Any reason to buy 4K Apple TV if you didn’t have a 4K TV?

[ssledoux]

Ordered an Apple TV today, and just wondering if there was a need for the 4K version if I don’t yet have a 4K tv? I figured I’d have it so when we get a new TV, it would work, but need to be sure it’ll still work with what I have. It’s been YEARS since I had Apple TV. I’m not even positive it’s gonna be useful for me with my crappy internet out here, but with the $50 gift card for Black Friday, I figured it was a good time to try it.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Apple and third party apps will eventually stop supporting the non-4K ATVs at some point.
If you have the extra coin$, buy the 4K ATV to future proof your purchase, plus you get the better remote.
It will work with lower resolution TVs.

 

[nburwell]

It will work with your current TV just fine. Obviously you won't be able to watch any content in 4K until you get a new TV, but you'll definitely future proof it.

Hopefully your internet speeds are at least 25mbps for when you do get a new TV.

 

[Wando64]

Apple and third party apps will eventually stop supporting the non-4K ATVs at some point.

Only time will tell, but I am willing to bet a beer that this is not going to happen any day soon.
Compatibility is assured for as long as Apple will allow OS updates.
While with phones and iPads there is an incentive for Apple to push for hardware upgrades, in the case of the TV the money is made from the content, not the hardware, and therefore it is in their interest to allow OS upgrades for as long as possible.

All of that said, the only ATV available for sale is the latest 4K, so unless the OP is willing to buy second hand the whole discussion is academic.

 

[Boyd01]

Well, it was almost two years ago, but I got two refurb'ed Apple TV HD's (ATV4) instead of the original 4k Apple TV. I don't have a 4k TV and really have no plans to get one soon. The difference in cost was significant when buying two and I haven't regretted it. My use is pretty basic: Sling, Discovery and a large local library of movies and TV shows on a 2014 Mini that I use as a server. Not interested in games.

My Apple TV's are hard-wired and it would be nice to have the gigabit ethernet on the 4k version, but that can wait until my next upgrade. Have heard so many different opinions of the new remotes, not sure what to think. Definitely did not like the old AppleTV Siri remote, so I still use the aluminum remotes from my old Apple TV 3's.

 

[Wando64]

so I still use the aluminum remotes from my old Apple TV 3's.

I didn’t know you could do that.
How?

 

[w5jck]

I bought the ATV 4K 2017 version two years ago when I still didn’t have a 4K TV, but I wanted to be ready when and if I ever did. I did buy a 4K TV a year later, so now I’m glad I bought the latest technology rather than saving a few dollars to get yesterday’s technology. I would have to verify, but I suspect the chips in the 4K version I bought were newer and better than those in the HD version. The ATV 4K 2021 version definitely has better chips.

With nearly every internet provider providing more than fast enough service these days, I wouldn’t worry about upgrading to a 4K TV someday. I do suggest that if you do eventually upgrade to 4K TV that you get an HDR capable one. 4K adds more resolution which you might notice or not depending on how close you are to the set, but the really big improvement is in the extra colors and greater dynamic range provided by HDR. HDR takes you from the 16 million colors from non-HDR to a whopping 1 billion colors, so color banding virtually disappears. And blacks look blacker, not just dark grey. Unfortunately, HDR content isn’t widespread yet, but it will be someday.

 

[Boyd01]

I didn’t know you could do that.
How?

They should just work. Obviously, you won't have the touchpad, but the cursor buttons do the same thing.

 

[ssledoux]

Okay well I ordered the 4K. Honestly with our setup, IDK how useful it will be at all, but the $50 Apple gift card made it a good time to try it out. We don't really have good streaming capabilities here, but I'm sure I can do SOMETHING with it, and if not, I'll return it.

I'm pretty out of the loop with the things I can do with Apple TV because it's been so long since I have had one.

 

[ssledoux]

Thanks for all the input. I actually decided to cancel the order for the Apple TV. After really looking at what I can do with it, I just think I won't get much benefit due to our limited, crappy wifi option (satellite). We really can't stream anything, and have a limited amount of usage per month, so I can't really see a point.

 

[Juicy Box]

If paying full retail prices, I would never buy the HD version of the Apple TV. The 4K is just a little more, but has a lot faster hardware in it.

In reality, the hardware in the Apple TV 4K is way overkill for streaming. It is an overpowered, but overprice streaming box, at least of what it is mostly used for. But if you were going to buy one anyways, the Apple TV 4K is the way to go.

Even the older 2017 Apple TV 4K with the A10X has faster HW than what the competition offers right now.

I didn’t know you could do that.
How?

Any IR remote will work with any generation of the Apple TV using the Remote Learning feature built into the OS.

It could be an old TV, DVD player, universal remote. I have even used the IR remote that came with my robot vacuum, and the Apple TV recognized it using the Remote Learning feature.

It is really easy and only takes about 20 seconds to set it up.

 

[fastbagger]

I just purchased one only because of the gig ethernet as mine is plugged directly into ethernet v. Wifi.

 

[frostbit3]

You can’t use HomePods as the audio output without the 4K AppleTV. I bought the non 4K and ended up returning it for a 4K because it wouldn’t allow me to use the HomePod.

 

[mallbritton]

All of that said, the only ATV available for sale is the latest 4K, so unless the OP is willing to buy second hand the whole discussion is academic.

FYI, you can buy an Apple TV HD directly from Apple for $149.

 

[Boyd01]

If you do want the AppleTV HD, you can buy certified refurbished directly from Apple for $129, that's how I got mine. They also have refurbs of both generation 4k models.

Refurbished Apple TV HD 32GB - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

 

[Allyance]

Just got the ATV 4K and it works great with my new 4K Samsung TV. But I use the remote that comes on my iPhone, that works a lot better the the hard remote. I only use the left arrow at the bottom which brings up the home ATV screen, then the large touch screen above for everything else. Simple and a lot less frustrating.

 

[ouimetnick]

If you have (or plan to start having) a smart home, go with the 2021 ATV 4K. It supports Thread. I think that you need the 4K Apple TV if you want to use HomePod as a stereo pair and the default output, especially if you want Dolby Atmos.

I have a 2017 and 2021 Apple TV 4K. Sold the HD model on eBay a while back.

 

[tis]

I'm still using Sharp Special Edition 1080p TV's from 13 years ago. I own two, and have had the Apple TV HD on them since 2016. I just upgraded to the 4K 2021 version mainly for the new remote, the ability to stream lossless audio, and the faster processor. I didn't expect any change in picture quality on my 1080p TV's, but I unexpectedly got it. The picture quality seems to be improved a bit over my old Apple TV HD's.

 

[bingeciren]

I didn’t know you could do that.
How?

It just works, that’s how. In fact an old relic of a white plastic remote I have also works on all of my ATV3 and ATV4.

 

[Wando64]

It just works, that’s how. In fact an old relic of a white plastic remote I have also works on all of my ATV3 and ATV4.

Well, it doesn’t “just work” unless you do the remote learning as suggested by someone on a previous post.
I currently have an ATV4 and an ATV2 (which I use for audio airplay) connected to my TV, and each remote controls only its respective ATV box.

 

[bingeciren]

Well, it doesn’t “just work” unless you do the remote learning as suggested by someone on a previous post.
I currently have an ATV4 and an ATV2 (which I use for audio airplay) connected to my TV, and each remote controls only its respective ATV box.

Not my experience. I have 4 atv3s and a 4K atv4 and all of my atv3 remotes work on any of them as well as on the atv4 without any learning.

 

[Boyd01]

I agree, if you have an actual Apple TV remote then it should "just work". I think the "learning" part would only be needed for third-party remotes.

 

[Juicy Box]

so I still use the aluminum remotes from my old Apple TV 3's.

I didn’t know you could do that.
How?

It just works, that’s how. In fact an old relic of a white plastic remote I have also works on all of my ATV3 and ATV4.

Well, it doesn’t “just work” unless you do the remote learning as suggested by someone on a previous post.
I currently have an ATV4 and an ATV2 (which I use for audio airplay) connected to my TV, and each remote controls only its respective ATV box.

Not my experience. I have 4 atv3s and a 4K atv4 and all of my atv3 remotes work on any of them as well as on the atv4 without any learning.

I agree, if you have an actual Apple TV remote then it should "just work". I think the "learning" part would only be needed for third-party remotes.

I think this is the case where everyone is right, as it depends on the situation.

The old silver remotes can be paired to a single ATV (or Mac). The remotes that come with the ATV might be automatically paired with the ATV they come with.

A paired remote will only work with the device it is paired to, and the device will only work with that remote.

You can un-pair the remote to use with another ATV or multiple ATVs.

The silver remotes that are sold separately from the ATV come un-paired (make sense). They work automatically with unpaired ATVs (or Macs) and do not require to be paired, but you can pair it to a single ATV (or Mac) if you need to.

The remote learning feature can be used with the silver remotes, but it is not needed, as you can just unpair the remote (or device) by pressing menu+left while pointing it at the device.

If someone want to pair the silver remote with an ATV or Mac, you do that by pressing menu+right.

 

[McScooby]

You can’t use HomePods as the audio output without the 4K AppleTV. I bought the non 4K and ended up returning it for a 4K because it wouldn’t allow me to use the HomePod.

Strange, I must've been imagining the sound coming from my original HomePods connected to an original AppleTV HD model (& no incase you say it, I didn't have to airplay to them each time I turned it on, they just recognised them after setting them up in settings).
My only reason for now upgrading to the new 4K over the HD is the faster chip in the 4K as I've zero intention to upgrade the tv, ymmv.

 

[Pezimak]

I got my mum the latest 4K Apple TV earlier in the year and she has a 42" 1080P TV, I got it as it's easy to use and fast and reliable.
It's been great, I was so impressed with it I got one for Christmas as my present.
I can share my purchases and Apple TV Plus, I think, with her. So yes I would certainly say buy one if you don't have a 4K TV, at least you are future proofing yourself.

The new remote is what made me finally upgrade my mum and ask for one for Christmas. Buttons work great