Eli is a journalist who lives in Detroit, MI. He got his start in journalism covering video games and sports for Heavy before branching out into greater esports coverage at Dexerto. He also has bylines at SlashGear, Sports Illustrated, and more.
He added technology coverage to his plate over his years of writing, and it's something he continues to cover at Pocket-lint. He's interviewed numerous game developers and covered several live events, such as the launch of Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 in Los Angeles.
He has written more than 5,000 articles and looks to continue adding to that number in the years to come. For Pocket-lint, he specializes in home theater audio/video formats, and he loves streaming devices like the Roku Ultra and Apple TV 4K. He is also a lifelong collector of physical media, and he's a huge fan of 4K UHD Blu-ray, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.
He has a degree in Journalism from Central Michigan University.
The new Apple TV 4K is real. The wait for this has been so long, and I've been looking forward to it for years. However, once the price increased on the third-gen model, I knew the writing was on the wall. I just didn't expect it to cost $300. I'm not sure who this is supposed to appeal to at this price tag. Don't get me wrong, I know why it's priced that way, but as somebody who is still using a first-gen model, I'm not rushing out to upgrade just yet. In fact, the price would have to be cut in half for me to even consider it.
That's a bummer because the Apple TV 4K actually added one of my favorite features currently available. I have two Fire TVs in my home now, and the feature I use most on them is hands-free Alexa. I can walk into a room, turn my TV on, switch it to the correct HDMI input, and have it all set up before I even sit down. It's such a nice thing to have, and the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K is rolling out the same thing with hands-free Siri. I wish I could be more excited about this, but unfortunately, it doesn't move the needle.
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge
Apple TV 4K updates
Trivia challenge
From chips to remotes — how well do you know the evolution of Apple's premium streaming box?
HardwareFeaturesSoftwareRemotePerformance
01 / 8
Hardware
Which chip powers the third-generation Apple TV 4K, released in 2022?
Correct! The third-gen Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip, the same silicon found in the iPhone 13 lineup. This gives it a significant performance boost over its predecessors and enables smoother 4K HDR playback.
Not quite. The third-gen Apple TV 4K is powered by the A15 Bionic chip. Apple often reuses chips from recent iPhone generations in its Apple TV hardware to balance cost and performance.
02 / 8
Remote
What controversial feature was removed from the Siri Remote when Apple redesigned it in 2021?
Correct! The original Siri Remote had a slippery glass touch surface on top that many users found frustrating to use, often causing accidental inputs. Apple replaced it with a more traditional clickpad ring design in 2021.
Not quite. Apple removed the smooth glass touch surface that acted as a trackpad on the original Siri Remote. It was widely criticised for being too slippery and easy to pick up the wrong way around.
03 / 8
Features
Which video calibration feature, introduced in 2021, uses an iPhone to automatically adjust Apple TV's picture output to suit your TV?
Correct! Color Match uses an iPhone's front-facing camera to measure the color output of your TV and automatically calibrates the Apple TV's display settings for the most accurate picture possible. It's a clever use of the iPhone ecosystem.
Not quite. The feature is called Color Match. Introduced with tvOS 14.5, it uses an iPhone held up to the TV screen to measure and fine-tune the Apple TV's color output to match your specific display.
04 / 8
Software
What was the name of Apple's major tvOS update that introduced the Home screen redesign with a top shelf for apps?
Correct! tvOS 13 brought a significant visual overhaul to the Apple TV interface, including a redesigned Home screen, full-screen previews, and a new multi-user support feature allowing different profiles per household member.
Not quite. It was tvOS 13 that introduced the refreshed Home screen layout and multi-user support. This update was considered one of the biggest interface changes Apple TV had seen in years.
05 / 8
Hardware
What significant connectivity change did Apple make to the third-generation Apple TV 4K in 2022 to reduce cost?
Correct! Apple dropped the built-in Ethernet port on the base model of the third-gen Apple TV 4K to hit a lower price point of $129. Ethernet was retained only on the more expensive Wi-Fi + Ethernet model priced at $149.
Not quite. Apple removed the Gigabit Ethernet port from the entry-level third-gen Apple TV 4K model. Customers who needed a wired connection had to opt for the pricier Wi-Fi + Ethernet version or use a compatible USB-C adapter.
06 / 8
Performance
Apple TV 4K supports HDR video, but which HDR format did Apple add support for — often associated with LG OLED TVs — alongside HDR10 and Dolby Vision?
Correct! Apple TV 4K supports HLG, or Hybrid Log-Gamma, which is a broadcast-friendly HDR format commonly used by streaming services and broadcast TV. It works alongside HDR10 and Dolby Vision to give the device broad HDR compatibility.
Not quite. The answer is HLG, which stands for Hybrid Log-Gamma. It's a widely used HDR format in broadcast and streaming, and Apple TV 4K supports it in addition to the more commonly advertised HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats.
07 / 8
Features
Which gaming-related feature was added to Apple TV with tvOS 16, making it easier to use a wider range of controllers?
Correct! tvOS 16 added support for the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controller, expanding the range of compatible gamepads for Apple TV. Apple had previously added support for standard Xbox and PlayStation controllers in tvOS 13.
Not quite. tvOS 16 brought support for the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controller to Apple TV. Apple has steadily expanded controller compatibility over the years, starting with standard Xbox and PlayStation pads back in tvOS 13.
08 / 8
Software
Which tvOS version introduced the ability to use your iPhone as a camera for FaceTime calls on Apple TV?
Correct! tvOS 17 introduced FaceTime support on Apple TV, using your iPhone or iPad as the camera via Apple's Continuity Camera feature. It was one of the headline additions of the update and brought video calling to the living room in a seamless way.
Not quite. FaceTime on Apple TV arrived with tvOS 17. It leverages the iPhone or iPad as a webcam through Continuity Camera, meaning Apple TV itself doesn't need a built-in camera to make and receive video calls on the big screen.
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I can't get excited when the price is this high
A sad state of affairs
The price of all technology is on the rise, and even things you don't expect to go up in price, like streaming boxes, have been hit. Part of me thinks that is what led to the long wait for this box, but prices haven't leveled out; they have only gotten higher. It's at the point where I don't even expect this MSRP to hold for long. I hope that's not the case, but it's how things are trending.
Hands-free Siri is a huge selling point, and it's something I've wanted to see implemented everywhere ever since experiencing it on my Fire TV. I don't like having to keep a device handy to dish out voice commands, so this is an excellent alternative. I don't have any problem talking to my TV from my couch, so I wouldn't expect this problem on an Apple TV 4K either. My Apple TV 4K has so many apps installed that it can certainly be annoying to scroll through the home page to get to where I'm going. Things would be a lot faster if I could have Siri do it for me, but alas.
I wish I could overlook this price tag and get on board, but I can't. The thing I've been excited about for years has arrived as a dud. I didn't even expect hands-free Siri to be here, so that was a nice surprise to see with the announcement. In another world, it's a device seller, but in this one, it's just something to dream about for when the price gets lower.
Apple TV 4K devices don't go on sale often
No sense in waiting
Something I've noticed over the years is that Apple doesn't run a lot of sales for the Apple TV 4K. When you compare it to the likes of Fire TV or Roku, you can see a huge difference in price. The Roku Ultra went up in price thanks to the rising costs of hardware, much like the Apple TV 4K, but you can still often find one for cheaper. The MSRP of the Roku Ultra is now $150, but there's no reason to pay that, as it's usually not sold at that price. The same thing can't be said for the Apple TV 4K, and that's a shame.
I'm usually one who instantly goes out and gets a streaming device of some sort to avoid using my TV's OS, but I don't know if that's a good idea anymore. You can get a pretty solid TV for under $1000 these days, so I can't really justify spending $300 on top of that just to get some added performance from the smart interface. I picked up my first-gen Apple TV 4K used on eBay, and that remains a good option for people.
The other thing to consider is simply getting an older Apple TV 4K, like the second or third-generation models. I wouldn't recommend a first-gen one at this point, mainly because it's vintage technology now. The two models I mentioned are still receiving updates, although the third-gen is getting them much more consistently than the second. The first-gen model still works, but there's nothing to get excited about any time a tvOS update rolls around. They're also coming up on 10 years old, and it feels weird to be using a piece of Apple technology for that long. I want to upgrade mine, but I'll probably just use it until it dies at this rate. For the time being, it's still going strong, but I wish I could talk to it.