It’s easy to look at Apple TV 4K and wonder if the company is lagging behind the competition. Google, Amazon, and Roku both offer their TV operating systems to third-party manufacturers and make small, lightweight, and inexpensive streaming devices for everyone else. But while Apple has been a little more open with things like HomeKit and AirPlay, for the Apple-y-est experience, you still need an Apple TV.
New for 2021, Apple has given the Apple TV 4K a redesigned remote control and slightly faster internals. These may seem like tiny additions – and they are. But if you’re already an Apple TV user, you’ll know they can make a huge difference. But is the new Apple TV 4K doomed to fail alongside the much cheaper competition, especially when you can now get HomeKit, AirPlay, and the Apple TV + app on a $ 30 Roku Express?
In short, no. If you are an Apple user, the Apple TV 4K is not only a good option, it is the best option.
2021 Apple TV 4K (32 GB) List of prices:$ 179.00 Price:$ 169.00 You save:$ 10.00 (6%) Available on Amazon, BGR may receive a commission
Apple TV 4K Design (2021)
The current Apple TV box remains unchanged from the previous generation Apple TV 4K. That’s not a bad thing – the device looks good and will fit perfectly around the home on any TV stand or entertainment center.
The device is a 3.9 inch square, with a thickness of 1.4 inches, and it is constructed of black plastic. On the top of the device, you’ll find the Apple TV logo, while the back is where all of the ports can be found, although there aren’t many. There is a power input, a gigabit Ethernet port and an HDMI port, which supports the new HDMI 2.1 standard.
Of course, the title design change here has nothing to do with the actual box. The 2021 Apple TV 4K 2021’s biggest advantage over the original is undoubtedly the redesigned remote control. And yes, it makes a huge difference. The new remote is certainly bulkier, but here it is an advantage. This means that you are less likely to lose it between the cushions on your sofa. The remote is still relatively thin, and it’s still possible to misplace or lose it, but less. It would have been nice if the remote had Find My support, but alas, it doesn’t.
Besides the larger footprint, the new remote also has some button changes. Gone are the large touchpad at the top of the remote, in favor of a new directional pad with real buttons. These buttons, however, are tactile, so you can still zoom in on the interface with a swipe if you want. It works well. The shape of the scroll wheel also means it’s easy to fast forward or backward by scrolling in a circular motion. It’s a neat touch.
Other changes are welcome here as well. The Siri button has been moved to the side to be more in line with how you use it on an iPhone, and there’s a real power button to turn your setup on and off. There’s even a new mute button, which comes in handy considering that many streaming services still rely on ads.
Overall, the new remote is a huge win. I really have no complaints about this except that I wish I had found my support.
Apple TV 4K Features and Specifications (2021)
The Apple TV 4K doesn’t just have a new remote, it also has some cool new features.
Under the hood, the new Apple TV 4K features Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, which is an upgrade from the previous generation device, with its A10X Fusion processor. As someone who used the last-gen model every day, the treatment bump probably won’t make much of a difference. But it gives Apple more leeway for the features and services it has planned down the line. It can also help with games on Apple Arcade, if you are an Arcade user.
Apple TV 4K 2021 also plays a bigger role in your smart home. For starters, the new device supports Thread, which basically means it can be part of the smart home mesh network that can eventually play a big role in the smart home. There aren’t a lot of third-party devices that support Thread, but Apple has built it into the HomePod mini. It’s clear that the company sees it as an important part of the future of the smart home. And, the device also supports Wi-Fi 6, so you’ll get faster internet speeds with a compatible router and a fast internet plan.
As mentioned, the Apple TV 4K also has an HDMI 2.1 port. This means that it can technically support HDR at up to 120 fps. Unfortunately, it looks like the software isn’t ready for this type of upgrade just yet – and as a result, it’s still limited to 60 fps. Hopefully, as Apple’s gaming services continue to grow, the company will bring 120Hz support to the Apple TV.
Apple TV 4K software (2021)
The Apple TV 4K runs Apple’s tvOS and performs great. Frankly, tvOS is still my favorite TV operating system, thanks to its simple and stunning design, and great integration with the rest of my Apple devices.
The Apple TV home screen is actually just a grid of apps, like on iOS. You can rearrange these apps however you like and install apps for your favorite streaming services. It works easily. Recently, however, Apple has put more emphasis on the Apple TV app. The app not only displays Apple’s proprietary content, such as Ted lasso, but also integrates with many third-party services. This means you can see content from Hulu, Disney +, and more, all in the Apple TV app.
It works extremely well, but it would work better if all application integrated with it. The big missing service is Netflix. We would love to see Netflix add support for this feature, although at this point it seems a little unlikely.
Apple has announced some additional features for tvOS with the Apple TV 4K 2021. For example, there is a new calibration tool that uses your iPhone’s camera to detect the color setting of your TV screen, then adjust the output of the Apple TV accordingly. It works fine, but the problem is, it doesn’t actually change the calibration of your TV – just the output of the Apple TV itself. This means that if you switch to another input, such as a game console, you cannot take advantage of the functionality. But it’s still a good idea, especially for those who don’t like to dive into their TV’s settings.
When tvOS rolls out later this year, it will support features like the new SharePlay, which allows users to sync movies and TV shows with their friends and family through FaceTime. It’s a cool feature, but not the one we tested in this review. It will also finally support Spatial Audio with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, which simulate surround sound. It’s really cool.
Other features are no longer unique to the Apple TV 4K, but are still useful in an Apple-based home. You’ll get AirPlay 2, which lets you stream content from your other Apple devices, and the Apple Fitness + app, which syncs with your Apple Watch to show on-screen fitness metrics while you workout. . It’s pretty neat for those who like to work out at home. I’m more of the type to go out and play tennis, but Fitness + still works great.
Conclusion
The Apple TV 4K 2021 is a real hit for Apple, but not because it’s a massive upgrade from the last-gen model. Instead, the new Apple TV 4K is a significant improvement that takes an already great product and makes it better.
The kicker here is that the real the improvement comes in the form of the new remote, and the remote is actually available separately. If you already have a previous generation Apple TV 4K, we recommend that you simply purchase the new remote and pair it with the device, or wait for Apple to potentially add things like 120 support. Hz.
The competition
There’s a lot of competition at the 2021 Apple TV 4K, if you want a high-end streaming device. For example, you can use the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, with Android TV, or the Roku Ultra. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, forget about the Shield TV – it’s a great product, but not for you given its integration with the Google ecosystem. However, you could potentially get the Roku Ultra, as it now supports features like Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
Of course, if you just want to support AirPlay and HomeKit, it’s worth checking that your TV isn’t working. already support these things. If this is a relatively new Roku TV, chances are it is.
If you want a true Apple TV experience, however, the Apple TV 4K is still the way to go.
Should I buy the Apple TV 4K (2021)?
Yes. If you want an Apple-centric home theater, the 2021 Apple TV 4K is the way to go. That said, it’s worth considering purchasing the remote if you already have an Apple TV 4K. Or, verify that your TV doesn’t have the features you want.
2021 Apple TV 4K (32 GB) List of prices:$ 179.00 Price:$ 169.00 You save:$ 10.00 (6%) Available on Amazon, BGR may receive a commission