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Apple TV 4K review: The best streamer comes at a cost
It’s been four years since Apple last updated the Apple TV 4K, but a new version is here. There’s Siri AI support, a faster chip, an improved remote, and more.
Here’s everything that’s changed, what’s better, and whether the new Apple TV 4K justifies its new $299 price.
The Apple TV 4K’s overall design is largely unchanged. It’s still the same familiar black box that sits underneath your television. The only visual change is that the front status light has moved from the right side to the center.
Inside, Apple has upgraded the A15 Bionic to the A19 chip, touting 50% faster CPU performance and twice the GPU performance.
Those are great improvements on paper. In practice, I’m not doing anything on my Apple TV that really stresses the performance. Compared to my third-generation Apple TV 4K, I’ve occasionally noticed slightly smoother animations and faster performance in apps that handle more processing locally, like Infuse.
I think the biggest advantage of the A19 chip is future-proofing. People tend to buy and keep these devices for years. In fact, I’m still using a first-generation Apple TV 4K from 2017 in my bedroom, and it still works just fine nearly a decade later. The A19 gives the new Apple TV plenty of performance headroom for future tvOS updates and more demanding apps, even if those advantages aren’t particularly noticeable today.
The Siri Remote looks the same as before, but it now supports Precision Finding in the Find My app, making it easier to track down when misplaced. You can also play a sound on the remote to help locate it. I lose my Siri Remote all the time, so this honestly might be the change I’ve noticed and appreciated most in my 10 days testing the new Apple TV.
It’s worth noting Apple also sells the new Siri Remote separately for $59, and it’s compatible with every previous Apple TV 4K generation. You do, however, need a newer iPhone model to use Precision Finding.
One of the more interesting new features is support for a four-HomePod surround sound system. You need four HomePod (2nd generation) or HomePod mini 2 speakers, arranged in matching pairs at the front and rear of the room. Apple TV automatically calibrates the speakers based on their positions in the room.
For context, I typically use my Apple TV with a stereo pair of full-size HomePod (2nd generation) speakers. I’ve spent some time testing the new four-speaker surround sound setup by adding a pair of HomePod mini 2 speakers.