Specs
- A10X Fusion Chip
- 802.11ac with MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.0 ( Apple TV 4K )
- Bluetooth 4.0 ( Siri Remote )
- HDMI 2.0
- Ethernet Port
What’s Included?
- Apple TV 4K
- Remote with Siri
- Power cord
- Lighting to USB
- Apple Stickers
Design
- It’s a box
Features
- Dolby Vision & HDR10
- Dolby Atmos
- Airplay 2
- Multi-User Accounts (Great for multiple people in the house)
- Apple Music with lyrics
Like
You get a free year of Apple TV+ when you purchase brand new. How fast and snappy this device actually is. Coming from an older generation FireTV Stick 4K ( and I know they have improved ), but switching between apps and loading content feels much smoother on the Apple TV 4K 5th generation. Siri commands for switching between apps is also much faster in comparison to Alexa and searching content. The screensavers look jaw-dropping and most of the time I rather just stare at the screensavers than watch actual content. Some people hate the touchpad remote, but I generally have nothing bad to say about it. Having it be rechargable is great so when my batteries die, I do not have to go looking around the house for AA batteries. Since I also have a MacBook & iPhone, the integration with AirPlay 2 is great. Wirelessly being able to connect my display to the screen is great for sharing content without having to buy a cable. Being able to auto fill out information from stored passwords from my iCloud via my iPhone makes having long passwords easier to bare. Dolby Vision and HDR content looks amazing as well. There is also plenty of Dolby Atmos & Dolby Vision content, it might even have the widest selection with the applications you can download as well. Still none of that carries over into the native YouTube app which is a big disappointment I will discuss later in the dislike section. Also, having the automation for Apple HomeKit is a nice touch, instead of spending an extra $100 for a HomePod. The interface is easy to use. If you have a playstation controller or bluetooth enabled Xbox controller, you can easily sync those to play games on your Apple TV.
Being able to use Siri instead of typing in a textbook to search content made me sit on my couch for an extra 2 hours from its ease-of-use.
Dislike
As much as I enjoy watching Netflix content, YouTube is a great way of passing time for me. Unfortunately with the Apple TV 4K, you cannot watch 4K content using the YouTube app, not even 1440p. All HDR, Dolby Vision & Atmos content are also not compatible using the YouTube app. This is because Google uses a VP9 encoding software and Apple uses HEVC encoding. There are both sides that claim Google should support HEVC or whether Apple should support VP9. Regardless to either tech giant, it is the consumer that is suffering from your fued. It may just be my TV model, but I always get asked to Try Dolby Vision, which of course I do. I have gotten accustomed to the remote, but initially I was a bit confused. There was no back button and there was no on/off button. It was a learning curve to find the white circle named Menu was the back button and the TV button meant Apple TV.
Would I use daily?
Yes. It is hard to swallow for the price of this device when there are products like the FireTV Stick 4K or Chromecast Ultra (Update this Google) or FireTV Cube 2nd Gen. I know that Dolby is a big buzz right now with Vision and Atmos, but when combined together on the Apple TV 4K, it’s hard to compete with any other provider. My experience has been amazing, although the forward and backward when scrubbing through videos using the trackpad is a pain. I either go too far forward or too far back, but I assume Apple wants you to use Siri instead, which works well. I find Siri in response to my Smart Commands are quicker and more accurate than Alexa, but we are talking a few seconds here. As I said before, I stare at the Dolby Vision screensavers and makes me believe I’m actually flying over the places. It takes a big hit when it comes to YouTube, but I have a TCL with Roku Ultra built in and I can watch 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision content on there, which I end up doing. The free Apple TV+ for a year is also a great plus. I have mirrored my MacBook Pro, iPhone, and music through the seamless Airplay 2 and even music and it just makes the experience that much better for not only me but when company comes over as well. Also, with items being linked to your iCloud, I can easily snap the audio for my Airpod Pros and listen through there which is great if you do not want to disturb those around you on an early morning or late at night.
Should you buy?
If you have other Apple products, I recommend looking at this device. Functionality wise the Apple TV does what Roku Ultra and FireTV 4K capable products. From my knowledge, the Apple TV 4K has the most Dolby Vision and Atmos content available, including the native apps. What sets it apart is if you are in the Apple ecosystem, there is a tremendous convenience factor you are adding to your life. Do not dismiss this device for its price, definitely give it a shot. If YouTube is a huge factor for you on your 4K TV and you absolutely cannot watch any video lower than 4K on YouTube, steer clear from this device. If regular HD is fine or you have other means of watching YouTube, then this device is a great media streamer.
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