The Apple TV 'hobby' has gotten far too expensive

I've loved the Apple TV hardware since the first model. Unfortunately, I'm going to stick with what I have until I can't, because $299 for the box is just too much.

Ages ago, I got the G4 Mac mini because I was tired of burning DVDs and CDs. It was pretty nice to play media and games directly on my then-plasma Philips HD flatscreen.

Then Steve Jobs rolled out the Apple TV, calling it a "hobby" later in the year.

That "hobby" changed everything for me.

As the years went on, I got more and more Apple TV hardware. After a move about two years ago, I discovered seven Apple TV (third gen) and up models in my accumulated stuff, and four of the second generation flat black ones still around.

And now, today, after 20 years of price cuts, with a period of time in there where the box sold for $79, we're back to $299 for the Apple TV hardware.

I understand that the RAMpocalypse is on us, the SSD media situation isn't a lot better, and it's only going to get worse. For now, from this chair, there is not enough difference in the hardware released four years ago to justify what is, in essence, a second price-hike in six months on Apple's lowest-end Apple Silicon it is presently shipping.

There are alternatives from Apple

I'm not a fan of Google's or Amazon's streaming boxes. The performance is worse than the decade-old 1080p Apple TV with the App Store, and there are potential privacy issues.

Obviously, Apple's old streaming hardware hasn't been lit on fire with the release of the new one. I've seen the original Apple TV 4K for less than $100 on eBay. "Modern" Apple TV hardware with App Store support at 1080p is generally about $80 on eBay.

Don't get the older, thinner ones, though. Other than AirPlay, there's no future for those boxes at all.

There are more powerful alternatives for about the same price. Or you could AirPlay to your television if you can, and you trust what data it is collecting.

My suggestion, though, is to do what I did originally with that G4 Mac mini.

Find a Mac mini you like, and plug that into your TV instead. Hell, use an old MacBook Air, connect a USB-C to HDMI cable, and use it in clamshell mode.

If you shop smart, you can get a M1 Mac mini with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage for about $380 on eBay. That's all you need to watch the Apple TV streaming service, get your Netflix on, or stream with Plex.

Headless M1 MacBook Airs go for about the same, and you get a keyboard for that. You can get really funky with that if you want, and get one of those HDMI wireless repeaters.

And if you do that, emulation is way easier than it is on the Apple TV hardware. For some reason, the Apple TV hardware is still very aggressive about purging storage, so emulation right now on it is pretty bad.

Sure. I will concede that you don't get the $1000-plus in new HomePods surround sound feature. That seems like a small sacrifice for more flexibility for the same price.

You do get Siri AI if you take this route, though. The Siri Remote works with the Mac over Bluetooth as-is. Adding a remote helper like Remote Buddy (paid) or SiriMote (free) will make that even better at a small cost.

I enjoy new Apple hardware for the most part. Spending $299 for an Apple TV box in 2026 is just not reasonable. We'll see what Black Friday brings, I guess.