Now that we’ve gotten the whole “Apple TV 4K with camera” thing out of our system, it’s time to take a more serious look at what we still consider the best streaming hardware you can buy. More specifically, this article is about what we would like to see added to the diminutive box.
First, though, a little context. The current Apple TV 4K, which is the third generation of that model, is not that old, having launched in early November 2022. At that time, we called it built for the future. And that’s still true.
As it stands today, Apple TV 4K is available in two versions. There’s a 32GB model that only has Wi-Fi for connectivity and a 128GB model that includes Ethernet as well as support for the Thread and Matter smart home protocols. There’s only a $20 difference between the two and we think it’s money well spent.
So far, as far as we know, nothing is imminent. But that doesn’t mean an update is out of the question for 2024.
The form factor
“Form factor” is one of those phrases we really shouldn’t use. But it means the size and shape of a thing. To that end, the Apple TV 4K hasn’t changed much in its three iterations. It’s still the size of a couple of decks of cards. The third-generation model was downsized slightly and eliminated the active fan, but there’s also a good chance you never noticed it had a fan in the first place.
In a world of low-cost devices and HDMI dongles (well, and cubes and tubes), there’s nothing inherently wrong with the physical appearance of the Apple TV 4K. It’s a box, of course, and therefore not as stealthy as a small streaming device. But it’s also not that big and it’s easy enough to fit on the back of a TV if you want to. (And as long as said TV is not mounted flush to the wall.)
There have long been rumors, or at least stifled calls, for some sort of Apple TV 4 K-type device, presumably with a lower price tag. But there’s something very un-Apple about that. Apple makes products that look and feel “premium,” and it’s doubtful anyone has ever used that word in the same sentence as a stick, dongle, or puck. (We’re deliberately leaving out company names because it doesn’t matter which one.)
As much as we scoff at the idea of slapping a camera into the existing Apple TV 4K design, we can at least understand the desire to add something else, anything else, to that hardware. It’s a $150 box (if you get the upgraded model like we think you should) that you may never see again after initially plugging it in. Shouldn’t I do something else?
Maybe. You can certainly argue. But we’re not sold on that idea in a world where the iPhone exists (for its camera, at least) and HomePod Minis are relatively inexpensive.
The interns
If there’s one thing that drives update cycles, it’s what’s inside the box. And by this, we mean the chipset. Apple has been using its silicon since 2010 when it switched from Intel to its own A4 system on a chip. Both the processor and the graphics unit are housed here (the same goes for storage and RAM, of course). It’s been more than a dozen years and Apple silicon now also includes neural engines.
Let’s look at the three generations of Apple TV 4K, including their release dates.
| Apple TV 4K | chipset | Release date |
| First generation | A10X Fusion | September 2017 |
| Second generation | A12 bionic | May 2021 |
| Third generation | A15 bionic | November 2022 |
The wait time between the first and second-generation Apple TV 4K models was approximately three and a half years. We saw about 18 months pass between the second and third-generation devices.
Silicon isn’t everything, but it’s close. It is what determines application development. It is what ultimately decides what other functions a device can employ. If we get a new Apple TV 4K, we’ll almost certainly see updated Apple silicon on board. It’s as close to a sure thing as there can be.
So what to expect? There is some serious sorcery that goes on when it comes to systems-on-a-chip (SOC) development, and we are not experts at it. More cores? Fewer cores that run more efficiently? More processing power for AI-enabled features? More RAM? Surely, that’s all on the table. It’s just a matter of Apple making it work in a way that keeps the price of the product where it needs to be.
And lest someone say “Next should be the Apple TV 8K!” It’s not enough. There is no commercial reason for so much resolution.
We’ll throw a baseball around, though: Apple should bump up the base model Apple TV 4K to 64GB of storage. Yes, he’s notoriously stingy when it comes to that kind of thing. But it would also be the right thing to do.
And one more: we wouldn’t be surprised to see a jump from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 6E. Although we wouldn’t be surprised to not see it yet either, as it’s still a relatively new standard and there’s a good chance that few homes have wireless routers that work in the 6GHz band.
The remote control
The remote probably remains the biggest area of complaint when it comes to the Apple TV 4K. Yes, the Siri Remote (as it’s officially known) is better than before. But that is damning with faint praise.
The simple fact is that the Apple TV 4K remote control is still pretty unergonomic. It’s still very thin and very flat and doesn’t exactly sit cradled in the palm of your hand. Yes, you get used to it and it is very useful. But I still really enjoy the feeling of the remote that lives in my living room, taped to a leather case from Nomad (which you can’t buy anymore).
The remote control is basically what you would get if you said the following to an AI imager: “Design a MacBook-style remote control.” And yeah, that’s not the kind of thing you want to hold in your hand.
The “touch clickpad,” which means a combination of directional pad and trackpad, is still complicated. It’s very easy to accidentally slide the object and wreak havoc on the screen. Yes, you can adjust the settings to only do one thing or another: serve as a trackpad or D-pad. But you shouldn’t have to make that decision.
The switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging was welcome. There are no notes there. And we’ll stop you here before you try to suggest Apple add wireless charging; you just don’t need to charge this as often.
The one feature we’d love to see added? A built-in AirTag-type tracker. (I have a real AirTag tucked into that Nomad leather case.) The Siri remote is so small and thin that it’s still extremely easy to lose it on a couch or simply misplace it anywhere else. Apple has Bluetooth-based location tracking built in, but it’s not as good as a proper AirTag.
The home screen
No notes.
Did you want more? Have you seen the home screen on an iPhone or iPad?
Okay, maybe so. And you might be thinking, “It would be nice to have some widgets on the Apple TV 4K. Or maybe some more previews of things to see. “More tiles that will allow me to get back to whatever I was doing or watching before.”
To which we say: No.
There’s a very specific simplicity to the Apple TV home screen. You get icons for apps. And except for the top row (the most important row), which adds shortcuts to individual things, it’s pretty sparse. Just the way we like it.
Look at the competition. We continue to see over-designed home screens within an inch of their collective life. We continue to see how graphic advertising invades more and more every day.
We’re fine with app icons and very little else, thanks.
However, there is the Control Center. Press and hold the TV button on the remote and you will be greeted. (You can also navigate to it using the D-pad.) Most importantly, this is where you will find the sleep timer. But we could see Apple making additional adjustments there as well.
The screensavers
This is a bit subjective, but I maintain that Apple has the best screen protectors of any platform. Sure, others have great ones in their own right, but Apple goes much further with high-resolution flyovers. More of this, please.
And there’s not much we can add here except this: Apple should continue to offer them for free and resist the temptation to monetize them. Don’t allow ads on them. Don’t put them up for sale. Just let the screensavers be exactly what they are: gorgeous and fantastic.
Gaming
If there’s one place we still want to see a major improvement in the Apple TV 4K, it’s here. Gaming. It’s a bit of a strange space because, like the Apple TV 4K itself, it’s not ignored or anything. There is a dedicated button in the Control Center for game controllers.
But the games themselves? You’ll have to want to play something if you’re going to play it on the Apple TV 4K. Apple Arcade is fine for what it is, but it’s not great. The Siri Remote is not a great gaming remote. You’ll want a game controller.
And when it comes to AAA games? Forget it.
Apple has the hardware. You have the software. It just hasn’t inclined to make gaming a serious option on the Apple TV 4K, and that’s a shame.
AirPlay for Android
This will almost certainly never happen. (I hate to include any kind of caveat in that statement.) Apple will never, ever provide native AirPlay on Android devices, which would then allow them to seamlessly stream things to an Apple TV.
This is not a crazy idea. There are many divided households, where one spouse uses Android and the other uses iOS. Mine used to be one. I enjoyed using Apple TV back in the day, even though I was missing out on a pretty important feature by not also using an iPhone. (Although I had a Mac).
The ability to use a feature like Chromecast or AirPlay should be almost a universal right by 2024. That is the ability to start a video or song (some type of media) on a device and “cast” it (or whatever). the term you want to use) on a television. Your phone, tablet, or computer stops playing the video, and the Apple TV or Chromecast does the heavy lifting. Those of us of a certain age will remember past protocols like DLNA, which never gained traction for one reason or another. Chromecast and AirPlay are where it’s at.
And to that end, at least TV manufacturers have gotten the message and support Chromecast and AirPlay. They don’t care what kind of phone you use.
Apple, of course, prefers one over the other. Apple could choose to do the right thing here and allow you to AirPlay from your Android phone to Apple TV. Or you could just get stuck in your old ways.
Keynote USA News
Besides Apple News, You can get Apple TV | Vision | Mac | iPhone | iPods News. So, Follow @Keynote USA News on Twitter and Google News
