Apple recently unveiled its next generation iPad and iPad Pro, along with a wealth of worthwhile upgrades. Topping off the list is the next-generation Apple TV 4K streaming device powered by the impressive A15 Bionic SoC. Let’s get straight into it.
First released in 2017, the introduction of Apple TV 4K was met with generally favourable reviews and was seen as a worthy pairing to then-new HDR Ultra HD TVs. Four years later, the 2nd generation came along with further upgrades and improvements, most notably in the revamped Siri remote and even faster A12 Bionic processor. Initial entry-level pricing saw a somewhat steep increase, much to the chagrin of users looking to upgrade.
This time around, while the upgrade philosophy remains the same, now featuring an all-new A15 Bionic SoC that’s faster and even more efficient – we’ll dissect it in a bit – there’s a more palatable entry price point of £149.
I love the understated design of Apple streaming products, and apparently Apple does too, barely making any changes to the design across numerous generations. Simple and sleek with a discreet Apple logo on top, it’s minimalism done right.
The biggest upgrade is undoubtedly the A15 Bionic processor, and Apple claims an additional 50 per cent CPU performance and 30 per cent increased GPU performance when compared with the second generation. It’s energy efficient, as well, consuming 30 per cent less power, which means no internal fan for cooling. The power supply is now contained within the 31mm x 93mm x 93mm chassis that weighs 208 grams or 214 grams for the Wi-Fi and Ethernet models, respectively.
Wi-Fi 6 covers wireless connectivity with Bluetooth 5.0 support and a pricier model also comes with additional Gigabit wired Ethernet, so rear I/0 will vary depending on models.
Features include HDR10+ support, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 7.1, and Dolby Digital surround sound support for immersive audio. Also a rather large list of additional video and audio formats are supported, including but not limited to, H.264 and MPEG-4 video codecs and Apple lossless, FLAC, and HE-AAC audio codecs.
Complimenting the device is an all-aluminium chassis, Siri remote featuring a minimalist approach to input with a touch-enabled clickpad for fluid playback control and play/pause, back, volume, home, and mute buttons on its face, with power button and microphone situated on the top-centre, finished off with a single Siri button on its side. There’s also USB-C port at the bottom for charging, as well.
Available for pre-order today and shipping from November 4, the Apple TV 4K 2022 starts from £149 for the 64GB and Wi-Fi only model. Add an additional £20 for the Wi-Fi and Ethernet edition.
