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Verizon Launches Rare Discounts on Apple TV 4K ($89.99) and 2nd Gen HomePod ($174.99)

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Verizon today has a few rare Apple deals, including record low prices on the 64GB Apple TV 4K and second generation HomePod. These deals are available to all shoppers and you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get the discounts.

Apple-TV-Deals-22-Feature-Multi0011.jpg
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can get the 64GB Apple TV 4K for $89.99 in this sale, down from $129.99, which is a new all-time low price. We haven't tracked any notable deals on the 2022 A15 Apple TV 4K in nearly a year, much less one as low as Verizon's sale.



Secondly, Verizon has the second generation HomePod for $174.99, down from $299.99. This is a massive $125 discount on the 2023 smart speaker, beating the traditional discounted price by nearly $100. This one is only available in Midnight.

new-homepod-blue.jpg


Lastly, the carrier has a few buy one, get one half off deals going on right now on both AirPods and HomePod mini. AirPods under this deal include AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods 2. All colors of the HomePod mini are available for the BOGO deal, and would effectively make each speaker about $75.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Article Link: Verizon Launches Rare Discounts on Apple TV 4K ($89.99) and 2nd Gen HomePod ($174.99)
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/03/verizon-apple-tv-homepod/
So tempted to get the new Apple TV but i dont really need it. Two HomePods new for like 350 is also tempting but do i really need it?
 
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Student of Life said:
So tempted to get the new Apple TV but i dont really need it. Two HomePods new for like 350 is also tempting but do i really need it?
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They sound a TON better in a stereo pair. IMO that's when whatever adaptive audio trickery they have really starts to kick in. Also, twice as loud :)

poematik13 said:
wow these are banger deals. werent homepods going for 300+ on ebay?
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They were before they introduced the second gen ones -- then the prices settled down to earth. Nowadays you can get first-gen ones for $150-200 on eBay.
 
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Student of Life said:
So tempted to get the new Apple TV but i dont really need it. Two HomePods new for like 350 is also tempting but do i really need it?
Click to expand...
Yeah I wonder if a pair of the Gen 2 Homepods would work as computer monitors. I saw someone complaining they were not usable as live computer monitors if you do precisely timed work like editing audio or video. The reviewer complained there was just enough lag to make them useless for real-time work, but he mentioned that perhaps there would be an update in a future version. I wonder if a pair of them would be workable monitors for my Mac Studio M2. I don't need them for pro audio mastering, just for stuff like watching SlingTV Player on my Mac, where sync problems would still be annoying.
Edit: I thought about it for a few minutes, asked Verizon if I could return them if I don't like them. The agent said sure, return at any Verizon or UPS store. Hell yeah I want 2 Homepods at 42% off! But will they work?!?
 
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Charles50, I strongly suggest a WIRED speaker solution for computer speakers where timing is important. There are many good possibilities that sound great and cost a lot less than two HPs. I opted for a high-rated but relatively low-cost soundbar with a bluetooth-backed SUB as my computer "speakers." It sounds really good... as may soundbars + sub do when one spends a budget of about 2 HPs or so.

I wired them into a hub that connects to a built-in monitor hub that then has both a Mac and PC connected to it... thus when in Mac mode, Mac sound comes through the speakers. When in PC mode, PC sound comes through the speakers. With 2 more inputs on that monitor, I could optionally hook up an AppleTV, disc player, game console or similar and then when they are in control, their sound would come through those speakers. HPs are tremendously locked down, so flexibilities like that are not easy or perhaps even possible depending on the specific tech from which you might want audio.

The soundbar also operates independent of this setup too and thus can be used very much like HP via airplay and "Home" app. For example, when I just want to listen to music throughout the home, it contributes to "play whole home audio."

There's many great options beyond the walled garden.
 
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rightoff said:
what advantage do you get using Apple TV over say, built in Roku smart TV?
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No ads no tracking etc. You can also use the apps, airplay. If you are happy with the Roku stick with it. If it's laggy, or you want other apple features just get the Apple TV especially at this price. I forgot screen calibration for ones tv but you need an iPhone for that. If you have AirPods or AirPods Max, get the Apple TV for better 3d surround sound etc.
 
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So tempting, especially on the HomePod. I've been wanting to buy a stereo pair since they were first announced. But it is more of a want than a need.

I wonder if this is an indication of new hardware coming soon.
 
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rightoff said:
what advantage do you get using Apple TV over say, built in Roku smart TV?
Click to expand...

NO ADS

smoothest UI with no lag, better quality versions of apps, better hardware, better remote, less flakey airplay, icloud, more support for codecs, on and on.

smart Tv's are garbage and should never be connected to wifi. as soon as you connect the TV lags lol
 
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This is pretty amazing. Either they are dumping stock so they can clear their warehouse or it might be an indication of something from Apple hardware wise. Either way, this is a great find!
 
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Charles50 said:
Yeah I wonder if a pair of the Gen 2 Homepods would work as computer monitors. I saw someone complaining they were not usable as live computer monitors if you do precisely timed work like editing audio or video. The reviewer complained there was just enough lag to make them useless for real-time work, but he mentioned that perhaps there would be an update in a future version. I wonder if a pair of them would be workable monitors for my Mac Studio M2. I don't need them for pro audio mastering, just for stuff like watching SlingTV Player on my Mac, where sync problems would still be annoying.
Edit: I thought about it for a few minutes, asked Verizon if I could return them if I don't like them. The agent said sure, return at any Verizon or UPS store. Hell yeah I want 2 Homepods at 42% off! But will they work?!?
Click to expand...
Just no, avoid this setup. Tried to do this with Logic, horrible experience, the latency is unacceptable.
 
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I just bought two 3rd gen 64k 4K Appletv for about what i could have paid for three of these.

No matter what I buy or do I have to consider the “my luck” factor. Whenever I get a bid for work I always ask for a second bid with a worst case scenario price because that price is always more accurate.
 
What would we want in a new one? Slightly faster chip won't play any mainstream AppleTV uses any faster. Faster wifi won't make any difference in playback experience. The rumored FaceTime camera only really works if one places their AppleTV immediately above or below, CENTER of their TV. Anywhere other than those 2 spots and those on the other end won't see you looking right back at them. Etc.

IMO: after 2 or 3 generations of a 4K AppleTV, the next hop is 48 megapixel cameras in iDevices able to optionally shoot 8K... and thus the typical need for a way to get that video to 8K TVs for those who already have one. Select Samsung phones could shoot 8K since 2020 and iPhones were rumored to go there at least 2+ years ago.

And no, an AppleTV 8K doesn't force anyone to throw out their perfectly-good 4K or HD TV (better hardware will scale any video down just fine). And no, it wouldn't have to wait until everything in the iTunes Store is 8K (everything in the iTunes Store is not 4K yet... there's at least SOME stuff there that is not even HD). Etc.

In my long experience here, whenever anyone brings up the next resolution tier with AppleTV, a crowd jumps in like it is useless to advance the hardware until every other possible thing is upgraded first... which of course makes ZERO sense because if everything was 8K in the iTunes Store today, there would be no way for anyone to watch any of it in 8K without 8K hardware to stream it to 8K TVs. The hardware must lead and the software catches up. You can't have tomorrow's tech software doing anything on today's tech hardware.

In all other Apple things, we long for next gen chips, new-gen graphics, faster, better, fastest, etc, EXCEPT this one thing where we cling to "good enough" like advancing this will hurt us in some way. 720p was "good enough" while pretty much everyone else went 1080p first... until Apple embraced 1080p. And then 1080p was "good enough" while pretty much everyone else went 4K first... until Apple embraced 4K. At each step, the next resolution was "stupid", useless, gimmick, that "no one can see", "the chart, the chart", blah-blah-blah... until Apple made the change... and then it's as if none of that was ever written and all is now fine at the new tier.

Besides giving 8K-capable next iDevices a tangible conduit to send 8K video to 8K TVs (or 4K TVs or 1080p TVs), 8K capabilities would mean significantly better hardware inside for everything else too. So even the guy who will abhor the idea of an 8K AppleTV (until Apple releases one) would benefit by hardware revved up to deliver it to others who are already set up for it. Raytracing couldn't do anything for anyone until the hardware with it was released. Now we wait on lots of software to "catch up" and use it.

Those happy with the "as is" could keep enjoying the "as is." Those happy shooting video in 4K or 1080p or 720p could keep shooting it in those resolutions. Those happy with streaming in 4K or 1080p or 720p or SD could keep streaming. Those with pinched bandwidth could keep choosing whatever resolution they choose now that works for them. All would just have superior technology ready to roll with any upgrades to any obstacles slung.

I've been a massive fan of AppleTVs since the first gen. I have one hooked to every TV in my home and they double as "cable box" (with traditional cable), DVRs, home movie players, CD juke box, photo albums, etc... getting tremendous use. Nevertheless, I feel little excitement for another 4K one slightly faster (would that be 4th generation 4K AppleTV?). Bring on the next hop and let everything & everyone else then try to catch up with Apple for a change... instead of Apple dragging in about last to the next resolution tier party.
 
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This was so tempting for me to replace my bedroom Apple TV (2015 4th Gen), but I’d prefer to wait and see if the next Apple TV has WiFi 6E. When I got the iPad Pro with WiFi 6E, I did a speed test and it was like 300+ Mbps faster, which just means it’ll help ensure more reliability.

Other than that, I’d highly recommend jumping on this Apple TV deal, unless you need Ethernet, which the 64GB version lacks. I have the 128GB version in the living room hardwired to the internet, so that’s a pretty perfect setup.
 
I wish you could do more than just a stereo pair. I’d buy another two for the living room TV at this price. Note sure I have a place for them elsewhere. We have minis in pretty much every room and two second gen HomePods in the living room.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
What would we want in a new one? Slightly faster chip won't play any mainstream AppleTV uses any faster. Faster wifi won't make any difference in playback experience. The rumored FaceTime camera only really works if one places their AppleTV immediately above or below, CENTER of their TV. Etc.

IMO: after 2 or 3 generations of a 4K AppleTV, the next hop is 48 megapixel cameras in iDevices able to optionally shoot 8K... and thus the typical need for a way to get that video to 8K TVs for those who already have one. Select Samsung phones could shoot 8K since 2020 and iPhones were rumored to go there at least 2+ years ago.

And no, an AppleTV 8K doesn't force anyone to throw out their perfectly-good 4K or HD TV (better hardware will scale any video down just fine). And no, it wouldn't have to wait until everything in the iTunes Store is 8K. Etc. In my long experience here, whenever anyone brings up the next resolution tier with AppleTV, a crowd jumps in like it is useless to advance the hardware until every other possible thing is upgraded first... which of course makes ZERO sense because if everything was 8K in the iTunes Store today, there would be no way for anyone to watch any of it in 8K without 8K hardware to stream it to 8K TVs. The hardware must lead and the software catches up. You can't have tomorrow's tech software doing anything on today's tech hardware.

In all other Apple things, we long for next gen chips, new gen graphics, faster, better, fastest, etc, EXCEPT this one thing where we cling to "good enough" like advancing this will hurt us in some way. 720p was "good enough" while pretty much everyone else went 1080p first... until Apple embraced 1080p. And then 1080p was "good enough" while pretty much everyone else went 4K first... until Apple embraced 4K. At each step, the next resolution was "stupid", useless, gimmick, that "no one can see", "the chart, the chart", blah-blah-blah... until Apple made the change... and then it's as if none of that was ever written and all is now fine at the new tier.

Besides giving 8K-capable next iDevices a path to send 8K video to 8K TVs (or 4K TVs or 1080p TVs), 8K capabilities would mean significantly better hardware inside for everything else too. So even the guy who will abhor the idea of an 8K AppleTV (until they release one) would benefit by hardware revved up to deliver it to others who are already setup for it. Those happy with the as is could keep enjoying the as is. Those happing shooting video in 4K or 1080p or 720p could keep shooting it. Those happy with streaming in 4K or 1080p or 720p or SD could keep streaming. Those with pinched bandwidth could keep choosing whatever they choose now. All would just have superior technology ready to roll with any upgrades to any obstacles slung.

I've been a massive fan of AppleTVs since the first gen. I have one hooked to every TV in my home and they double as "cable box" (with cable), DVRs, home movie players, CD juke box, photo albums, etc... getting tremendous use. Nevertheless, I feel little excitement for another 4K one slightly faster (would that be 4th generation 4K AppleTV?). Bring on the next hop and let everything & everyone else then try to catch up with Apple for a change... instead of Apple dragging in about last to the next resolution tier party.
Click to expand...
While I’m with you on the need to keep advancing the hardware that’s available, there is usually a threshold below which it’s a waste of resources (in the best case) to early-adopt new tech. Apple is fine blazing a trail when they can largely guarantee its success—say, Retina displays, which were built into the devices, or USB-C, where they planned sufficient first-party accessories to ensure at least its survival—but Apple TVs are functionally dependent on a display that is guaranteed not to have come from Apple (sorry, Gene Munster), and most tech pundits are of the opinion that there will be at least one new generation/revision of display connectivity standards before 8K sees wide adoption. Perhaps it’s true that someone has to early-adopt the Betamax/HD-DVD/DivX/Minidisc only to watch the market swing to VHS/Blu-Ray/H.264/mediumless data, but I doubt either Apple or its customers would be eager to play that role.
 
poematik13 said:
NO ADS

smoothest UI with no lag, better quality versions of apps, better hardware, better remote, less flakey airplay, icloud, more support for codecs, on and on.

smart Tv's are garbage and should never be connected to wifi. as soon as you connect the TV lags lol
Click to expand...
I bought a Roku (TCL) TV and the installer said it would be neat for about a year or so. Over time it will start to lag and get slow. He said at that point, you'll want to either look at an AppleTV or external Roku if you want to stick with them. The panel is still good though.

Hate to say it but he was right.... :(
 
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I’m tempted to get two HomePods but I’ve already bought a new MacBook Air and iPad Pro this year.
 
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