Apple’s little black box for the TV comes in two slightly different versions. Which should you buy – and should you buy one at all?
Apple TV 4K
$129/£149 • 93mm/3.66in x 93mm/3.66in x 31mm/1.2in • 208g/7.3oz • 64GB • HDMI 2.1 • A15 chip / Last updated: October 2022
Best for: a high-quality TV box for Apple aficionados
There’s no shortage of TV streaming devices on the market, and Apple TV 4K is pricier than most, but Apple would argue you get what you pay for. The anonymous design sits firmly on any surface, and the remote is excellent. The A15 Bionic chip is 2021 era (it was also used in the iPhone 13), but it delivers a smooth, lag-free experience. And Apple’s box should suit anyone who wants optimum playback, given that it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos and various flavors of surround sound.
The interface is impressive, even if the current tvOS appears split in terms of how it would like you to interact with the device. Apple would prefer you live inside its TV app, which aggregates shows from your subscribed services. But some play by their own rules (hello, Netflix), and for that you fall back to the familiar app grid, which also lets you launch apps beyond TV streaming services.
Typically, these apps are more impressive than those on rival systems, although Apple TV falls frustratingly short on gaming. There are slim pickings on the App Store, although Apple Arcade is at least supported and seamlessly syncs progress between your devices. And one upside is you can bring your own controller – a good thing, since we don’t want a first-party controller that ramps up the price and that relatively few people will use.
Apple TV finds more success in its integration with Apple’s wider ecosystem. You can turn a Photos album into a screensaver, connect AirPods in a snap, use SharePlay, make a FaceTime call with Continuity Camera, pair HomePods, turn your Apple TV into a Home hub, and even use your iPhone to find an elusive Siri Remote.
If you find value in those things and the Apple TV’s user-friendly nature, this TV box delivers. But if raw affordability and access to a few streaming services are your main concerns, there are cheaper options to be found elsewhere from Roku and Amazon.
Pros: usable; reliable; superb Apple integration; excellent remote
Cons: expensive; lacking in gaming
Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet
$149/£169 • 93mm/3.66in x 93mm/3.66in x 31mm/1.2in • 214g/7.5oz • 128GB • HDMI 2.1 • Gigabit Ethernet • A15 chip / Last updated: October 2022
Best for: Anyone who wants an Apple TV with wired connectivity
Externally, the only giveway that this Apple TV differs from its sibling is the presence of an Ethernet port. While most people will find Wi-Fi sufficient, wired connectivity is likely to be faster and more reliable. So if you demand the absolute highest video quality from streaming services or local storage, you might appreciate the option.
Beyond that, the only other distinction lies in storage – 128GB compared to the base model’s 64GB. Both capacities are relatively miserly by modern device standards – although not atypical for TV boxes. However, as is usual for Apple, on-board storage cannot be expanded. Apple TV does intelligently offload items it thinks you aren’t using, but you might encounter frustrations when it offloads cached artwork or local documents. Opting for the 128GB unit can mitigate this risk – but it’s only really an issue if you’re packing your Apple TV full of games or storing documents on the device rather than accessing them from the network.
Surprisingly, the premium for these extras is minimal. However, unless you can make use of them, there’s no point in paying the extra twenty bucks. So save yourself some cash unless you’re certain you’ll benefit from the Ethernet port or increased storage.
Pros: more storage; Ethernet; not much pricier
Cons: expensive; still not great for games
TL;DR
Still undecided? Here’s a lightning-fast comparison for what to buy:
- Get the Apple TV 4K if you want a high-quality streaming box that seamlessly integrates into the Apple ecosystem.
- Buy the Wi-Fi + Ethernet model only if you need the extra storage space and/or wired connectivity.
- And if you own a first-gen Apple TV 4K that you’re happy with but you like the look of the new Siri Remote, you can opt to buy that alone for $59/£59.