A few months ago, Apple released the 3rd generation variant of its Apple TV 4K. We already thought the 2nd-gen model was one of the better streaming devices. The 3rd generation model, however, improves it in several ways. Today, Amazon has it for $139.99 (normally $149). That might not seem like a lot, but it’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this model and beats anything we’ve come across during Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
New Apple TV 4K 64GB + 3rd Generation Ethernet
Even at retail price, the new 3rd Gen Apple TV 4K is a significantly better deal than the 2nd Gen model. That’s because Apple lowered the MSRP: $129.99 for the 32GB and $149.99 for the 64GB for the 3rd gen, compared to $179.99 and $199.99 for the 2nd gen. It’s very rare that Apple improves one of its products so dramatically while lowering the price. An extra $9 off is just the icing on the cake.
Differences between Apple TV 4K 3rd generation and 2nd generation
By far the biggest 3rd Gen upgrade is the Apple A15 Bionic processor over the 2nd Gen A12 Bionic. The A15 Bionic is the same chip you’ll find in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14. It’s much faster than the A12 Bionic and outperforms just about every other streaming device in terms of processing power. . This extra power allows the 3rd generation Apple TV to now support HDR10+. The A15 Bionic processor is also more energy efficient and generates less heat, so Apple TV 3rd Gen 3 no longer requires a fan.
The Apple Remote is largely the same, and that’s not a bad thing because the 2nd generation Apple TV remote was amazing. The Lightning port has been replaced by the more universal USB Type-C port. The 2nd generation Siri Remote was head over heels for the previous generation’s black remote. Not only is the build quality better, but there are some quality of life upgrades such as a 5-way touchpad, mute button, and dedicated power button that works for your TV, receiver, and Apple TV. .
Apple announced a new feature called “Apple Music Sing”. You’ll be able to sing along to Apple Music songs, much like karaoke at home. Only the latest Apple TV 4K will support this feature, previous generations including the 2nd generation will not support it.
Why choose the 64 GB model?
Ignoring the fact that the 64GB model only costs about $17 more than the 32GB model, there are a few major benefits besides the doubled storage. Exclusive to 64 GB model, the 3rd generation Apple TV has an Ethernet port if you need a wired connection to the Internet. The 64GB model also exclusively has Thread support which you won’t get in the 32GB model. Threads support means the Apple TV can be used as a mesh edge router to extend the range of smart home devices from Apple. It might not be a huge advantage right now, but as Apple begins to integrate more smart home devices into its ecosystem, you’ll be glad you’ve future-proofed your Apple TV.
Why is the Apple TV such a good media streaming device?
For starters, it supports a huge range of apps. This includes video apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, and of course original Apple TV movies and TV shows, as well as music apps such as Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, and TIDAL. Apple TV also gives you access to Apple Arcade games that you can’t play on a non-Apple device.
The Apple TV hardware is also top of the line. It’s powered by an Apple A15 Bionic processor capable of handling 4K HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision video paired with Dolby Atmos audio without a hitch. You are also not limited in storage space; even the lower 32GB model puts other media streamers to shame. For example, the Amazon Fire TV (any model) only includes 8GB of storage, Roku doesn’t include any internal storage, and the NVIDIA Shield Pro comes closest with 16GB.
Finally, the Apple TV is a cinch to set up, especially if you already own an Apple device like an iPhone or iPad. Best of all, you won’t need any additional setup to mirror your Apple TV content to your iPhone or iPad or vice versa. You will be able to exchange videos, movies, music, images and browser content using Apple’s proprietary AirPlay wireless connection. And since the iPhone is the most popular phone on the market right now, it’s safe to say that a lot of people will find this feature extremely handy.
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