Apple Tv 4k (2021) - Review

(Image: © Apple)

Nearly four years after its predecessor was introduced, the new Apple TV 4K has finally arrived. That’s not what’s obvious in the design, because nothing has changed before - and you’ll have to check out the specs of both models closely to see any differences there, too. There is a new remote, though you can buy one of those that you will take with the last-gen model if you really want.

In other words, it’s hard to be so excited about the new Apple TV 4K. It’s more of a pull than a big connection.

But the original Apple TV 4K was at the forefront of video streaming when it was launched and, with regular updates, stayed there for a lifetime. This second-generation model does not eliminate mold, especially since it does not need to.

Price

The new Apple TV 4K (2021) costs £ 169 ($ 179, AU $ 249) for 32GB of built-in storage, and £ 189 ($ 199, $ 279) if you want a version with 64GB. If you expect to stream primarily movies and TV shows, 32GB should have more, but those who plan to make more games should consider spending more money on the 64GB model.

If you can live without 4K, the Apple TV HD 32GB is available for £ 139 ($ 149, OR $ 209).

All Apple TV models are more expensive than competing broadcast devices. 

Build

The new Apple TV 4K is almost identical to the previous one in terms of design. It’s always a shame when a company chooses not to make aesthetic changes when introducing a new type of existing product, especially an older one, but there’s nothing wrong with the look or design of the latest Apple TV 4K.

Remote functionality The functionality of Bluetooth 5.0 means that you do not need to place a box in front of your seat.

While the streamer looks and feels the same way as before, the remote is new and very advanced. While still compact and small compared to a TV remote control, it is bigger and stronger and more powerful than before, and has a few more buttons: a dedicated silence button, and a power button that can work on your TV and home movie kit. The Siri button, meanwhile, has been removed from the face and moved to the right side to be compatible with modern iPhones.

Perhaps the most important change, however, is that the ‘hidden’ trackpad of the old remote control has been replaced by a circular click pad reminiscent of an iPod wheel. The button in the middle of the ring around the ring is touchable and sensitive, so you can swipe or click the way you like, and you can rotate your thumb on the edge to scroll videos. It is a very satisfying and weightless method of operation, although it is still very easy to accidentally swipe when you want to click.

However, if you own an existing Apple TV 4K and wish for a bright new remote, you can purchase it separately for £ 55 ($ 59, OR $ 79).

Features

Another notable upgrade to the new Apple TV 4K is the processor: Apple has replaced the A10X Fusion chip with the older A12 Bionic model. The company says the change results in "real games, more life-like videos, and immersive audio".

The processor also integrates with the new HDMI 2.1 socket to add support for 4K HDR content at frame rates up to 60fps, while the older model was limited to 30fps when playing 4K HDR. However, currently there is limited content available in this High Frame Rate 4K HDR. Apple points to us in the 'Enhanced 4K HDR' videos on the Red Bull TV app, but in reality this looks worse on the new Apple TV 4K than on the old model, due to the bright colors and great brightness.

We suspect that this is more dependent on the use of Red Bull than technology, and additional support for High Frame Rate 4K HDR may be helpful once other applications accept it. We would love to see it heard on BT Sport in the UK, for example.

It’s also worth noting that HDMI 2.1 is capable of handling heavier signals than 4K HDR at 60fps, and there may be a head start here for Apple to add support for 120fps 4K or 60fps 8K in the future, although it seems to have no support in the AV1 suggests that the latter could be a long shot. It is also worth mentioning that the new Apple TV 4K comes without an integrated HDMI cable, which feels a lot more tight when you consider how much more expensive it is than its rival broadcasters.

In terms of formats, Apple TV 4K (as before) supports HDR in HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision formats. The only loss is HDR10 +, and that doesn't sound like a lot of losses. Supported audio formats include MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC and WAV Stereo, and surrounding formats up to Dolby Atmos.