It is simple to think about the Apple TV 4K as a streaming machine, and certainly that is what it’s for probably the most half. Nonetheless, it is significantly costlier than most streaming gadgets, and plenty of won’t see the purpose in spending round Rs. 15,000 when competing gadgets (and even your tv’s personal working system) can do a number of the identical issues for a lot much less. Nonetheless, the Apple TV 4K can also be rather more than that, making it a novel product that sits in a distinct segment class of its personal.
The lately launched Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is extra highly effective, extra succesful, and higher outfitted than its predecessor in some ways, whereas curiously priced a bit decrease than earlier than at Rs. 14,900 onwards. Is that this machine aimed solely at Apple followers, or can anybody profit from having an Apple TV 4K? Discover out on this overview.
The gross sales bundle accommodates an influence cable for the Apple TV 4K (third Gen), however you will want to purchase a very good HDMI cable individually
Apple TV 4K (third Gen) design and specs
The Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is a bit smaller and lighter than the previous-generation mannequin. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless significantly bigger and heavier than most different merchandise on this normal product phase. It retains the table-top type issue, though delicate design adjustments are seen, such because the Apple TV emblem on the highest being changed by a smaller and less complicated Apple model emblem. Notably, the price of entry is decrease than earlier than, however the non-4K mannequin has been discontinued.
As earlier than, the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is out there in solely a single color possibility – black, with a silver distant. Nonetheless, there are actually two variants of the machine; the Rs. 14,900 variant has 64GB of inner storage and solely Wi-Fi for Web connectivity, whereas the Rs. 16,900 variant (the overview unit despatched to me) has 128GB of storage and an RJ45 Ethernet port for wired connectivity, along with Wi-Fi.
That is additionally the one distinction in design between the 2 variants, with the Ethernet port lining up on the again alongside the HDMI port and energy socket. Included within the field together with the machine are an influence cable and the distant, however nothing else; you will must buy an HDMI cable to connect with your TV and an Ethernet cable (if wanted) individually.
The Apple TV Distant (third Gen) has a USB Sort-C port for charging
When it comes to specs, the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) helps HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5. The machine is powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, notably additionally used within the iPhone 13 series, in addition to the fundamental iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus fashions, amongst different gadgets.
The Apple TV 4K (third Gen) can stream at as much as Extremely-HD (3840×2160) decision, with assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+, and HDR10 codecs. Dolby Atmos audio is supported as nicely, and the machine runs on Apple’s iOS-based tvOS platform.
Apple TV 4K (third Gen) distant and options
The distant of the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is kind of spectacular, due to its aluminium casing and mixture of bodily buttons and touch-sensitive clickpad for navigation. Not like most different streaming gadgets’ remotes, which use disposable and replaceable batteries, the Apple TV distant (third Gen) has a built-in, non-replaceable battery that must be charged.
Curiously, the distant itself is essentially the identical as that of the earlier era, save for one huge change – it has a USB Sort-C port for charging (no charging cable is offered within the field, although). Whereas the distant appears and feels nice, it is also pretty inclined to scuffs and dents, so you will should be cautious dealing with it.
The distant has buttons for navigation and choice, quantity adjustment, and playback, in addition to invoking Apple’s Siri voice assistant. The ‘TV’ button on the distant is customisable, and will be set to both open the Apple TV app or go to the house display on the tvOS interface.
HDMI CEC lets you management related gadgets utilizing a single distant. Apple’s tvOS software program platform (model 16.1.1 on the time of this overview) helps quite a few apps and companies optimised to be used on a tv display. Moreover, tvOS additionally provides you entry to Apple Arcade, the corporate’s wonderful subscription-based gaming service.
Apple’s tvOS 16 interface is straightforward to get round, however typically feels a bit oversimplified
Apple TV 4K (third Gen) efficiency
Apple’s tvOS platform is essentially environment friendly, and I skilled fast loading occasions, with quick and hassle-free navigation. There was no noticeable lag in any respect throughout my time with the Apple TV 4K (third Gen). The working system will really feel acquainted to anybody who has expertise with iOS, with most modifications designed round making it appropriate for the massive display and navigation utilizing the distant.
That mentioned, tvOS does at occasions really feel oversimplified, with sure parts inside apps showing a bit under-equipped as in comparison with Android TV or Amazon’s Hearth TV interface. This generally is a good factor, as with the easy-to-navigate grid on the house display and content material previews on the prime, however there are additionally some drawbacks resembling restricted subtitle picks in some apps, occasional HDR format compatibility points with sure streaming companies, and unreliable content-level assist for Dolby Atmos on the Netflix app on tvOS.
Most apps which might be related on tvOS – main streaming companies, Apple Arcade video games, and the like – are nicely put-together and work as anticipated. There are some mainstream apps that have not been up to date shortly (Tinder, for instance), however these aren’t actually related and also you most likely would not even need to use them on a tv display when you have a smartphone or pill helpful.
As with different Apple ecosystem gadgets, you possibly can shortly and effortlessly join any AirPods or HomePod audio system it’s a must to the Apple TV 4K. One other attention-grabbing function is dynamic wallpapers – the machine downloads high-quality, high-resolution scenic clips as backgrounds for the tvOS interface. All of those have been fairly good to have a look at, however the downloads are expectedly data-intensive.
A significant differentiator for the Apple TV machine is entry to Apple Arcade and different standard video games which have been optimised for tvOS. A appropriate sport controller is important to have the ability to play a number of the video games on the Apple TV 4K, though many others will be performed utilizing the Apple TV distant itself. The expertise was higher on the large display for a lot of video games, making the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) a really succesful ‘micro-console’ of kinds, and that is the place the highly effective A15 processor turns out to be useful.
Siri on the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is slightly underwhelming, no less than in comparison with its capabilities on different Apple platforms resembling iOS and CarPlay. I wasn’t in a position to play particular content material on streaming companies aside from YouTube, Apple Music, and the Apple TV app, though I used to be no less than in a position to open apps already put in on the machine and navigate across the App Retailer with voice instructions.
Coming to the core capabilities of audio and video streaming, the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is notably higher by way of stream stability and high quality than gadgets working on different platforms, notably on slower Web connections. Buffering was minimal, and the image and sound have been noticeably higher on the Apple TV 4K on a cell information connection. Even with a a lot sooner and extra steady Wi-Fi connection, sure streaming companies resembling Apple TV+ and Netflix did look a bit higher utilizing this machine than on the default Android TV platform on the Xiaomi Smart TV X50.
Verdict
The Apple TV 4K (third Gen) would possibly seem to be simply one other streaming machine – and a very costly one, at that – however there’s a lot to this gadget than most first impressions recommend. It does, in fact, carry out its core features nicely sufficient for probably the most half, though tvOS sometimes feels prefer it wants an overhaul. There’s loads of storage, helpful connectivity choices, and Apple’s highly-regarded ecosystem to sweeten the deal, notably if you have already got different Apple {hardware} and subscriptions to its key companies.
Though undeniably costly for a streaming machine, the Apple TV 4K is highly effective and succesful sufficient to be thought of a micro-console, and it may well deliver most of the capabilities of your iPhone or iPad to your a lot bigger TV display. With this in thoughts, and when you’re already on the Apple bandwagon, the Apple TV 4K (third Gen) is price shopping for.
Worth: Rs. 14,900 onwards
Rankings:
Design and specs: 9
Options: 9
VFM: 7
Efficiency: 9
Total: 9
Execs:
- Superb design and construct high quality
- Optionally available Ethernet connectivity
- Highly effective SoC, wonderful specs
- HDR10+ now supported, along with Dolby Imaginative and prescient
- Nice for gaming
- A lot of Apple ecosystem advantages
Cons:
- tvOS typically feels oversimplified, nonetheless has some minor drawbacks
- Siri feels under-equipped on this machine
- Nonetheless considerably costly regardless of the worth drop