HomePods, it's even Dolby Atmos sound.

In addition, Apple TV 4K acts as an accessory center for a smart home based on HomeKit. This means that having smart devices like light bulbs, door locks, blinds, etc. can be controlled outside the home when we have an adapter at home. Having an adapter ensures stable and continuous operation of HomeKit, which we will not achieve without an iPad, HomePod or Apple TV permanently in home.

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Who should buy an Apple TV 4K?

The Apple TV App with access to Apple TV+ is already available on many new TVs. AirPlay is also supported by numerous models from the last three years. Therefore, owning an Apple TV 4K can be questionable for many people, even when they are soaked in the Apple ecosystem. It is definitely worth thinking about the Apple TV 4K when we are heavily involved users of Apple devices, use photos in the Apple cloud, use Apple Music and have a library of movies purchased on iTunes. The platform itself offers very convenient control from the iPhone instead of the remote control, it also has well-functioning VOD applications. However, if we are not in the "orchard", then buying this device does not make much sense.

It is especially worth thinking about Apple TV 4K when we want to create a SmartHome based on HomeKit. Then the device starts to make sense.

The question remains, is it worth replacing previous generations of Apple TV with new ones? Switching from ATV 4K to the new version does not make sense, especially when there is not much readily available content in native 60 frames (not counting videos recorded by the iPhone). Switching from HD (4th gen) is rational if we have a large 4K TV and want to enjoy the full image quality of VOD services.