Apple tv 4k gen 1 still good?

[cheese9man]

I know someone who's selling their ATV 4k1 for a good price. I don't want to spend on a brand new gen 2 since it's out of my budget. I like my TCL 4k tv and it does the job most of the time but the android tv with it can be slow. Is the gen 1 apple tv 4k usable good for me?

I watch:
- The usual 4k Dolby Vision on streaming like Netflix
- 4k 60fps HDR content on Youtube (gaming stuff)
- Use Plex/Kodi/Jellyfin from time to time.

I've been reading around reddit saying that the gen 1 supports HDR 60fps but not just dolby vision 60fps. Is that correct? Aside from the controller being better, what can the gen 2 that the gen 1 can't? I won't be playing any game from the ATV.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Juicy Box]

How much is the 1st gen ATV4K?

A lot of the benefits of the older ATV4K1 are gaming related, so if your intentions of using it for just streaming, and the prices are not that different, I would get the newer 2nd Gen ATV4K.

If the price difference is significant, then I would go with the older ATV4K1.

The 2017 ATV4K1 was a huge upgrade over the 2015 ATV4, but the 2021 ATV4K2 wasn't much of an upgrade over the ATV4K1, imo. There are a few minor differences though.

Aside from the controller being better,

This is very subjective, as many people prefer the original Siri Remote.

Personally, I am not in love in the original remote, but still use it because the newer remote cannot be used for some apps, mostly gaming ones, as there was sensors that were removed in the newer Siri Remote.

- 4k 60fps HDR content on Youtube (gaming stuff)

There are some issues with the tvOS YouTube app when it comes to HDR, and YouTube hasn't yet updated it to fix it. The way I understand it, is that you have to manually turn on HDR in the settings to get HDR to work in YouTube. This is just with YouTube, not other apps.

- The usual 4k Dolby Vision on streaming like Netflix

Both do 4K Dolby Vision.

- Use Plex

I use Plex on the ATV4 and ATV4K1, and it runs great on tvOS.

 

[Juicy Box]

I've been reading around reddit saying that the gen 1 supports HDR 60fps but not just dolby vision 60fps. Is that correct?

I was going to doublecheck this on my TV, but I started looking around and there isn't any 60fps Dolby Vision content on Netflix, is there? If you know of some, let me know and I will test it.

 

[-Gonzo-]

I was going to doublecheck this on my TV, but I started looking around and there isn't any 60fps Dolby Vision content on Netflix, is there? If you know of some, let me know and I will test it.

As far as I’m aware the only apps that have any high frame rate HDR content is YouTube and Redbull TV.

 

[Juicy Box]

As far as I’m aware the only apps that have any high frame rate HDR content is YouTube and Redbull TV.

Makes sense, as most content from film is going to be 24fps. I am unsure if there is any Dolby Vision content that is 60fps.

To the OP:

I've been reading around reddit saying that the gen 1 supports HDR 60fps but not just dolby vision 60fps.

What 60fps Dolby Vision content do you plan on viewing?

 

[-Gonzo-]

Makes sense, as most content from film is going to be 24fps. I am unsure if there is any Dolby Vision content that is 60fps.

The only film I’m aware of is Gemini Man but that’s only available via disc.
Via digital it’s it’s 24fps.

 

[nutmac]

I know someone who's selling their ATV 4k1 for a good price. I don't want to spend on a brand new gen 2 since it's out of my budget. I like my TCL 4k tv and it does the job most of the time but the android tv with it can be slow. Is the gen 1 apple tv 4k usable good for me?

By getting the 1st gen, you are losing out on:

• Thread and Matter compatibility. Apple is migrating to Matter as the smart home standard in few years.
• eARC audio output.
• Use HomePod or HomePod mini as ARC/eARC speakers.
• 60 Hz HDR 4K support, including from AirPlay.
• More responsive overall performance, and most likely longer tvOS updates.
• Wi-Fi 6.
• New remote control.

 

[w5jck]

I know someone who's selling their ATV 4k1 for a good price. I don't want to spend on a brand new gen 2 since it's out of my budget. I like my TCL 4k tv and it does the job most of the time but the android tv with it can be slow. Is the gen 1 apple tv 4k usable good for me?

I watch:
- The usual 4k Dolby Vision on streaming like Netflix
- 4k 60fps HDR content on Youtube (gaming stuff)
- Use Plex/Kodi/Jellyfin from time to time.

I've been reading around reddit saying that the gen 1 supports HDR 60fps but not just dolby vision 60fps. Is that correct? Aside from the controller being better, what can the gen 2 that the gen 1 can't? I won't be playing any game from the ATV.

Thanks in advance.

If the price is good and you can't afford the ATV 4K 2021 model, then by all means get the 2017 model. My 2017 model is more than enough for me. I see no incentive to upgrade to the 2021 model given my usage, but others might.

As far as YouTube goes, that is a YouTube issue via an ongoing disagreement/competition between Apple and YouTube. Neither the 2017 nor the 2021 ATV 4K models will ever stream HDR issue free with the YouTube app until YouTube properly addresses the issue. If YouTube does properly address the issue, then HDR will work as it should on either model.

The ATV 4K 2017 indeed can stream Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, as well as HDR10.

I have the latest Fire TV Cube and a new Sony Bravia with AndroidTV, and I like the ATV 4K 2017 better than those for streaming 4K, or anything else. Except for YouTube, there is no issue streaming 4K HDR in HDR10 or DV. It is a solid streaming device.

 

[bozzykid]

If YouTube does properly address the issue, then HDR will work as it should on either model.

Even if Youtube fixes content range matching, the original ATV4K will never do 4K HDR in the Youtube app. The software implementation of the VP9 codec by Apple in the original model can only handle VP9 HDR at 1080p. VP9 support is one of the big differences between the two devices.

 

[w5jck]

Even if Youtube fixes content range matching, the original ATV4K will never do 4K HDR in the Youtube app. The software implementation of the VP9 codec by Apple in the original model can only handle VP9 HDR at 1080p. VP9 support is one of the big differences between the two devices.

Okay. Not a big issue to me though since I rarely watch much in YT. I don’t like the constant commercials. Any YT 4K HDR I might want to watch I can watch on my TV‘s AndroidTV app or my YT app on the Fire TV Cube. Certainly not worth upgrading for mostly fake YT HDR, and nothing of great interest.