Don’t get me wrong about the new Apple TV 4K (2022). I’m always ready to make internal upgrades that improve performance and video quality. And the new Apple TV 4K offers both.
On the performance front, Apple has upgraded the on-chip streaming device’s internal system. While the 2021 Apple TV 4K model has been running the A12 Bionic, this new model has the A15 Bionic, I don’t know how many people are going to get a lot of excitement from that. Apple TV 4K (2021) is already one of the fastest, if not The The fastest broadcast devices.
We hope Apple Arcade fans will find the 30% increase in GPU performance worth it. Apple says the A15 offers 50% faster CPU performance, and as someone who uses the Apple TV 4K 2021 a lot, I’m not sure it would feel like a huge reveal. I’m eager to be wrong.
The other upgrade you get is HDR10+, which uses metadata for more subtle contrast. Why Apple TV 4K took so long to get HDR10+ is a mystery (even the cheapest Fire TV Stick to own it).
But while the Apple TV 4K (2021) was already good enough to earn its place on our list of best streaming devices, its successor still offers a much bigger improvement.
Apple TV 4K (2022) price change is huge
$50 is a lot. Yes, a Roku Streaming Stick 4K (our pick for the best streaming device) can buy you, but it’s also the low price Apple offered for the new Apple TV 4K (2022).
For those who haven’t seen, the Apple TV 4K 2022 comes in two configurations:
I should point out up front that both models are less expensive than the 2021 Apple TV 4K ($179/£169/AU$249). This model included 32GB of storage, another space that Apple upgraded. I only hit this storage once, and never heard a peep about it again.
But, seriously, folks, yes, the Apple TV 4K is finally available at a lower price. For the past several years, I’ve been wishing Apple’s great tvOS-based streaming devices would be affordable. It’s fast, has a cleaner interface, and is just a joy to use.
Their interface, aside from the live TV integration, outperforms Chromecast with Google TV and the best Roku, Fire TV sticks, and Cube devices. Its TV app has room to grow, but I can’t speak highly enough about this streaming device – apart from its price tag.
As much as I love Apple TV 4K (2022), it could still get less expensive
Because as happy as I am on top, I can still multiply and divide. Which is why I look at Apple as if I were Oliver Twist at mealtime. “Please, Tim Cook, I want more savings.”
While Apple’s $50 discount is great, you rarely see streaming devices over $100. And when our favorite streaming device is $50, and the market is filled with other great streaming devices under $100, it’s hard to see why people are drawn to a $129 streaming device, even if it’s one they absolutely love.
The Apple TV 4K (2022) will still have everything I love about an Apple TV (although the $129 model lacks Ethernet, which is annoying having to spend an extra $20 to get it). If I can’t find my Apple TV remote, opening the Apple TV Remote is as easy as swiping down from the top right corner and clicking on the icon in Control Center.
On top of that, you have a simple interface and a remote that I personally love, but – again – is it worth spending the extra $79 to get a Roku Streaming Stick 4K or Chromecast with Google TV 4K? That’s $79 you can use for 5 months of HBO Max without ads, with $4 left for some microwave popcorn.
Looking Ahead: Find Apple TV 4K Black Friday Deals
The Apple TV 4K (2022) appears to be less than the model you’re upgrading to, which is trying to expand Apple’s user base. So, for everyone who’s been tempted to get an Apple TV 4K, but the ad turned down its price, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we saw a price drop on the Apple TV 4K (2021) recently.
It was as low as $109 at Amazon (Opens in a new tab). And that the Apple TV 4K has its own Ethernet port. And we could definitely see more discounts as Black Friday deals start early this year.
Sure, it has an older processor, less storage and no HDR10+, but when the Apple TV 4K (2021) first became so relevant, I can’t argue with someone who’s going to get a $20 discount instead of perks this year.
Apple users are so used to being told that they pay an “Apple tax” and it’s hard to argue that when the $129 Apple offers the same picture quality as much cheaper hardware. So we hope that the upcoming Apple TV 4K will be within everyone’s reach. Or we just got an Apple TV SE someday.
next one: See all the upgrades you need to know about in Apple TV 4K (2022) vs. Apple TV 4K (2021) Face removal.
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