Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Review: Offers More Features At A Lower Cost

Apple TV 4K is often thought of as a streaming device, and that’s indeed what it is. While it’s considerably more expensive than most streaming devices, you can find many features on competing devices for substantially less money.

This unique product, however, offers much more than just 4K, making it a niche product. With a price of about Rs. 14,900, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) is more affordable than its predecessor. Apple TV 4K only aims at Apple fans, or does it benefit everyone? Here’s what you need to know.

Apple Tv 4k (3rd Gen) Design And Specifications

In comparison with its previous-generation counterpart, Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) is smaller and lighter. However, the product is still significantly heavier and larger than most other products in this category.

A smaller and simpler Apple brand logo replaces the Apple TV logo on the top, but the table-top form factor is preserved. This model no longer supports non-4K, which is noteworthy.

It is only available in black and silver for Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen). In addition, the device now has two variants, one with 64GB storage and Wi-Fi connectivity only and 128GB storage and wired connectivity, including an RJ45 Ethernet port.

Ethernet and HDMI ports are located at the back of both variants, alongside the power connector and Ethernet port. There’s HDMI 2.1 support, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5 on the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen).

It supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR10 formats and streams up to Ultra-HD (3840 x 2160) resolutions. In addition, it runs Apple’s tvOS platform, which runs on iOS-based iOS. Also supported is Dolby Atmos audio.

Apple Tv 4k (3rd Gen) Remote And Features

A combination of physical buttons and a touch-sensitive clickpad for navigation makes the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) remote quite impressive.
Apple TV remotes (3rd Gen) use non-replaceable batteries instead of disposable or replaceable ones, like most other streaming devices.

One big change from the previous generation is that the remote can charge via a USB Type-C port. However, you’ll need to be careful handling the remote, as it is prone to scuffs and dents.

Navigation, selecting, adjusting volume, playing music, and invoking Siri are all possible with the remote control.

One remote control can control multiple connected devices with HDMI CEC. In addition, several apps and services are available through Apple’s tvOS operating system, which is optimized for television use.

In addition to its excellent subscription-based gaming service, Apple Arcade is also available through tvOS.

Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Performance

The Apple tvOS platform is generally fast and hassle-free, and its loading times are also quick. Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) did not exhibit any noticeable lag during my testing.

Those familiar with iOS will find most of the modifications geared towards making it suitable for the large screen and remote navigation.

Streaming services, Apple Arcade games, and other relevant apps on tvOS work well and are well-designed. However, if you have a smartphone or tablet and are looking for some mainstream apps, you probably would only want to use them on an HDTV if they have been updated.

AirPods and HomePods can easily be connected to Apple TV 4K, as with other Apple ecosystem devices. Additionally, tvOS users have access to dynamic wallpapers, which are high-quality, high-resolution clips of scenic scenes. They were all quite nice to look at, but the downloads took a long time.

Verdict

There’s much more to Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) than meets the eye, even if it looks like another streaming device. There are times when it feels like it needs to be reworked, but most of the time, it works well enough.

Especially if you have other Apple hardware or subscriptions to its key services, this device offers plenty of storage, useful connectivity options, and Apple’s renowned ecosystem.

Despite being undeniably expensive, Apple TV 4K has the capabilities of a micro-console, mirroring many iPhone and iPad features on a bigger TV screen. As a result, and if you are already an Apple customer, the Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) is an excellent choice.

Ratings:

• Design and specifications: 9
• Features: 9
• VFM: 7
• Performance: 9
• Overall: 9

Pros:

• The design and build quality are excellent
• Connectivity via Ethernet is optional
• Excellent specifications, powerful SoC
• Support for HDR10+ as well as Dolby Vision has been added
• It’s perfect for gaming
• Benefits of the Apple ecosystem

Cons:

• While tvOS has some minor drawbacks, it sometimes feels oversimplified
• This device feels underequipped for Siri
• The price has dropped, but it’s still somewhat expensive.