Apple TV 4K review

22 December 2017
It’s been over 10 years since Apple launched the first generation Apple TV. This year alongside the new iPhones, Apple introduced the fifth generation now supporting 4K/High Dynamic Range and appropriately called the Apple TV 4K. Recently updated to tvOS 11.2, now graced by Amazon’s recently launched Prime Video app and with Apples own TV app is rolling out internationally it’s time we revisited what Steve Jobs once called a ‘hobby’.

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  • Loft024
  • k2{
  • 28 Aug 2023

Mouli Don, 16 Dec 2022I had a collection of movies which are 10GB to 30GB files. ... moreNvidia Shield TV PRO 2019 version.

    I had a collection of movies which are 10GB to 30GB files.
    can I access them on the Apple tv box cause Im thinking to switch my TV interface from android to IOS

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      • RoshaniBalami
      • D2M
      • 05 Nov 2019

      When ever i want to buy streaming box i prefer Apple Company and mostly Apple TV 4k.

        • S
        • SAEED
        • 7{8
        • 22 Oct 2018

        I w like to ask its sport AR OR NOT

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          • Anonymous
          • a0A
          • 30 Dec 2017

          Classy? When was apple ever classy

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • Lfq
            • 27 Dec 2017

            Apple TV 4k is the best of all the new streaming boxes and the only one which supports Dolby Vision. ATV has the best interface and the best apps too.
            I've had HTPCs for years before streaming boxes were mainstream and would never go back.
            I've never seen a smart tv which is as capable and versatile as a standalone streamer like Apple TV, Roku, Shield or Amazon TV. But the Apple TV 4k is the best, currently.

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              • AnonD-725754
              • k4x
              • 25 Dec 2017

              This review. I think it covered all basis . My favorie feat of the sound going through the HDMI cable. And I and I think the company has a right for its resvations about the release but I think they go on sale at Midnight on Friday . It will be efficient in making sound quality is top notch. No Static. It a good product.


                Not many people want so expensive TV today when less and less people need TV because of computers/laptops/tablets...

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                  • Kangal
                  • uCX
                  • 24 Dec 2017

                  AnonD-725136, 22 Dec 2017BTW this 32-bit HTPC is at my parent's home bought in 2008 ... moreRaspberry Pi, Old Chromecast, and outdated PC's *might * make for a useable HTPC solution. However, the best option is to use a small desktop PC.

                  I bought an old office pc for really cheap, cleaned it out, upgraded it cheaply, bought some accessories, and set it up for my older brother's house. He wanted a HTPC solution similar to mine (which was used from a dumpster dive Free PC), and wanted to compete it against his PS4 Pro. It's a Dell Optiplex 9020 SFF, the specs are:
                  US$40 Xbox One S controller (Bluetooth version).
                  $30 Wireless logitech keyboard with trackpad.
                  $5 All necessary cables
                  $0 Windows 10 Pro (OEM Sticker Certification of Authority)
                  $0 Intel Core i7-4790 (4.4GHz Overclocked BLK, 4c/8t)
                  $10 New thermal paste and better fan
                  $150 Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti (4GB) LP
                  $70 No-Brand 32GB DDR3-1600MHz
                  $60 LG BluRay writer
                  $50 2TB Slim SeaGate 5400rpm HDD (2.5in 7mm)
                  $115 Boot-drive, 2.5in SSD (525GB) Crucial MX300

                  ...it's called the Hell Box One, because we debadged the "Dell" logo from it and it looks awesome without any distracting RGB lights in the dark/living room. Its roughly the same size as the XB1 and both run Windows and use the same controller as well.

                  I found it to run games at 1080p/High Settings/60fps on modern titles such as Doom, GTA V, Watch Dogs 2, Just Cause 3, Fallout 4, BF1. It's better than the PS4 Pro (better framerate, graphical fidelity, stability, and sometimes resolution too), but I wouldn't pit it against the Xbox One X Scorpio.

                  It runs Windows Media Centre (which is awesome), and Kodi (okay), and also retroArch (swell). It was meant to be a device to primarily play media (which it does better than any TV Box), secondarily for some emulation (much better than Android), and lastly also for some modern gaming (which its shaming the consoles). Emulation-wise its doing from Atari, Sega, NES, SNES, GBA, N64, DosBox, BlueStacks, PS1, PSP... before upgrading the Intel iGPU. After the GPU upgrade its now also doing PS2, DSi, Gamecube, Wii, and Wii U emulation. It can't do PS3 emulation (too taxing), or the Xbox 360 and Xbox emulators (not optimised/finished).

                  Shortcomings: only USB 3.0, no support for 3.1 or 3.2, or ThunderBolt3, or USB-C. No Wifi, but that's solved with a small USB Wifi radio. The BIOS/UEFI is very locked down. This thing could handle overclocking to 4.7GHz (CPU), 2133MHz (RAM), and multi-booting easily... but the proprietary Dell BIOS get's in the way.

                  Previous build: this is my old 2014 build for my younger brother. It's the same Dell Optiplex SFF, but its largely free. It's still badged, stock fan/thermal paste, runs an older stock Core i5-2400, with 8GB DDR3-1600 RAM, 2TB HDD, No CD/DVD drive, and a used GTX 750 Ti (2GB). But it came with free cables, a Dell USB (SK-8135) Keyboard, and a Dell (OCJ-339) Laser Mouse. Total spending was

                    Anonymous, 23 Dec 2017I guess I'm missing something because I thought all it's ca... moreSome people instead of buying new TV prefer buying this type of device because it have brand name...

                    Yeah such devices have few features that TVs dont have, but honestly I never saw single new good TV that dont support most used features, rest is just platform depending, mostly video streaming markets that can be easily replaced just by using screen remote...

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                      • Anonymous
                      • SaJ
                      • 23 Dec 2017

                      I guess I'm missing something because I thought all it's capabilities come already builtin in 4K TVs leaving it redundant.

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                        • AnonD-725136
                        • pUV
                        • 22 Dec 2017

                        AnonD-725136, 22 Dec 2017Never owned an Apple TV device. As an Android and web devel... moreBTW this 32-bit HTPC is at my parent's home bought in 2008 or 2009. My main equipment can easily output 4K from their HDMI ports, for example my Intel NUC. Although as I live mostly in Spain I use a Raspberry Pi 3 with Kodi and it works just great. 27 euros with discount I got it for.

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                          • AnonD-725136
                          • pUV
                          • 22 Dec 2017

                          Anonymous, 22 Dec 2017What I don't get is why they removed the USB C port but sti... moreNever owned an Apple TV device. As an Android and web developer I have an iPad Air 2 and an iPhone 6 for testing web apps (Apple has some special not validated HTML tags but the docs are not updated, basically since iOS 6 and I have to rely on a blog that keeps us up to date what tags works, if they work as expected and what tags don't work/do anything anymore).

                          As a multi platform user a Chromecast, based on your TVs capabilities is the way to go IMO. All major streaming apps support it, from PCs, iOS devices and of course Android, seamlessly. Still got the first generation Chromecast, which still gets firmware updates (I suppose because like the "entire world" including my parents etc bought it). I have no TV supporting 4K and at a distance, Kodi with passthrouth for Dolby Digital and DTS is more than enough for me. Even on a big TV, because of the distance, 1080p looks great, and the surround sound works great. I think you need to be a videophile and audiophile to spend all that money going 4K, especially if you have an amplifier which the HTPC connects by HDMI to and HDMI to the TV with HDMI, or connecting directly to the TV which is connected to the amplifier with HDMI audio return (to the amp).

                          Heck right now I'm streaming a MKV rip, 1080p, AC3 5.1 surround, straight from Blu-Ray, yeah my own great rip let's say that, on a, hold on, _32-bit_ NVIDIA ION computer (came with Windows Vista, got my money back because it was unusable, installed Xubuntu LTS), really designed to be a good HTPC as NVIDIA's VDPAU framework gives full HW acceleration, the CPU uses 5-10 %, mostly for the Kodi interface. And PulseAudio now supports passthrouth for AC3 and DTS with two clicks (a little more work before, killing PulseAudio and going ALSA).

                          I'm still amazed seeing a perfectly encoded MKV playing from my amp in 1080p with Dolby Digital/AC3 passthrouth (with Linux + Kodi), or a Blu-Ray, not that I use it (still takes like 2 minutes at least to get to the episode or movie because of all the fancy menu stuff they've added and the usual copyright notices, although less than on DVDs, I was really expecting something better from Blu-Ray after the DVD disaster which led to just more pirating than before, such a failure). The distance is far enough I'd probably just see a small difference using a 4K TV, and then mostly because of the TV just being newer, better OLED etc. TV channels mostly still sends 720p, some with surround (Dolby Digital or DTS), so still looks better.

                          Sure my next TV will probably be 4K or "UHD" because that will be what's on market when my other TVs need retirement (they really need to stop this high, ultra etc, because technology develops so fast, just give us standards without stupid names...).

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                            • Dodo
                            • 0cL
                            • 22 Dec 2017

                            I have an NVIDIA Shield, ATV, Roku and Amazon stick.

                            The Apple TV is overall the best. It has the best UI, the best designed apps of them all, and I even like it better than the Shield for light gaming. It also supports Dolby Vision (which the Shield and the others don't support), in addition to HDR-10.

                            The Shield is the most unstable and it has the most limited selection of apps. It doesn't even have a Google Photos app :(((

                            So, I disagree with this review. The Apple TV has its shortcomings, but it's the best of the batch.

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                              • Rajesh
                              • ssc
                              • 22 Dec 2017

                              Bad assepling because of smps ( power supply ) Inside

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                                • AnonD-380955
                                • 6PK
                                • 22 Dec 2017

                                Don't fall for it folks... it's gonna slow down after a year... ok sorry

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 043
                                  • 22 Dec 2017

                                  What I don't get is why they removed the USB C port but still keep the Ethernet port. I never used the Ethernet, while USB C would be future-proofing and able to replace HDMI in the far future.