That Apple TV 4K as a product has been around since 2017, the manufacturer has now released the third generation of its set-top box. Apple hasn’t changed much about the concept – Apple TV is still supposed to serve as a media center, smart home hub and an interface between a “dumb” television and your own iPhone, or rather, Apple ID. But in the midst of recession and inflation, the manufacturer takes an unusual step:
Apple lowers prices for the Apple TV 4K 2022
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo correctly predicted that in May 2022: In the second half of 2022, Apple will bring a cheaper version of the Apple TV. If you had to pay 199 euros for the 32 GB model, the starting price is 169 euros. In addition, Apple is eliminating the outdated memory size and offering the entry-level device with 64 GB of memory. Attention, when buying you have to do without the gigabit connection, which is now missing on the cheaper Apple TV 4K. However, you can only make full use of this if you have a corresponding Internet contract and, ideally, a fiber optic connection. This is not even the case everywhere in the Munich area. The slightly better version of the Apple TV 4K has 128 GB of memory, has a gigabit connection and costs 189 euros, for the second generation you had to pay 219 euros. So Apple lowers the prices by 30 euros each for the two models.
What’s new in the Apple TV 4K 2022
Instead of the SoC A 12 in the previous model, Apple has the third-generation Apple TV A15 processor donated. Although the two iPhones 14 Pro and Pro Max are based on an A16, the processor differs only slightly from the A15, so you can say that the Apple TV 4K has the best possible chip. With the model from last year, the testers criticized that Apple skimped on the built-in GPU. Instead of the X version of the A chip with better graphics (A10X), the manufacturer used a “normal” version of the A12 chip. The manufacturer now boasts a 30 percent improvement in graphics performance over its predecessor.
As mentioned at the beginning, Apple has the entry-level model Gigabit connection saved. Although the manufacturer advertises its expensive model with the additional connection in the press release, in fact, the previous generation had this connection in both versions.
With the new Apple TV 4K is the tried and tested Siri Remote at, Apple has not changed the concept. With the first-generation Siri Remote from 2017, many users have complained that the remote control with the touch surface can hardly be operated at all. In 2021 Apple brought a new variant. This can also be found on the third-generation Apple TV 4K, but Apple is eliminating the Lightning socket for charging and equipping the new remote control with a USB-C socket for charging. However, the manufacturer does not include the Lightning to USB cable in the packaging. The USB-C remote control of the Apple TV 4K has to be charged with a cable that is already available in the household. Ok, but at least the argument of less e-waste is confirmed.
Apple
The two generations – Apple TV 4K 2021 and 2022 – support HDMI 2.1, but the footnote to the new generation still mentions the newer Audio Return Channel (ARC or eARC). HDR10+ has been added to the video formats.
Availability
Unlike the iPads Pro and iPad that were announced at the same time, the Apple TV 4K is starting available to order todaybut will only be available in Apple Stores in two weeks from November 4, 2022.