If you have a more modern TV, you usually don’t need a streaming box for Netflix
Not so long ago, external streaming devices were coveted accessories for TVs that weren’t all that smart. In 2015, for example, the in-house Fire TV Stick was the best-selling product on Amazon.de. But Apple was in the streaming business much earlier, the first Apple TV was presented in 2007.
15 years later, the third generation with 4K resolution has come onto the market and the demands have changed. More modern TVs require Netflix
Apple has left the design unchanged, but the small, raven-black box has become a bit more compact at 9.3 x 9.3 x 3.1 millimeters. The remote control with an aluminum housing and black buttons is much more stylish and is charged in the new edition via a USB-C socket instead of a Lightning connection.
But you don’t have to use them. You can replace it with an iPhone or iPad and in the test, the Apple TV 4K immediately accepted the remote control of the Samsung TV without any further adjustment.
If you like talking to Siri for control and search, you’d rather use the Apple aluminum, which has an extra button for the digital assistant on the right side. After an update, Siri should be able to recognize the voices of different users and adjust their results and suggestions accordingly.
What you can’t see: An A15 chip is now at work inside and, in addition to Dolby Vision, the device now also supports HDR10. This makes it more interesting than its predecessor, especially for Samsung televisions, since the Korean manufacturer relies on this HDR standard.
Basically, the new Apple TV delivers an excellent picture on 4K displays, even if it is only displayed in simple HDR10. There’s no jerking or jerking, everything looks wonderfully fluid and jagged. Streaming apps also work much faster than on the television used in the test.
For the best results, you can have the image automatically adjusted to content and dynamic range. iPhone owners can also use their smartphone to perform color matching with the true depth camera. An upcoming update should also enable the box to automatically adapt to changing frame rates without the screen briefly going black. So far, however, no televisions have mastered the so-called QMS VRR.
The Apple TV 4K also delivers an excellent performance in terms of sound. It masters all current standards, including Dolby Atmos. In the test, the set-top box proved that with the Sonos Beam 2 soundbar in a surround network with two Sonos One speakers and a Sonos Sub Mini. In addition, Sennheiser’s new top soundbar Ambeo (review follows) was able to demonstrate its Atmos qualities with the device.
Apple users can connect two Homepod mini as a stereo pair and of course Apple headphones are connected in no time at all. With compatible Airpods, it is also possible with 3D audio to adjust the sound so that it also appears to come from the direction of the TV when you turn your head.
Soundbars capable of 3D sound can be a good reason to buy a new Apple TV 4K. Because Dolby Atmos requires HDMI 2.1 connections (eARC), which only very modern televisions have. With an HDMI switch, however, it is possible to route the sound directly from the set-top box to the loudspeaker.
The A15 chip can show its strength especially in games from Apple’s Arcade range. It is easily possible to couple an Xbox or Playstation controller, so you don’t have to mess around with the remote control. The Apple TV 4K cannot keep up with the consoles, but there are very nice games in the portfolio, especially for children.
The set-top box has other advantages for Apple users: it can control HomeKit devices in the networked household, conjure up photos from the iCloud on the screen or display training videos from Apple Fitness.
So there are some good reasons for Apple users to grab the new Apple TV 4K. However, the fun is quite expensive. The standard model with 64 gigabytes (GB) of memory costs 169 euros. For 20 euros more you get a device with 128 GB and an additional gigabit LAN connection. This variant also supports threaded networks and the cross-platform smart home standard Matter.