Apple Announces New Apple TV 4K With A15 Bionic Chip and HDR10+ for $129

[CWallace]

Higher transfer rate that goes unused by the device and apps.

True, but since my iMac, my LG TV, my Apple TV and my Sony Blu-ray player are all right next to each other, it was easy enough to run Ethernet to them all.

When I move to my new place, everything will be spread-out across my living room so it will all go Wi-Fi and therefore if I was buying one of these new Apple TVs, I would not pay extra for Ethernet and 128GB of storage.

 

[tharitm]

3-6 is even low. I don't think we gpt an alert since yesterday in the eight months since we moved in the new place.

could be, I can't remember the last time I charged mine.

 

[NewKidInTown]

Swing and a miss on not having 120fps.

It does have HDMI 2.1 hardware. Could they add it later with a software update?

 

[CarAnalogy]

Wait. They actually dropped the price? Wow.

Not without a catch. No Ethernet port on the cheaper one. Which is just plain stupid.

 

[AndrewC89]

It does have HDMI 2.1 hardware. Could they add it later with a software update?

Does the last gen ATV4K not have HDMI 2.1 hardware?

 

[klasma]

And double the storage

$20 is exceptionally cheap for 64 GB of added storage, in an Apple product. 😄

 

[bankshot]

I don’t see audio passthrough listed in the tech specs 😭😭

Audio passthrough doesn't need new hardware - it's a software feature. Old versions had it until tvOS 11.3 removed it. Most likely it was never something they cared about, and it probably just worked because nothing prevented it. When that update "broke" it, they didn't care to "fix" it (maybe weren't even aware).

Judging by the sparse changelogs of the last several major updates, it doesn't seem that Apple wants to allocate enough resources to tvOS to actually care. On the one hand, I don't blame them, as it's still a niche product for them; on the other, they could so easily afford to give it more attention than it gets.

 

[trip1ex]

Why the heck is ethernet optional?!

Many people have their Internet router and main TV in the same location because that's where the cable line comes in. TVs and streaming boxes should always have an ethernet port so you can plug it in if possible. This is not only faster but reduces usage of WiFi bandwidth, resulting in better performance for other devices.

Why is Apple starting to make basic wired connectivity optional on non-portable devices? They did the same with the iMac; the cheapest model lacks Ethernet.

Because a lot of people only do wifi. Because the streamer market sells lots of $40 sticks and dongles that have wifi only. And because having no wifi helps Apple get the price down to better compete with the cheap streamer options.

The question is why the hell are we complaining? Ethernet is on the $150 model. And the $150 model is $30 cheaper than last year's model with a much faster much more efficient cpu and 4x the storage!?!? (Not that storage matters for most with this product but...)

 

[klasma]

Why the heck is ethernet optional?!

With wifi 6 2x2 MIMO the Apple TV now supports a realistic bandwith of 600 Mbps or more (2.4 Gbps theoretical). For comparison, UHD Blu-ray supports up to 144 Mbps, and streaming is generally much less (less than 20 Mbps). So in terms of bandwidth, wifi can certainly be sufficient.

 

[naturalstar]

This will be a purchase!

 

[dannyyankou]

I still have the original Apple TV HD from 7 years ago. So maybe it's a good time to upgrade, lol

 

[zorinlynx]

Because a lot of people only do wifi. Because the streamer market sells lots of $40 sticks and dongles that have wifi only. And because having no wifi helps Apple get the price down to better compete with the cheap streamer options.

The question is why the hell are we complaining? Ethernet is on the $150 model. And the $150 model is $30 cheaper than last year's model with a much faster much more efficient cpu and 4x the storage!?!? (Not that storage matters for most with this product but...)

We buy Apple TV because it's a lot better than the cheap < $50 crap out there. For the amount of money we pay there's a certain expectation of basic features like Ethernet.

Yes, we can buy the more expensive version, but my point is a basic feature like wired network connectivity shouldn't be optional on a non-portable device.

 

[QFace]

Audio passthrough doesn't need new hardware - it's a software feature. Old versions had it until tvOS 11.3 removed it. Most likely it was never something they cared about, and it probably just worked because nothing prevented it. When that update "broke" it, they didn't care to "fix" it (maybe weren't even aware).

Judging by the sparse changelogs of the last several major updates, it doesn't seem that Apple wants to allocate enough resources to tvOS to actually care. On the one hand, I don't blame them, as it's still a niche product for them; on the other, they could so easily afford to give it more attention than it gets.

Also since the primary use case for audio pass through is to use Plex to play true-hd/dts-hd files, and those files are probably blu-ray rips or pirated files, Apple probably wants to avoid any connection to that type of activity

 

[klasma]

LOL $149 in the US and £169 in the UK... I guess this is what Liz Truss meant by encouraging growth... growth in prices.

When the British pound hit its low in September, the UK price would actually have been cheaper than the US price, taking VAT into account (comparing net prices). Currently it roughly equals $159. I guess that means Apple isn’t too optimistic about the GBP.

 

[burgman]

Getting really sad to see. upcharge for ethernet and ethernet model is needed for thread homekit. I wish Apple started taking more risks and stopped increasing prices and removing features. I say this as a long time apple fan.

Did you ever notice pricing on previous models? Thanks for the laugh…

 

[ohernan6]

They lowered the price significantly and people are still like, "drrrr, why no ethernet??"

 

[monstermash]

Ordered.....with 128GB of storage.

I don't know how old my Apple TV 4K is....but it wasn't the 2021 model. I think it is maybe 4-5 years old? I will keep it as my "travel version" and use the new one as my "stay at home" version.

 

[trip1ex]

We buy Apple TV because it's a lot better than the cheap < $50 crap out there. For the amount of money we pay there's a certain expectation of basic features like Ethernet.

Yes, we can buy the more expensive version, but my point is a basic feature like wired network connectivity shouldn't be optional on a non-portable device.

lol

LEt's be real here.

IT's all about you (and others) not being able to stand that someone who wants wifi only can buy an ATV for $130 instead of $150. That's it.

You would actually be happier if the new ATV started at $179 with no wifi only option.


Because none of your points make a lick of sense. YOu get ethernet if you want it. Expectation met.

A wifi only option is perfectly acceptable in the marketplace as the market shows. Even Apple's own data surely shows a huge portion, probably a majority, use wifi and not ethernet on their ATV.

 

[Supra-Boy]

Does the last gen ATV4K not have HDMI 2.1 hardware?

Last gen has HDMI 2.1. Literally missed the opportunity to add it. Unless they are going to do something stupid and this spring launch a Apple TV Pro version or something lame.

 

[AndrewC89]

Last gen has HDMI 2.1. Literally missed the opportunity to add it. Unless they are going to do something stupid and this spring launch a Apple TV Pro version or something lame.

Okay so literally no reason for owners of the last gen to upgrade (unless they have a Samsung tv maybe)

 

[guzhogi]

Curious why this gets an A15 yet the new iPad is stuck on an A14?

 

[kk200]

Apple today announced an updated Apple TV 4K model with the A15 Bionic chip, support for HDR10+, and an updated Siri Remote, for a starting price of $129.

The A15 Bionic chip gives the Apple TV 4K "faster performance and more fluid gameplay," according to Apple. The efficiency gains of the A15 allow the Apple TV to provide a thinner, lighter, fanless design for the first time, and it uses almost 30 percent less power than the previous generation.

The device now supports HDR10+ for higher-quality video playback. The new Apple TV 4K also comes alongside an updated Siri Remote with a USB-C port.

The new Apple TV 4K is available in a 64GB configuration with Wi-Fi for a lower starting price of $129, sitting below a 128GB Wi-Fi configuration that also has an ethernet port and support for Thread networking. It is available to order today and orders will begin to arrive to customers on Friday, November 4.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Apple TV 4K With A15 Bionic Chip and HDR10+ for $129

It is a stupid decision to only provide thread in 128GB model

 

[Realityck]

Curious why this gets an A15 yet the new iPad is stuck on an A14?

The base new A14 iPad is more of an economical value than the A15 ATV 4k 3rd gen which was originally marketed for game playing IMHO.

 

[cashinstinct]

Curious why this gets an A15 yet the new iPad is stuck on an A14?

They don’t want you to buy base iPad if you know what a14 is

 

[_Spinn_]

Too bad it doesn't come with an M1.