New Apple TV 4K
Apple’s new Apple TV 4K, priced at $299, draws mixed reactions for combining a major price hike with incremental hardware upgrades and an emphasis on Siri-powered AI features. Many commenters praise Apple TV as still the best alternative to ad-heavy, data-mining smart TV platforms, but question the value of 128GB storage, far‑field microphones, and AI requirements that depend on an iPhone, especially without additions like 120 Hz output or full audio passthrough. The consensus is that existing Apple TV 4K owners have little reason to upgrade, while new buyers must weigh Apple’s smoother, more privacy‑respecting experience against significantly cheaper streaming devices and mini‑PC setups.
Price & value
- Main reaction: $299 is widely seen as a huge hike from the recent $129–$199 pricing, especially given similar functionality for streaming.
- Many say it was an “impulse buy” at $129 but becomes a considered — and often rejected — purchase at $299.
- Some argue parts costs (RAM, storage, tariffs, AI push) justify it; others see it as a pure margin grab or “price hike plus vanity features.”
- Several plan to buy used/previous-gen Apple TV 4K instead, or stick with existing units that still work fine after many years.
Hardware & specs
- New model moves to A19, 8GB LPDDR5X, and 128GB storage (no lower tier). Some see this as overkill for a streaming box.
- Adds AV1 and VP9 hardware decoding, which excites people with high‑bitrate local content.
- Still limited to 4K60 output; no 120Hz or HDMI 2.1, which disappoints gamers and people using game streaming.
- Ethernet returns on the single model but remains 1 GbE; some wish for 2.5G/10G, others say gigabit is more than sufficient.
Siri AI & microphones
- “Supercharged by Siri AI” is not compelling for most commenters.
- Siri AI requires an Apple‑Intelligence‑enabled iPhone/iPad in the home and has server‑side usage limits with a future paid tier, which frustrates many.
- Early experiences with Siri AI on iOS/tvOS are widely described as slow, unreliable, and sometimes worse than “old Siri.”
- Always‑on far‑field microphones in the box itself raise privacy and annoyance concerns; some want a hardware kill switch.
Privacy vs alternatives
- A major pro‑Apple theme: TV and streaming OSes (LG, Samsung, Roku, Google TV, Android TV) are described as ad‑heavy, sluggish, and aggressively surveillant; Apple TV is seen as the “least bad” or “privacy‑friendliest” mainstream box.
- Counter‑view: Apple also tracks and monetizes user data (App Store, Maps, Siri incidents, analytics lawsuits), so trusting them more than TV OEMs is called hypocritical by some.
- Debate centers on:
- “First‑party usage data” (Netflix knowing what you watch on Netflix) vs. cross‑app ACR and telemetry by TV makers.
- Whether Apple’s privacy marketing reflects reality or just better PR.
Use cases & ecosystem fit
- Many buy Apple TV specifically to avoid connecting their TV to the internet; it’s praised for fast, consistent UI, good apps, and long support life.
- For power users: lack of audio passthrough / full TrueHD Atmos and limited Dolby Vision profiles remain big blockers vs. Nvidia Shield and niche Android boxes.
- Some argue a $300 mini‑PC or Linux box is more powerful and flexible (browser, codecs, ad‑free), but others note those are far fiddlier than “set‑and‑forget” Apple TV.
Upgrade appetite
- Consensus: almost no reason to upgrade from a 2021/2022 Apple TV 4K; performance was already ample and many Siri AI features also come to older models.
- For people on very old Apple TVs or replacing dying units, the new box may still be attractive — but the price makes many reconsider or delay.