It’s been four lengthy years since the final Apple TV 4K was released, and in that period there have been many of hopes and dreams for features in any comes next. A new chip, 4K/120Hz support, audio passthrough, a distant locator, improved residence authority integration — the 2022 Apple TV 4K is a awesome box, but there’s motionless plentifulness of area for improvement. With the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K announced on Tuesday, several of those hopes were met, during others were unfortunately remaining out.
Coloring the notice is the device’s price. Apple eliminated the cheaper 64GB, Wi-Fi-only model, leaving fair the 128GB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet example — and bumped up its cost to $300. I repeat, $300 for a streaming device. It’s a hefty cost whenever all another important streamer on the market is at least fractional the cost.
There are new features I akin concerning this year’s Apple TV 4K. More handling power is awesome — although my third generation is motionless operating plentifulness accelerated — as is the Find My assistance for whenever the distant inevitably gets misplaced in the couch cushions or tangled up in blankets. Built-in far-field mics for talking to Siri are nice, too, provided you don’t material the box into a credenza akin I do. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K additionally adds a dedicated AV1 decoder, which allows for higher-quality streaming from apps that assistance it, specified as Netflix, which is excellent. Any possible betterment to streaming satisfied is a greeted one.
My chief concern, though, is how the Apple TV 4K performs as an integral part of my residence theater. Apple added the capability to create a encircle audio scheme by using its HomePod 2 and HomePod Mini 2 astute speakers in matching pairs for fronts and surrounds. For Apple ecosystem fans looking to build out a encircle setup akin to Sonos or Bose, it’s an engaging idea (and I’m all for getting group into immersive audio in their residence theaters). But as I anticipate is the identical for many group curious in pricey streaming hardware, I already have a audio scheme — it’s an Atmos setup alongside a blend of SVS and Revel speakers. I’m not environment up my two HomePod 2s in my living area and spending another $300 on a brace of HomePod Mini 2s to substitute my existing speakers.
What I, and many current users, have been expecting for from the Apple TV 4K for years is the supplement of audio passthrough. This would authorize my additional costly and capable audio/video receiver to decode the raw audio stream alternatively of the Apple TV using its Continuous Audio Connection, which can logic several playback issues.
Additionally, it would have been nice to see Apple assistance 120fps output, particularly for those who use Moonlight to stream games to it. That’s a characteristic that would have set the Apple TV 4K distinct from all the another streamers, which top out at 60fps, and helped to validate the elevated price. Apple could have additionally used it to pivot additional into TV gaming. (For movies, though, the 60fps bounds is not a huge deal, as the box can be set to output 24fps, allowing a native 120Hz TV to fair use 5:5 pulldown.)
Other premium features that would set Apple’s streaming box distinct and create residence theater enthusiasts throw their prosperity at it contain an HDMI input for HDMI passthrough or a digital optical out. I comprehend leaving them out if it meant raising the cost further. This box is already costly enough. But it does depart the Apple TV 4K in an uncomfortable spot, pairing a high-end cost alongside features that are mostly matched elsewhere for much less.
Are these high-end omissions a involvement for the bulk of people? Not really. But those group are going to appearance at the $300 cost tag of the Apple TV 4K and afterward at Google, Roku, or Amazon streaming devices, which are all fractional that cost or less. The Apple TV 4K is looked at as the premium streamer option, but the now additional premium cost without several of the, admittedly niche, features gives me pause.
Maybe the new Apple TV 4K volition astonishment me. I’ve certainly been looking onward to it for a while. I already value the way Apple handles privacy, and if Apple adds features in coming months, perchance it could be value it. But that $300 price? It power be improved spent elsewhere in your residence theater setup.
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