Apple TV 4K Reviews: Expensive But With Cheaper 4K Movies, Some Limitations Like 1080p YouTube

[JackieTreehorn]

I'm not sure I get what people mean when they say that the future of TV is at arm's length and Apple is the closest to it.

Last year I bought my first 4K TV, and it was the first with built-in WiFi, a Samsung TV.

It has been amazing. It has cable/antenna of course, but all the other apps are built-in. I could instantly watch 4K HDR video from YouTube. The voice search on the remote is more accurate than Siri on my iPhone 7. It's a far better experience than using my old Apple TV (not the one with Siri Remote). The interface is very intuitive. I like it a lot.

When they were announcing the new Apple TV 4K, I saw the Apple evangelists like Horace Dediu tweeting live that 4K is the new big thing now. No, it's HDR! It's amazing. I thought he sounded like a Best Buy representative in 2007.

If you have a 4K TV, you already have almost everything that the Apple TV offers, with the exception of the iTunes Store. And what does the iTunes Store have that tons of other services don't?

The only thing I keep my old Apple TV connected for is mirroring my display on the TV.

I have WebOS on LG in the bedroom, Android on the Bravia in the living room, updated to the latest software.

WebOS and AndroidTV are crap excuses for TV software. I have traded them in for TVOS and can't wait for the 4K HDR to arrive.

What good is having 4K HDR capable TVs, when the software that runs the TV is as efficient as 1991 Windows computer.

 

[Keirasplace]

Well excuse my bitching, which I rarely do on anything Apple. As for Google’s crap, they bought YouTube. It doesn’t make it crap as a content platform, though, and does not reflect on the quality of its content. Apple’s decision, however, limits the quality of content, in this specific case.

I truly don't give a hoot, I steer away from Google. I didn't specifically say Youtube in this case.
And what's it to you anyway; got shares?
Google's decision to produce a horrible Apple TV app BEFORE taking into account VP9, no comment on that huh.

 

[jigzaw]

Quick question. When, if ever, will I be able to watch this selection of 4K movies on my 5K iMac? Is it only possible to watch them in 4K on the new Apple TV?

This is also my question. So far, I don't think there is a legal way to watch 4K movies on ANY computer except the most specifically-specced Windows machine with a special browser.

This isn't Apple's fault. This is the studio's insistence on a copy-protection standard so draconian, that you actually have to have the right cable, right TV, right every thing, and they see computers as too much of a piracy risk to allow their 4K content to be viewed on.

It kills me because Apple has brought 4K to iTunes, I have a beautiful 5K iMac, yet I can't put the two items together. I think this copy-protection mania that hobbles the user's ability to just simply watch a movie has hindered adoption of both blu-ray and now 4K.

 

[lazard]

The Youtube app for Apple TV is not developed by Apple...Google develops it. It has nothing to do with incompatibilities

Nothing to do with incompatibilies? The only reason Apple TV doesn't support 4K YouTube is because Apple won't add VP9 support, an open source and royalty free codec.

 

[Mac 128]

I would think the limitations of YouTube, would be more on Google, than Apple.

One would think so too. For instance, I have a brand new Sony 900E, which runs Google's Android TV. Google's own Android TV YouTube app, doesn't support HDR. And I have no way of knowing if I'm getting 1080p or 4K. Most of it appears to be 1080p even where it claims 4K.

 

[sockdoggy]

Pre ordered one just for the 4K Screen mirroring / Photos display. Hopefully YouTube, HBO, etc. have their content available at 4K in the coming months but not holding my breath.

On another note, I had stepped out of the blu ray world for a while (own a couple hundred) and was surprised to see how few 4K discs are available today given that 4K TVs have been out for some years. What a fragmented industry/medium.

 

[Mac 128]

Glad I didn't jump on this day one like I usually do. Forced HDR and upscaling is a no go for me. Hopefully apple can implement an "advanced" setting for us who don't mind a little flicker as resolutions change.

Holy crap. There had better be a way to turn that off. I DO NOT want my Apple TV upscaling anything. My Sony 900E has the best upscaled on the planet. I'll let it do the heavy lifting, and ATV can concentrate on streaming the content.

 

[840quadra]

One would think so too. For instance, I have a brand new Sony 900E, which runs Google's Android TV. Google's own Android TV YouTube app, doesn't support HDR. And I have no way of knowing if I'm getting 1080p or 4K. Most of it appears to be 1080p even where it claims 4K.

Ooh!

How do you like it? It is actually on my list of sets to look at. While I am not interested in smart capabilities, I have read good things about that unit.

 

[RamGuy]

Nothing to do with incompatibilies? The only reason Apple TV doesn't support 4K YouTube is because Apple won't add VP9 support, an open source and royalty free codec.

You don't need the codec supported on the OS level, Google could update the YouTube-app with software decoding of VP9. The big question is, will they ever do it?

 

[Rigby]

Nothing to do with incompatibilies? The only reason Apple TV doesn't support 4K YouTube is because Apple won't add VP9 support, an open source and royalty free codec.

According to this article, the Protube app for iOS supported 4K Youtube playback on iOS devices (before it was pulled on request of Google). I don't know if their VP9 codec was hardware accelerated or not, but given that the ATV4K has the same SoC as the iPad Pro, I see no reason why the official Youtube tvOS app wouldn't be able to do the same.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I am pretty sure my iPad Pro presents me with a 1440p option on some videos. Presumably then an app update for the Apple TV could at least enable this? I am not at home, or I would double-check this now.

It is very frustrating that Apple didn't include hardware decoding of VP9 4K60 content in the a10X design. This is a very small concession to the outside world. The crapola SOC in my Samsung TV handles it without breaking a sweat. I guess I will still be dependent on the TV for YouTube. Very disappointing, as I thought this new Apple TV would mean leaving the Tizen UI behind forever.

 

[stickyd8]

Chromecast and the cheap dongles d

1) Even the Apple TV BoX will age and the processor will eventually get slow. That's technology in general.

2) Your best bet is a Roku TV box or a tv with built in Roku support because they have the widest available 4K and HDR streaming apps and they send software updates frequently. Also, YouTube works flawlessly in both 4K and HDR on a Roku TV box.

3) The newest Apple tv already seems outdated since it can only playback YouTube at 1080p.

I have a Roku 4K and it sucks. iTunes already has more 4K movies available than Prime, Vudu, and Roku.....and I expect their App Store games/apps will blow away Roku, Amazon, and Chromecas after developers have time to update and add new apps. In regards to recommending someone buy a "TV with a built-in Roku", no one wants to be stuck with their TV's built-in streaming service b/c the only way to do hardware updates is to by a new physical unit (i.e. new releases of new products like AppleTV 4K). There verdict is still out on how well Apple will stream 4K content. Before people rush to judgement, you have to keep in mind that the movie/show their watching in 4K may be a post-production conversion or not even properly filmed in 4K, therefore, giving a subpar experience. This happens all the time even with physical 4K discs. Too many movies are converted to 4K after production or just not shot properly which leads to disappointing results. Let's give Apple a few more months to perfect the content delivery and studios/apps chances to get caught up with content before we rush to judgement.

 

[ipponrg]

You don't need the codec supported on the OS level, Google could update the YouTube-app with software decoding of VP9. The big question is, will they ever do it?

The bigger question is why would Google put in software decoding? Can you imagine decoding 4K video via CPU and not GPU?

 

[DVNIEL]

Nilay Patel is the most annoying of the tech journalists. Anything he reviews I just don’t want and unfortunately he’ll be doing the iPhone X review... I’ll need to make an exception. But yeah, lose some weight and get over the headphone jack, it’s gone.

 

[RamGuy]

As my iPad Air was able to do it using ProTube for a few years ago it can't be all that hard?

 

[stickyd8]

I am pretty sure my iPad Pro presents me with a 1440p option on some videos. Presumably then an app update for the Apple TV could at least enable this? I am not at home, or I would double-check this now.

It is very frustrating that Apple didn't include hardware decoding of VP9 4K60 content in the a10X design. This is a very small concession to the outside world. The crapola SOC in my Samsung TV handles it without breaking a sweat. I guess I will still be dependent on the TV for YouTube. Very disappointing, as I thought this new Apple TV would mean leaving the Tizen UI behind forever.

I may be wrong, but I thought Apple changed to the new coding as a way to deliver HD and 4K content without consuming so much bandwidth and data? Regardless, YouTube and other apps should and will update their apps for the new AppleTV. Until then, I will just use my Xbox One S or TV's app to watch YouTube in 4K. It's definitely not a deal breaker for me. Especially, given all the 4K content I have available now thanks to Apple's free upgrade of HD movies to 4K.

 

[RamGuy]

Apple uses H265/HEVC, but Google instead uses their own VP9 codec for 4K and HDR on YouTube.

 

[mmm1345]

I would bet 95% of the Apps on the AppleTV won't support 4K/HDR out of the box, why are critics and people in the comments section making such a BFD out of this and acting shocked, SHOCKED that Youtube isn't supporting 4K on day one? It doesn't mean they'll never support it. Things like App updates takes time and hardware always lead new TV Standards give it 9 months and I guarantee you a lot of apps and YouTube will support 4K. And I love all the people act shocked that it's for people with 4K TVs. It's called an APPLE TV 4K!

 

[macduke]

I’m with you on the Oled HDR 65”-75” tv. Only problem, my 10 year old Panasonic Plasma keeps on ticking...

Yeah, so does my 1080p LG from 2010. Even my 720p 2006 TV in the basement keeps going. I've got an extra Apple TV 4 (free with DirecTV Now) hooked up to it with an HDMI to component adapter and my wife uses it in our daycare. And yeah, I'm probably optimistic on how big of a screen I'll be able to get for my budget in two years. It will probably be much closer to 72". The problem is when I look at calculators, the smaller you go, the less benefit you get from 4K. My sectional couch averages somewhere between 8-10ft distance from the TV, so it would be much more ideal to get it into the 80"+ range. Apparently I need to get laser eye surgery so I can boost up to 20/15 vision, lol, as that makes a huge difference. https://referencehometheater.com/2013/commentary/4k-calculator/

 

[Packers1958]

I'm not sure outputting EVERYTHING as 4K HDR is a good idea. It's artificially enhancing the video that was not mastered in HDR. Not sure streaming sports is going to look that great if that's the case. I have a LG OLED DV HDR tv, and unless it's mastered in DV, it may look oversaturated. I probably will be going into settings of the ATV and readjusting the resolution settings depending on what I am watching.

 

[jkichline]

I would think the limitations of YouTube, would be more on Google, than Apple.

Exactly. It's because YouTube uses VP9 which is open source, but most likely stolen IP from the H.265 consortium. Apple does not support VP9 and refuses to implement Google's "open because we don't want to pay for licensing" codec.

 

[mmm1345]

So if it is "more on Google", it's not OK for Google to react slowly or not at all? Shall we count the number of Apple-only services that are only available on Apple devices and not on Google devices?

Sorry, I'll take an Amazon Fire TV (I already have 4 of them around the house) that support everything (except anything Apple, which I don't care to pay for and support anyways). Competition will kick in and the other streaming providers will offer 4K material at a competitive price. So I wind up saving $80. That pays for a lot of movies!

So it's awful that Apple won't support Google devices, but you are ok in Google's "closed" world? Um, Ok. whatever.

I've used Google devices and the Firestick and ALL of them are geared towards promoting their own stuff. FireTV's interface is a clunky mess and geared towards all Prime stuff and you have to "jump through hoops" for it to feature your non Amazon Prime content. For years you couldn't even get Amazon on a GoogleTV app, so don't talk to me about the horrors, HORRORS of Apple's "closed" system.

 

[jkichline]

I'm happy that Apple's put out a new generation apple TV with a nice processor, and now 4k and HDR.

But what happened to the idea that Apples usually comes late to the game, but when they do, they come with a machine that soundly trumps the competition?
A serious Apple TV is very late to the game, and now that it's arguably here, it certainly doesn't look like it's head and shoulders above competing devices, many of which cost a fraction of what the apple TV does.

Why would apple not have wanted to get into nearly every living room? They did it with mp3 players, touch screen based smart phones, etc...

I think this video review is a bit premature. Apple has already said they are bringing Dolby Atmos in a software update: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/9/21/16345126/apple-tv-4k-dolby-atmos-support-coming

I'm not exactly sure how that all works, but it's likely the main issue is licensing.

 

[mmm1345]

It's only a matter of time before the competitors reduce their rental/buy cost of 4K movies to the same as Apple.

Yet people won't give Apple credit for this, I'm no Apple lover but the only reason this is going to happen is because of the AppleTV. VUDU and these other services can't get away with continuing to charge $29.99 for UHD films.

 

[Packers1958]

Not well thought out by apple. With my 2016 E6, if the movie is actually mastered using DV, I will have to go into the ATV and switch it to 4K DV 30hz. If the movie is mastered using HDR10, I will have to switch it to 4K HDR 24hz. If i want to watch MLB or NFL, I will need to switch it to 4K SDR 30hz. I will never have it set to the default 4K HDR 60hz.