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

[fathergll]

And still in 2017, some things just look better playing from physical media. Sad.

It's going to be a long time before we can get to a point where all content is using an efficient 4k stream and Atmos sound. This is why physical media still has the big advantage, it's the closest thing to having all content under one format. The only thing you can't get that I am aware of is Netflix 4k blurays(I guess Amazon originals as well) but the 1080 bluray version of Netflix shows are just as good if not better than the 4k stream from what I read.

With that said the UHD Blurays will still be the ultimate in quality but I did read the Vudu versions are impressively close and beat out 1080p Blurays which is a good sign of the potential of the tech. Its gonna be years before we see massive amounts of shows and movies that can use all of this.

 

[swingerofbirch]

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.

 

[scott911]

Apple TV is 50$ more expensive than other solutions... While cheapest 4k tv is $2k or more.

maybe in russia....

 

[djcerla]

They should be forced at gunpoint to write only positive reviews of anything Apple releases.

I disagree.

 

[checker2010]

YouTube app on Apple TV is like a timeback machine to the year of 2007.
I wish Google and Apple whould get their **** together.

Nothing to do with Apple. They’ll approve any updated YouTube app Google submits.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

After that Patel review, all I can do now is wait for The Macalope to tear it down.

Patel seems like an apologist on the "they'll figure it out" point. If Apple hasn't done it, it can't be done. There is PLENTY of more advanced tech out there that Apple could include in their products but simply doesn't. Obviously they're not afraid to charge premium prices. It can only be for one of 2 reasons: either they're idiots or they like big margins at the expense of functionality. I'm guessing the latter.

 

[alexanderkilts]

Any word on how/whether this is compatible with a smaller TV (and SD video)?

This would be my first Apple TV and, though we use HDMI for our current Roku stick, we opt for SD purchases/rentals/streaming to save on bandwidth and money (and can't tell the difference on our 32").

Seems silly to have to ask, but given Apple's behavior in the past it's best to be prudent: is there even an option to purchase/rent SD content on this thing?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Those of you now dissing HD, have you considered the possibility that there's something broken inside of you? There's some hole in your life that you're trying to fill with meaningless specs?

You guys wouldn't shut up about how amazing HD was a few years ago. Now you're complaining how it isn't enough.

Meanwhile, I'm happy as a clam watching Deep Space Nine on Netflix in SD.

I could probably watch it at an even lower resolution and still be fine with it. Black and white might be too much for me... IDK, Captain Proton sequences in Voyager were obnoxious, but I'm not sure if that's because of the intentionally low production value or the black and white.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Nice! With my Best Buy rewards, and getting another $25 for donating blood, I'll get one on Saturday.

Well, at least order one.

(I donate blood with or without the BB card. It's a nice 'Thank you')

 

[checker2010]

"I am very confident Apple is going to figure this TV thing out."

With the brainpower, influence and cash this company has, if they haven't figured it out by now, why on earth would you be so confident they will in the (reasonably near) future?

Somebody needs to hold these guys responsible for their shortcomings or explain/expose why they're holding back. Geez.

They’ve already figured it out. Their solution is on the shelves from tomorrow. You’re welcome.

 

[2010mini]

Very informative review.

 

[MH01]

The Verge in now completely in Google's pockets. On Apple stuff, they always have the worst takes, the lowest scores of all reviewers.

owwwww really? could it be that you are a taaaaaaaaaaaaad bias to anything apple?

I say that, cause I actually read the whole review, and he is right, if you ware deep in the apple Ecosystem, its the best device ! SO for you, done deal!

For others that use .....other services, its has its limitations! I know, I have one Apple TV has always been great ....in its own Ecosystem.

read the Review...... not just the score, he is right.

 

[cube]

Any word on how/whether this is compatible with a smaller TV (and SD video)?

I don't think AppleTV was ever compatible with SDTVs and it always required HDMI (720p).

 

[McTaste]

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

I doubt app developers can easily introduce codecs to Apple’s closed system. It is up to Apple to add support.

 

[StrangeNoises]

Lack of mode switching, particularly of frame-rates, is a deal-breaker. I was disappointed by the Fire TV HD for the same reason, and hardly use it as I find the periodic frame timing glitches too distracting. I truly don't understand why they don't make it an option to enable it, as I'd be a definite customer if it did that.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

They’ve already figured it out. Their solution is on the shelves from tomorrow. You’re welcome.

Huh? I'm quoting Patel who says they haven't figured it out yet.

 

[Delorean2006]

It’s amazing the ignorance of the reviewers about Youtube not being 4K for the Apple TV. It’s not apple’s fault, it’s googles for not updating it in well over a year. Especially Nilay of the verge will find any avenue possible to completely bash the hell out of Apple and all of their products, even if it’s a great product, if it has one derogatory mark, he will milk the hell out of it and try his best to base his review on that one part and not recommend the product.
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If I'm not mistaken, Google broadcasts Youtube 4K video in the VP9 codec. The ATV4K doesn't support that codec. Doesn't Apple decide which codecs it will support?

The Apple TV won’t play 4K through the app until google updates it. Like Netflix just did this week.

 

[840quadra]

If I'm not mistaken, Google broadcasts Youtube 4K video in the VP9 codec. The ATV4K doesn't support that codec. Doesn't Apple decide which codecs it will support?

You may be correct.

My thought process is more on the software side. I think the real issue is that Google hasn’t updated their Apple TV application to support 4K. Either because they haven’t had access to, or, chose not to. Making a codec / content that supports Apple devices, is nothing new for Google, they have done it in the past. They may not see any value in it now, or, haven’t started work on it.

I doubt app developers can easily introduce codecs to Apple’s closed system. It is up to Apple to add support.

Granted I am no expert as to why, but the VLC Application is able to play a lot of content on the Apple TV, that the native video application can not. Honestly not sure why that is possible, but I am sure someone on here understands it better than I do for sure!!

 

[RogerWilco]

What is all this fuss about Atmos? It was designed for use with theater systems, not in somebody's apartment with their $75 "surround sound" speakers. I'm thinking the processing requirements to implement Atmos would put quite a strain on the A10 chip in the current TV.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I disagree.

OK, it looked like I was supporting your gripe about their unfounded bias against all things Apple due to "being in Google's pocket." Sorry.

 

[neliason]

I don’t have a 4K TV. I do have a 3rd generation Apple TV. I mostly just use it for Netflix and occasionally AirPlay. I wanted a new Apple TV. But what do I get for my money? I can play games, but that isn’t compelling. Siri? I don’t need help finding iTunes movies or TV shows to buy.

I had figured I’d buy the new Apple TV when it was finally updated. But I don’t think I will at the current prices. They are terrible. Even the old one is overpriced considering how old it is. Apple isn’t making a device here that is compelling. And it has priced them as if it has.

 

[69Mustang]

The Apple TV won’t play 4K through the app until google updates it. Like Netflix just did this week.

If the ATV4K doesn't support the VP9 codec what will updating the Youtube do?

 

[OllyW]

The Verge in now completely in Google's pockets. On Apple stuff, they always have the worst takes, the lowest scores of all reviewers.

Patel seems like an apologist to me. If Apple hasn't done it, it can't be done. There is PLENTY of more advanced tech out there that Apple could include in their products but simply doesn't. Obviously they're not afraid to charge premium prices. It can only be for one of 2 reasons: either they're idiots or they like big margins at the expense of functionality. I'm guessing the latter.

Amazing, they are both Google and Apple apologists at the same time?

It could be the readers of the reviews are showing more prejudice than the actual reviewers.

 

[napabar]

There seems to be a misunderstanding from some critic and MacRumors what HDR is. You don't "Upscale" to HDR, you upscale resolution. HDR has to do with the available color palette. It's Apple's 4K upscaling from 1080P content that apparently is not good. That has nothing to do with HDR.

 

[Mescagnus]

The new Apple TV automatically upscales all SDR video to either HDR or Dolby Vision, depending on which format your TV supports, but Patel and some other reviewers said the end result doesn't always look great.

Say what??

My OLED TV supports both HDR & Dolby Vision, but I don’t want Apple TV to convert SDR content to HRD automatically, as SDR content is not meant to be experienced this way!

Surely ATV 4K should detect if content is HDR, and display it accordingly – and leave SDR alone, unless I specifically want to view it in ”artificial” HDR.

This should be an option in the ATV’s settings. If not, Apple needs feedback on this. Content should be displayed as the content creator intended!

I’ll have to see how it actually works, UPS has my ATV 4K on the way, delivery is tomorrow.