Two minute exam
It took Apple four years to revamp its streaming box, and you'd be forgiven for being disappointed at first: The Apple TV 4K (2021) is identical to its predecessor, the Apple TV 4K (2017), and the tweaks and improvements it offers. . compared to the previous iteration they are, at first glance, small. However, the interface is incredibly elegant and brings more than streaming TV to the table. Apple TV 4K (2021) is powered by the A12 Bionic processor, also found in the iPad (2020) and iPhone XS, instead of the A10X chip used in the previous iteration. This makes navigating the interface a bit faster than before and also provides enough processing power to play high frame rate (60fps) HDR video more easily than before. On top of that, there's a handy color balance feature, which uses the light sensor of any iPhone that supports Face ID to check and change your TV's color balance to make it more accurate and compliant with industry standards. without having to. manually adjust the TV settings.
- Apple TV 4K (2021) (black) at Amazon for € 179
Like its predecessor, the Apple TV 4K (2021) comes with either 32GB or 64GB of storage space; 32 GB should be fine for most people, unless you plan to download a bunch of apps, games, or movies and TV shows. Along with the streaming box itself, you'll also get the revamped Siri Remote. The remote that came with the Apple TV 4K (2017) was a bone of contention, but the new Siri remote included here is slimmer and ditch the touch trackpad in favor of a circular clickpad, allowing the interface to move much easier. In addition to letting you watch movies and shows from major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and of course Apple TV Plus, Apple TV 4K (2021) also gives you access to streaming services. Apple, from Arcade game platform. to Apple Music and even Apple Fitness +. Apple's voice assistant, Siri, is also integrated and is an efficient way to find movies, TV shows and music, either by title or genre, and you can use AirPlay to share everything, photos and video clips in presentations. to your television. Apple TV 4K (2021) isn't just for streaming: It can double as a HomeKit hub, so you can control your smart home devices even when you're away from home, and if you have a HomeKit-enabled video doorbell or at home security camera, you will be able to see a live feed on your TV. It also incorporates Thread smart home technology, which allows smart home devices from different manufacturers to work together more seamlessly. The Apple TV 4K (2021) isn't cheap; in fact, it's one of the most expensive streamers on the market, costing around three times as much as Roku's 4K+ streaming stick. For those who are deeply connected to the Apple ecosystem, or want to upgrade their streamer to deliver the smoothest, sharpest 4K playback possible, it's worth the investment.
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Apple TV 4K price and availability (2021)
- List price: € 179 / € 169 / AU € 249
As we mentioned earlier, the Apple TV 4K (2021) comes in two variations: a 32GB model priced at $179 / £169 / AU$249 and a 64GB model that will set you back $199 / £189 / AU$ 279 . It's available for pre-order now and should start shipping at the end of May; in the Apple Store in the UK, ships within 1-2 weeks. In the US and Australia, it's the same price as the current Apple TV 4K (2017) when it launched; in the UK both versions are €10 cheaper. The new Siri Remote is also available to purchase separately for use with previous generation Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, for $59 / £55 / AU$59.
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Integrated
- Sleek glossy black cube design
- Redesigned, slimmer and heavier Siri remote
- Powered by A12 Bionic chip
The latest Apple TV 4K certainly isn't the most compact streaming TV stick on the market, but it's not the bulkiest either: Measuring 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches / 9 x 8 x 8.8cm (wxdxh), it can easily fit into your existing device. home theater setup. It has a matte black cover with a discreet Apple TV logo in the center, in the same glossy finish found on the sides. On the back are the power connector, an HDMI 3.5 port and an Ethernet connector, although it also has Wi-Fi. Unlike some of the best streaming devices, though, it doesn't come with it. you need to provide this yourself. As we mentioned before, the revamped Siri Remote is one of the big draws of the new Apple TV 2.1K. The new Siri remote is slimmer, but a bit heavier than before, and runs on a rechargeable battery. The circular trackpad at the top of the remote works in the same way as the trackpad on the trackpad, allowing you to swipe up, down, and left to right to cycle through Apple TV apps and settings. 4K. Tap the touchpad to open apps or pause/restart playback when streaming TV shows, movies or music, while the outer ring can be used to scroll back and forth. 'Backward during playback, which allows you to select a specific scene in a movie or show. For the first time, the Siri Remote has a power button, so you can use it to turn Apple TV 4K on or off, as well as your TV, and it also has a back button and a back button. 'A mute button. The Siri button has now been moved to the right edge of the remote. As we mentioned, the Apple TV 4K (4) is powered by the A2021 Bionic chip and supports high frame rate HDR and Dolby Vision 12K, as well as Dolby Atmos audio.
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- High HDR frame rate makes sport look smooth and clear
- You can change the color balance with your iPhone
- Siri is fast and efficient
Like most Apple devices, the Apple TV 4K proved to be extremely easy to set up, and our iPhone recognized it as soon as we plugged it in. The iPhone took care of automatically transferring our Apple ID and password to the Apple TV 4K, and we were also impressed with the One Home Screen feature, which mirrors the apps and layout of all Apple devices. Existing TV in your home.
Overall performance of the Apple TV 4K (2021) was very smooth, with no lag when loading or switching between apps, and we found Siri to be good at searching for content, even when a query contained multiple parameters, when we asked for kids' comedy. movies, a number of proper movies, including Paddington 2 and Finding Dory, flashed across the bottom of the screen in a matter of seconds.
When it comes to high frame rate HDR playback, the amount of compatible content available right now is limited, but we did see a marked difference when watching Red Bull TV on Apple TV 4K (2021) compared to Apple TV 4K. (2017) On the latest Apple TV, Red Bull Straight Rhythm, a fast-paced motorcycle supercross event, looked smooth and sharp, but a little edgy and not nearly as detailed in the previous iteration.
We found the color balance feature to be easy to use: after holding our iPhone close to our TV screen with the camera pointed at it, with the on-screen image going through a range of colors, we were presented with a new profile color that was less vivid. and a little dimmer. It's easy to switch between the original color settings and the new balanced look using the onscreen options.
We were impressed with the redesigned Siri Remote: we found the touchpad much more precise than the previous model for scrolling through apps and programs, and we were also impressed that the TV could be turned off at the same time as Apple. 4K TV (2021), which means fewer remotes cluttering up the coffee table. The extra weight (2,25oz/64g vs. 1,5oz/45g) is welcome and gives the sense of superior build quality.
Apple TV 4K (2021) also packs many small but extremely useful features. For example, if you need to enter text on the Apple TV 4K (2021), such as a password, you can enter it on your iPhone rather than trying to select characters on the screen with el control remote. You can connect two pairs of Apple AirPods at the same time for private listening, and there's also multi-user support, so family members with their own AppleID can be added to the device and view their own collections of personalized apps, videos and music.
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Should I buy the Apple TV 4K (2021)?
Buy it if...
You want high frame rate HDR playback
If you watch a lot of videos that feature fast-paced action, such as sports, the high frame rate capability of Apple TV 4K (2021) will ensure that your viewing experience is extremely smooth. You've already invested in the Apple ecosystem
If you already own Apple products like an iPhone or AirPods, it makes sense to choose the Apple TV 4K (2021) over other streaming devices, as it will give you quick access to all the apps or services you've already downloaded and set up. it will be simple. Do you want a HomeKit hub?
Apple TV 4K (2021) can function as a HomeKit hub, allowing you to control your smart home devices even when you are away from home. Thread is built in as well, which should ensure that you don't feel as much lag when using Siri to control your smart home devices.
Don't buy it if...
You have a limited budget
At $179 / £169 / AU$249, the Apple TV 4K (2021) is one of the most expensive streaming devices around. If you're on a tight budget, you'll probably want to go for a more affordable option from Roku or Amazon. You have an Apple TV 4K (2017)
The Apple TV 4K (2021) only offers a handful of improvements over the previous iteration. If you already have an Apple TV 4K (2017), then the upgrade is not worth it, unless, for example, you watch a lot of sports and ...