Michael Grothaus 14/09/2017 - 10:30am

Apple now sells TWO versions of the Apple TV. What’s the difference?

Apple introduced a ton of new stuff at its autumn iPhone event: the new iPhone X, the iPhone 8, the iPhone 8 Plus, and even the Apple Watch Series 3–but it also introduced an updated version of its new Apple TV set top box.

Apple highlighted the following points at launch:

  • Built on the groundbreaking A10X Fusion chip — the same chip that powers iPad Pro — the new Apple TV 4K delivers a vivid 4K HDR experience.
  • Support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10 ensures users can enjoy incredible-looking TV shows and movies on any HDR TV.
  • Built-in high-performance 4K video scaler makes HD content look better than ever on a 4K TV.
  • Always outputting to the highest resolution possible allows viewers to get the most out of their TV, whether it’s an older HDTV or the latest 4K Dolby Vision OLED.
  • Automatic detection of a 4K TV’s capabilities optimizes setup for the best quality picture.

Like the Apple TV before it, the new Apple TV features its own App Store, games, a Siri remote, and more. Oh, and it now does 4K. But despite it being clear Apple believes 4K is where the future of the TV is headed, the company did still leave their older fourth-generation Apple TV on sale.

So, how do the two compare? We took a look to find out.

Apple TV 4K vs Apple TV : Design & Specs

Here are the specs for the new Apple TV 4K:

  • Output: HDMI 2.0a
  • Processor: A10X Fusion chip with 64-bit architecture
  • RAM: 3 GB 
  • Storage: 32GB or 64GB
  • Max. Output Video Resolution: 2160p with Dolby Vision and HDR10
  • Dimensions: 98(L) x 98(W) x 33(H) mm
  • Weight: 425 g
  • Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0
  • Other ports: IR receiver

And here’s the specs for the fourth-generation Apple TV:

  • Output: HDMI 1.4
  • Processor: A8 chip with 64-bit architecture
  • RAM: 2GB 
  • Storage: 32GB 
  • Max. Output Video Resolution: 1080p
  • Dimensions: 98(L) x 98(W) x 33(H) mm
  • Weight: 425 g
  • Connectivity: 10/100BASE‑T Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO, Bluetooth 4.0
  • Other ports: IR receiver, USB-C (service only)

Starting with the raw specs, the new Apple TV 4K is a beast compared to the fourth-generation Apple TV. It’s got the A10X Fusion chip, 3GB of RAM, and comes with 32 or 64GB of storage. That’s a massive improvement over the older Apple TV, with its A8 chip and 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. So what is the new Apple TV 4K using the extra horsepower for? Displaying 4K HDR video of course. That video takes a lot of power to render beautifully on screen.

The new Apple TV 4K also includes a higher spec’d HDMI, which, honestly, you won’t see a difference from. The new Apple TV 4K also uses Bluetooth 5.0, but again, you won’t notice a difference between the older model’s Bluetooth 4.0. It should also be noted that the old Apple TV features a USB port and the 4K version does not–but that port is only for servicing the unit and isn’t user-accessible.

As far as the design goes, both Apple TV’s look 100% identical.

Apple TV 4K vs Apple TV : Remotes

As you’ll see from most of the other features, besides the 4K and HDR support, virtually everything else is the same for both Apple TVs. Both come with the Siri Remote, which–you guessed it–offers Siri integration. Press a Siri button on the remote and speak your command to your Apple TV. You can say things like “Find movies with Tom Cruise” and the Apple TV will find them all based on your command. But you can also use the Siri Remote to navigate within movies. If you missed something a character has said you can say “What did he say” and Siri will have the Apple TV instantly rewind. You can also use the Siri Remote to enable things like closed captioning or use it to as your Apple TV about the weather.

And that’s not all the Siri Remote can do. It’s also got a touch pad at its top–not more clicking through menus with directional buttons. Now you can swipe through them with ease. As if that’s not enough, the Siri Remote also has a built-in IR transmitter so it can actually control the volume on your TV or A/V receiver and turn it on or off too. That means there’s no need to reach for a separate remote to adjust the volume. Want more? Fine! The Siri Remote also has a built-in battery that’s charged via the Lightning connector built into it. It. Is. Amazing.

Apple TV 4K vs Apple TV : Content and Apps

Content is another space where both Apple TV’s offer the same. Each are backed by the iTunes Store and all its hundreds of thousands of movies and TV shows. Of course, if you have the Apple TV 4K you’ll be able to watch those movies and TV shows in 4K (if available). If you have the regular Apple TV you’re stuck to viewing them in 1080p.

As for other content, both Apple TV’s support the tvOS App Store and offer hundreds of games and channels to download, including the biggies like youtube, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO GO, and more.

Apple TV 4K vs Apple TV : OS and Search

Both Apple TV’s run tvOS–the software mind of your entertainment setup. It’s got a beautiful interface that’s pleasing to the eye. In addition to its own App Store it also features some very cool motion, high definition video screensavers that display when your Apple TV is idle. It’s a small feature, but one that is very cool.

But the coolest thing about tvOS is its search feature (again, found on both Apple TV models). On either Apple TV, whenever you search (via voice or text) it searches every channel and app on your Apple TV. This means if you search for movies starring Brad Pitt, you’ll not only see results from the iTunes Store, but from Netflix, HBO GO, and whatever other apps you have installed. Both Apple TV’s also support viewing your photos and listening to your music.

Apple TV 4K vs Apple TV : Price & Verdict

Which one you get depends on what kind of TV you own. If you own a 4K TV, then you should get the Apple TV 4K if you want to be able to watch 4K videos through it. But even if you don’t own a 4K TV, the Apple TV 4K will still work with 1080p HD televisions–you’ll just be limited to viewing content in 1080p (until you upgrade to a 4K television). You might also want to get the Apple TV 4K if you use a lot of app and games, as the A10 processor runs circles around the A8. But if you’re still in the “archaic” 1080p HD world and don’t play a lot of games on your Apple TV, the regular Apple TV is a great choice. The regular Apple TV now costs £149. The new Apple TV 32GB model will cost £179 and the 64GB model will cost £199.