Apple TV 4K 2021
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Apple TV 4K is a smart TV add-on that adds support for 4K 60fps HDR with Dolby Vision. It is powered by the A12 Bionic chip found in earlier iPhone models and offers significant boost in graphics performance over the previous Apple TV.
It also adds a range of smart features that include AirPlay that can be useful for TVs that do not come with it included. The Apple TV 4K further adds Siri, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Apple Arcade, and more that many consumers enjoy.
Packaged with the Apple TV 4K is the redesigned Siri Remote. It features a five-way navigation clickpad.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 support
- Siri remote now works with Apple HomeKit and AirPlay
Cons
- Not everyone needs it
What external reviewers found***
External score 82% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Excellent 4K HDR10+ and Dolby Vision video
- Improved performance
- Improved spatial audio
- High-quality 4K content
- Supports AirPlay
Cons
- No HomeKit support
- Expensive compared to competing streaming boxes
- No AirPlay or HomeKit support
- No HDMI port
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
1x HDMI 2.1 + 1x RJ45 Gigabit
Wireless Connectivity
WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0 + IR
Dimensions
Size | Depth
3.9 inches / 98 mm
Size | Height
1.4 inches / 35 mm
Size | Width
3.9 inches / 98 mm
Weight
15 oz / 425 g
Function
Processor
A12 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
Video Codecs
H.264/HEVC SDR/HDR up to 2160p 60fps
Performance
Storage
32 or 64 GB
Production
Debut
2021-04-20
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
androidauthority[1]
Reviewer score 78%With a starting price of $179, the Apple TV 4K (2021) is one of the most expensive streaming boxes on the market. The older Apple TV HD is best reserved for those who have not yet upgraded to a 4K television. High-end options for non-Apple people include the Nvidia Shield TV ($149) and TV Pro ($199)
Find the original article here.
Pros
- More powerful than the Apple TV 4K (2017)
- Improved performance
- Improved remote
Cons
- More expensive than the 4K 4K
androidauthority[2]
Reviewer score 72%The Apple TV 4K costs $180 for the 32GB version and $200 for the 64GB version. There's also the Apple TV HD available for $149 that's functionally identical, but has an inferior processor and lacks support for 4K and various HDR formats. Apple ecosystem integration is best in class. No other streaming box has access to this many apps and games.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support
- Supports Apple’s App Store and Apple Arcade
- Siri works well
Cons
- Expensive compared to competing streaming boxes
- No HDMI port
digitaltrends[3]
Reviewer score 82%The Apple TV 4K user experience is controlled by tvOS, now in version 14.5. Using the remote's TV/Control Center button, you can toggle between the original icon grid of apps, and the newer Apple TV App interface. There still aren't many apps that support it, but you can shrink down a playing video into a smaller window.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Siri remote is a great addition to Apple’s ecosystem
- Siri is an excellent addition to the Apple ecosystem
- Dolby Vision, Atmos, and Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- No HomePod support
- No AirPlay or HomeKit support
pcmag[4]
Reviewer score 80%The Apple TV 4K is a very good media hub, especially if you're firmly ensconced in Apple's ecosystem. It's responsive, loaded with features, and supports 4K content in HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The $50 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, the $50 Chromecast With Google TV, and the $100 Roku Ultra are all good media streamers in their own right.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- High-quality 4K content
- Supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HDR10
- Apple AirPlay 2 streaming from iOS devices and Macs
Cons
- No headphone jack
- Doesn’t search Netflix’s library
techhive[5]
Reviewer score 81%Apple's hybrid touch-and-click concept still has promise, but it needs more refinement on the software side. The Apple TV 4K is packed with little bells and whistles that help it stand out from other streaming platforms. It works well with Bluetooth headphones (Fire TV devices don't) and has a menu for switching between apps.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- HDR and Dolby Vision support
- Easy-to-use touchpad
- Supports AirPlay
Cons
- Doesn’t support Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- No Netflix integration
techradar[6]
Reviewer score 88%The Apple TV 4K (2021) is powered by the A12 Bionic chip. It supports both high-frame-rate HDR and Dolby Vision 4K format, along with Dolby Atmos audio. The new Siri remote is thinner, but slightly heavier than before, and powered by a rechargeable battery.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- High-frame-rate HDR
- Easy to set up
- Improved Siri remote
Cons
- No HDMI 2.1 port
theverge[7]
Reviewer score 78%The new Apple TV 4K has been outfitted with an HDMI 2.1 port, but it's fair to say that Apple isn't leveraging the full potential of that upgrade. Live TV integration with Siri remains limited to a frustratingly small list of providers and apps. Apple doesn't sync up your chosen preference between iOS and tvOS when it comes to ATT.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Siri Remote is a huge improvement over the original remote
- Improved spatial audio
- More affordable than the original
Cons
- No Dolby Vision support
- No built-in Dolby Atmos support
tomsguide[8]
Reviewer score 87%The Apple TV 4K 2021 features a few new features that are great to have, though many are still on the previous version. Screen calibration, which came with tvOS 14.5, lets you use an iPhone to adjust the color balance. The new model also offers audio sharing, which basically acts like a headphone splitter.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent 4K HDR10+ and Dolby Vision video
- Improved Siri remote
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos support
- No HomeKit support
whathifi[9]
Reviewer score 87%The new Apple TV 4K puts in an excellent performance. Support for proper game controllers makes for a satisfying console-lite experience. The extra power could also pave the way for fancier games in the future. The upgrades to picture and sound performance are marginal. The new remote doesn't transform the experience, and makes its presence felt in slightly snappier navigation.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ support
Cons
- No Dolby Vision
wired[10]
Reviewer score 85%The Apple TV 4K is one of the most expensive streaming devices we've tried. Apple's A12 Bionic chip is not the company's newest chip, but it does boost the overall performance. It supports a high frame rate HDR of up to 60 fps, which is optimal for most 4K TVs.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- High frame rate HDR
- Works with Thread, a mesh networking system that helps connect smart home devices together in the cloud
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- Doesn’t support Dolby Vision
User Reviews
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References
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review: A worthy upgrade that you might not need. [androidauthority]. https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-tv-4k-2021-review-1232097/. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ Apple TV 4K review: Aging hardware boosted by a best in class ecosystem. [androidauthority]. https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-tv-4k-review-1200743/. 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review: It’s all about that new Siri remote. [digitaltrends]. https://www.digitaltrends.com/media-streamer-reviews/apple-tv-4k-second-gen-review/. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation) Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-tv-4k-2nd-generation. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review: This is an uncompromising streaming box. [techhive]. https://www.techhive.com/article/3620971/apple-tv-4k-2021-review.html. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/apple-tv-4k-2021. 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review: much better remote, slightly faster box. [theverge]. https://www.theverge.com/22454960/apple-tv-4k-2021-review. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review: Come for the power, stay for the remote. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/apple-tv-4k-2021. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
- ^ Apple TV 4K (2021) review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/apple-tv-4k-2021. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ Review: Apple TV 4K (2021). [wired]. https://www.wired.com/review/apple-tv-4k-2021/. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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