32 or 64Gb? Should the model match the iPhone?

[richCB]

I'm trying to decide between the 32Gb and 64Gb versions of the Apple TV.

I play a few games but not a lot and was thinking I could get away with 32Gb (if that's all that is actually stored in the ATV). However an online chat with an Apple specialist has made me rethink things. He asked me what memory I had in my iPhone and how much was free. I told him 64Gb and 14Gb (most of my apps are unrelated to the ATV). He then suggested I go with the 64Gb ATV because some of my other apps might be coming to the TV in the future - 'it is only a mater of time', he said.

Is he right? Should I go for 64Gb? Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[normanfox]

I think he got the point of using your iphone as a baseline. in reality, ATV 4 should use more data since it serves bigger screen with games that might take more space. but then you don't store music or photo on your ATV like you do on your iphone.

if you are not serious about games, 32GB should be fine. worst case, you delete unused app/games before installing new ones.

or if don't plan to keep ATV 4 for many years, 32GB is fine.

 

[tillsbury]

No, the whole point of tvos is that it does the deleting for you. In fact, you can't even see what space is available (I don't think). The operation is seamless whatever version you have. But if you have a lot of games that load a lot of resources, with the 32Gb version it'll have to keep reloading them over the net. On the 64Gb this will happen less often as it's more likely you'll still have the data on the device.

The storage in the aTV is more like an app cache than traditional storage devices.

 

[redman042]

I think the amount of storage on your phone is a rough comparison point, at best, and should not drive your decision. IMO your phone needs more storage than your ATV will, at least for a long time (and by then you'll probably be upgrading the ATV again).

Think about the photos and videos on your phone, and remember that the ATV will only cache a limited number of images from iCloud Photo Drive. You won't store music on your ATV either. It doesn't hold email accounts. You won't be caching web pages on it, or storing movies on it. There aren't a huge number of great apps/games available yet. Over time that will change, but you will probably be more selective, and Apple just implemented on-demand app slicing which will make a big difference. I already notice a lot more space on my phone than previously, without any effort on my part to do any housecleaning, and I'm pretty sure this is why.

I carry a 64 GB iPhone. It has 8 GB free. I bought a 32 GB ATV 4 without a second thought.

 

[richCB]

Great advice. Thanks guys.

 

[Mac... nificent]

Think about the photos and videos on your phone, and remember that the ATV will only cache a limited number of images from iCloud Photo Drive. You won't store music on your ATV either. It doesn't hold email accounts. You won't be caching web pages on it, or storing movies on it. There aren't a huge number of great apps/games available yet. Over time that will change, but you will probably be more selective, and Apple just implemented on-demand app slicing which will make a big difference. I already notice a lot more space on my phone than previously, without any effort on my part to do any housecleaning, and I'm pretty sure this is why

None of this applies. TvOS does not use storage the same way as a typical device. It's called App Thinning. This has been covered ad nausium previously here. Search engine holds best answer.

 

[redman042]

None of this applies. TvOS does not use storage the same way as a typical device. It's called App Thinning. This has been covered ad nausium previously here. Search engine holds best answer.

Um... ok, thanks for that.