New Apple TV is Thinner and Weighs 50% Less With Fanless Design

[AndrewC89]

128 version has thread. 64 does not. Interesting

Should come in handy when I'm knitting 🧵🪡

 

[Wakey87433]

They cut thread support and Ethernet “for the environment”. Anyone who complains doesn’t care about “the environment”.

I don't know what the cost of adding a chip for thread costs but Ethernet is such a cheap addition that cutting it is a ridiculous way to try and push people into having to pay more for the overpriced storage upgrade that really isn't needed. The only time I've had space issues on my 32GB one was when I took the Apple Arcade trial so downloaded loads of games to try but when I cut it down to just a couple of games I enjoyed it enough to want to complete I had no space issues. Unless you are a serious gamer which tbh most of those people are most likely playing games on better gaming platforms with better games I don't really see much of a need for 128GB of space so pushing people into it to get Ethernet (and maybe thread) seems a little out of order

 

[Johnny907]

So I'm confused... looking at my previous gen model and I don't see any vents anywhere. Other than the ethernet and power port on the back this thing is completely sealed, so where is the airflow for that fan to move coming from?

 

[star-affinity]

However, the Ethernet on the 1080p ATV I have is slower than it’s WiFi, so it was not used on either of my 2 units. Now that the new one goes to WiFi 6 2x2 MIMO, even the Gigbit port is not really a value add over being a hard connection.

Theoretical bandwidth isn’t everything. Latency matters too when it comes networking and a wired connection is likely better in that regard.

Nice to see A15 in it. Didn’t the rumors talk about A14? Been a two gen jump between the Apple TV’s before from the A8 to A10 then A12. So a three gen jump this time from A12 to A15.

 

[harshw]

So I'm confused... looking at my previous gen model and I don't see any vents anywhere. Other than the ethernet and power port on the back this thing is completely sealed, so where is the airflow for that fan to move coming from?

The previous gen Apple TV 4K??? It had a fan (c.f https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/HDjxGbFIZOHNPFFR.huge)

And the one before it as well - https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/ZMNKdBGGBPeXrfSG.huge

 

[Sasparilla]

How often did the old ones have their fans kick in? I didn't even realize there was a fan in my 4th gen one. I guess I'm not a power/heavy user.

The 4k was the 1st one with a fan apparently and probably just ran all the time, but fairly slowly so we never heard it. The HD which finally just got retired apparently did not have a fan.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Weighing less is actually a downgrade in a stationary device that has cables coming out of it (which can pull on it).

Unless you mount it on a wall like I do. That’s the temporary down side for me. My current mount will be too big.

Also, I think the more important upgrade for many is the implementation of WiFi 6E and Matter/Thread. I have a relatively large and complex HomeKit network running all sorts of things. Matter/Thread promises to make integrating everything much easier and 6E support will make it all more compatible with current generation routers.

 

[Creek0512]

Had no idea the previous ones had fans at all. Seems like it could have used just a big heat sink and passively cooled them, seeing is they are just iPhone chips which are also passively cooled..

Heat sink to a plastic housing?

 

[Creek0512]

It's not just thinner, it's smaller in every dimension: prev was 1.4 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches, new is 1.2 x 3.66 x 3.66 inches.

 

[Sasparilla]

Heat sink to a plastic housing?

Definitely begs the question of what they do with the heat and a A15 in there now. Will be interesting to see the iFixit teardown.

 

[_Spinn_]

Never realized the old one had a fan.

 

[deific]

Anyone else pretty amazed at the energy consumption of these devices?

Even the prior ATV 4k (2011) was pretty fantastic:
2021 - sleep/standby: 0.42-0.47W
2022 - sleep/standby: 0.48-0.5W

2021 - Streaming 4K 3.01-3.25W
2022 - Streaming 4K 2.36-2.46W

2021 - 4k HDR 3.46-3.52W
2022 - 4k HDR 2.36-2.46W
(The 2022 got some kind of HDR efficiency improvements/less CPU/GPU as the wattage is identical with and without HDR).

External testing from Flatpanelshd.com shows gaming:
2021 - 4-9W
2022 - TBD but probably similar numbers if not a bit better due to CPU/GPU efficiencies.

2021 Source
2022 Source

 

[Creek0512]

Never knew the old one had a fan. Thank god it's thinner again - the length to height ratio of the last ones made it quite ugly compared to their predecessors, imho.

The new one is actually 6 mm smaller in all 3 dimensions.

 

[tonyr6]

I switched to firetv this year. Absolute better than appletv. More apps, more games, OTG cable to usb sticks.

And more ads. I stopped using the Fire TV stick because of the ads. Most for garbage I have no interest in watching. I can't even drive so car ads on their annoy me and don't belong.

 

[SnappleRumors]

I’m waiting until next year‘s blockbuster upgrade.
Rumor has it the logo on top will be in 10pt font … for the environment.

 

[BobF4321]

As customer that is always my number one concern. I don't need or want cool new features. It is purely about the pallet weight in the warehouse. SMH

Apple has free shipping… cheaper shipping means a lower price for the product. At least theoretically!

 

[Creek0512]

Definitely begs the question of what they do with the heat and a A15 in there now. Will be interesting to see the iFixit teardown.

That was probably the main reason for putting the A15 in it. It can run cool enough to ditch the fan, which both lowers the component costs and allows a smaller design which reduces the shipping cost.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

The 4K models were so hilariously fat compared to the 2nd and 3rd gen. 10% probably won't be very noticeable.

 

[kk200]

And more ads. I stopped using the Fire TV stick because of the ads. Most for garbage I have no interest in watching. I can't even drive so car ads on their annoy me and don't belong.

complete opposite on my side. on firetv you can use 3rd party youtube app with ad filter. I can use some video site app, which never goes apple‘s store. some video site will play ad on airplay but allow me skip ad on firetv app.

 

[sorgo †]

The new one is actually 6 mm smaller in all 3 dimensions.

So…6, 6, 6?

 

[BobF4321]

Almost every new generation of Apple’s Axx and Mx chips have transistors that are smaller than the previous generation, and smaller transistors generate less heat. Apple’s recent chips use so much less power that fans are no longer needed for many products (eg. MacBook Air M1 is a great example).

 

[Wakey87433]

However, the Ethernet on the 1080p ATV I have is slower than it’s WiFi, so it was not used on either of my 2 units. Now that the new one goes to WiFi 6 2x2 MIMO, even the Gigbit port is not really a value add over being a hard connection.

The thing is though a streaming box doesn't really need more than the 100Mb currently so the faster wifi doesn't really matter. Even when 8K streaming comes it won't saturate that. There isn't really a benefit to faster wifi (or faster ethernet port) right now. It's not like a PC where you will have tasks that can exceed 100mb ethernet so faster wifi is worthwhile.

The benefit of Ethernet is stability as obviously wifi can and does have interference issues to varying degrees which can see some people require a wired connection for a more consistent experience

 

[acctman]

I did not know the last gen Apple TV 4K had a fan in it. It never came on or was heard at any time. Not upgrade not worth it yet.

 

[AndrewC89]

So I'm confused... looking at my previous gen model and I don't see any vents anywhere. Other than the ethernet and power port on the back this thing is completely sealed, so where is the airflow for that fan to move coming from?

It's on the bottom

 

[Corsig]

Question about thread. Does it matter where the Apple TV is placed in the house for it to work well or does it need to be closer to where all the devices are? I have things on both floors.