The world of streaming TV devices has exploded over the last few years. Powerhouses like Roku, Amazon and Google all offer affordable and capable little set-top boxes and streaming sticks.
So where does the Apple TV fit into the action? Apple‘s always catered more to the premium end of the spectrum, reflected in the Apple TV‘s higher costs versus competitors.
But with its latest model, the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), Apple‘s made a product that arguably offers capabilities beyond cheaper alternatives.
We‘ll take an in-depth tour in this guide at what you get for your dollars with Apple TV. Let‘s dive in!
A Quick Primer on Streaming Boxes
It helps set the stage first by understanding where products like Apple TV came from. We used to consume all television and movie content from broadcast signals picked up by the TV‘s built-in tuner.
But then broadband internet and Wi-Fi became ubiquitous in people‘s homes enabling new innovations like video on-demand and live TV streaming that circumvented traditional cable TV.
Hardware makers realized cheap, dedicated set-top boxes could tap into online media sources and beam them straight to any TV with an HDMI input. And thus an entire product category of media streamers was born!
For just around $50 today, you can get a compact gizmo like the Roku Express or Amazon Fire TV Stick that simply plugs into your TV‘s HDMI port and opens up a world of entertainment from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and thousands more sources.
And since the actual video streaming happens externally over your home internet network, these devices require very little onboard power. It‘s made streaming sticks incredibly affordable.
What apple offers with the Apple TV is effectively a streaming box but with its own signature spin…
Apple TV Through the Years – A Timeline
Let‘s rewind a bit first to see how the Apple TV has evolved from its beginnings:
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Model | Release Year | Details |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV (1st gen) | 2007 | Code Named iTV |
| | | Stored and Streamed iTunes |
| | | Media Only |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV (2nd gen) | 2010 | Added YouTube, Netflix |
| | | First Introduced AirPlay |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV (3rd gen) | 2012 | Added 1080p Streaming |
| | | Integrated Siri Search |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV HD | 2015 | Brand New tvOS Platform |
| (4th Gen) | | App Store Debuted |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV 4K | 2017 | 4K and HDR Video Support |
| (5th Gen) | | Improved Video Processing |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+
| Apple TV 4K | 2022 | Faster A15 Chip |
| (3rd Gen) | | HDR10+, 120Hz Support |
| (6th Gen) | | New Siri Remote Design |
+-------------------------+-----------------------+----------------------------+With over 15 years in the game, the Apple TV has seen impressive evolution from its humble beginnings as a way just to stream personal iTunes media to a TV.
Apple eventually wised up to the value proposition of tapping into existing online media subscriptions people already paid for like Netflix and Hulu. Later Apple TV models opened the doors to more opportunities like mobile-quality gaming and smart home platform integrations we‘ll touch on shortly.
But first, let‘s demystify exactly how Apple TV actually works before we judge its value…
How Apple TV Works – Setup, Interface and Navigation
Simply put, the Apple TV serves as an intermediary between your television and nearly endless sources of entertainment online. Let‘s break that down step-by-step:
1. Make The Physical Connection
All that‘s needed to get your Apple TV up and running is:
- An open HDMI input on your TV that supports HDCP copy protection
- A separate High Speed HDMI cable linking the two devices
- Network access via fast home broadband internet
And that‘s it for wiring up the basics! The Apple TV box itself needs only a wall outlet for power.
Apple TV conveniently lets you choose between Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet access in case your living room lacks a strong wireless signal. Gigabit Ethernet ensures optimal streaming quality if you decide to directly plug in.
2. Configure Your Apple TV
Once you connect your Apple TV to a power source, your television will automatically switch to that input. What you‘ll see next is Apple‘s proprietary tvOS software spring to life.
The setup process involves pairing the included Siri remote via Bluetooth, signing in with your Apple ID, and connecting to your home network. Apple makes it a completely guided experience requiring just a few button presses on the remote.
3. Get to Browsing Within The Apple TV App
With everything connected, you primarily interact with the Apple TV through the appropriately-titled Apple TV app.
It consolidates access to media from sources like:
- Your personal iTunes library
- A dozen top streaming services like Netflix and Disney+
- Apple TV Channels like HBO, Showtime and Paramount+
- Live TV from providers like YouTube TV, Hulu Live or Sling TV
- Original shows and movies from Apple TV+
The Apple TV app breaks things down with intuitive rows and menus tailored around your viewing habits and subscriptions:
- Watch Now: Ongoing series and recently watched content
- Movies, TV Shows, Sports: Media browsers by category
- Library: Your purchased iTunes content
- Store: New movie/TV releases available for rent or purchase
- Search: Find programming by title/name
It makes finding something to watch quite seamless. Between Siri voice search or the Siri remote‘s touch surface, navigation remains smooth sailing even with so many choices.
Signature Features That Stand Apart
Beyond just its sleek software design, Apple‘s investments in custom silicon, proprietary wireless streaming protocols and recurring subscriptions in Apple TV+ distinguish the streaming box from competitors like Roku and Fire TV products.
Let‘s call out few standouts:
A-Series Processing Chips
Rather than off-the-shelf solutions used by rivals, every Apple TV since the 4th generation features Apple‘s own A-series processors – the same chip family powering iPhones and iPads.
It translates to exceptionally snappy response when browsing content libraries and significantly enhanced graphics capabilities – especially for gaming which we‘ll discuss momentarily.
AirPlay Streaming
Apple devices have long included proprietary AirPlay wireless streaming functionality for beaming video, photos, music and screen mirroring from an iPhone, iPad or Mac directly to an Apple TV hooked up to your television.
There‘s practically zero lag since AirPlay connects over direct Wi-Fi instead of routing through the internet first. Plus it doesn‘t hog cellular data plans for mobile devices.
Multi-User Profiles
The Apple TV offers personalized user profiles so each family member‘s preferences, watch history and recommendations remain discrete instead of co-mingling into one messy amalgamation of content.
So Dad can enjoy his sports without teen daughter‘s Riverdale viewing habits polluting his Apple TV homepage suggestions.
Mobile Game Console Potential
With an A12 bionic chip at its heart, a 64-bit architecture and high storage capacity, the latest Apple TV model offers legitimate console-class gaming clout. Enhanced gyroscope support within the Siri Remote along with compatible wireless gamepads extend traditional gaming well beyond just casual mobile ports.
Apple strategically built upon this gaming angle with its Apple Arcade subscription that unlocks 100+ exclusive premium game titles for a flat monthly fee – no in-app purchases needed.
Notable Downsides
To play fair, the Apple TV isn‘t without some flaws:
- It remains pricier than competitors like the $49 4K Roku Streaming Stick+ or $55 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
- You won‘t get certain niche apps like Vudu Movies & TV available on other platforms
- Some services like Apple Music don‘t yet offer their highest audio resolution streaming compared to other hardware
- Siri voice functionality lags behind Alexa and Google Assistant in terms of capability
Yet among the limitations, none prove overwhelmingly detrimental for what Apple TV aims to achieve.
How Apple TV Stacks Up To Alternatives
While the Apple TV ticks all the capability boxes, how does it ultimately stack against cheaper options from key rivals? Let‘s compare:
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| | Apple TV 4K | Roku Streaming |
| Model | 6th Gen (2022) | Stick+ (2021) |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Price | $129 | $49 |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Resolution | 4K Dolby Vision | 4K HDR10 |
| | | |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| HDR Support | Yes + Dolby Vision| Yes + HDR10+ |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Gaming Performance | Excellent | Just Okay |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Mobile Streaming Options | AirPlay | Some Apps Only |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Audio | Dolby Atmos | Standard |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Remote Control | Siri Touchpad | IR Motion |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Alexa + Assistant |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+And compared to Amazon‘s alternative:
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| | Apple TV 4K | Fire TV |
| Model | 6th Gen (2022) | Stick 4K (2022) |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Price | $129 | $55 |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Resolution | 4K Dolby Vision | 4K HDR |
| | | |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| HDR Support | Yes + Dolby Vision| Yes + HDR10+ |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Gaming Performance | Excellent | Good |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Mobile Streaming Options | AirPlay | Fire TV App only |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Audio | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos Lite |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Remote Control | Siri Touchpad | Alexa Voice IR |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Alexa + Bilngal |
+--------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+Apples‘ biggest advantages in the streaming device arena link back to its control of both the hardware and software stack enabling tighter integration. All competitors rely on a common open-source OS like Roku OS.
Where Apple falls short is appealing broadly to shoppers hunting for the cheapest box meeting their modest needs – Google‘s Chromecast line fills that niche. But folks already steeped in Apple‘s ecosystem will find excellent symbiosis with Apple TV.
And buyers prioritizing best-in-class quality get their money‘s worth from Apple TV in nearly all aspects – screen resolution, audio fidelity, fluid responsiveness and smart remote ergonomics.
The Apple difference holds up.
Final Verdict
The Apple TV deserves its premium $129 positioning amongst a crowded field of sub-$100 competitors for one overarching reason…
No other streaming player checks as many capability boxes as impressively as Apple TV whether we‘re talking:
- Video & Audio – 4K Dolby Vision/Atmos, SDR/HDR distinction
- Gaming – Native AAA titles via Apple Arcade
- Smart Home – Integrations with HomeKit devices
- Mobile Beaming – AirPlay screen mirroring
- Privacy Protection – On device voice processing
- Design – Siri remote feels exceptional in hand
Roku may offer more niche channels, Fire TV plays nicer with Alexa Routines and Google Chromecast melds better with Cast-enabled mobile apps.
But only Apple TV delivers such a polished, cohesive and feature-rich experience that superbly covers entertainment, gaming, smart homes and media beaming in a singular platform.
So despite a $80+ price premium over basic HDMI dongles, the fully-fledged Apple TV presents a sensible value for buyers that can appreciate Apple‘s hardware mastery…rather than penny-pinch on rock-bottom sticker pricing.
If you want the assurance of premium craftsmanship and leading technical standards wrapped up in an intuitive Apple interface, the new Apple TV 4K warrants a confident thumbs up.
I hope you‘ve found this guide helpful for understanding what gives Apple TV such appealing upside. Let me know if you have any other questions!
