Everything You Need to Know About the New Apple 4K TV

Apple TV holds a permanent place in millions of living rooms — and in the hearts of Apple enthusiasts all around the world. Unfortunately, as modern as the original devices seem, these are far from future proof.

The good news? From new software to hardware revisions, Apple TV 4K offers plenty of reasons to upgrade. Keep reading to find out what’s new, what’s improved, and what you can expect from the new little black box.

Swipe and gesture-based controls have been all the rage for more than a decade, but they still hold plenty of room for improvement. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Apple Siri remote, which powers older versions of the Apple TV.

By replacing traditional directional buttons with a touchpad, Apple fixed a problem that should have never existed in the first place. The touchpad was confusing for new users and worst of all, too sensitive, which led to hopping and skipping through menus. It was a glaring weak point for the Apple TV, but thankfully, it’s being put out to pasture.

The new Apple TV 4K remote ditches the square touchpad and replaces it with a more functional circle, with four directional buttons built around the edges. This allows not only traditional menu navigation with buttons, but also, the ability to swipe through shows and movies.

The circular design harkens back to the old iPod days, granting the ability to move your thumb in a circle and fast forward or rewind video content. Finished in a snazzy aluminum with easy-to-see black buttons (a big improvement over the all-black remote), the new Apple TV 4K remote is a welcomed improvement.

Apple’s new A12 Bionic chip allows the Apple TV 4K to produce some seriously amazing video, utilizing Dolby Vision for eye-popping 4K visuals and Dolby Atmos compatibility for movie theater-quality sound experiences.

Tech lovers wanting to show off the performance of their newly purchased 4K television will definitely want to pair it with an Apple TV 4K, which also supports high frame rate HDR (High Dynamic Range). This is a game-changer when it comes to watching live sports and other fast-moving content.

One very useful feature of the new Apple TV 4K: the ability to use your iPhone as a color correction device for your TV. Just point the iPhone at your screen, and it will be able to finely tune the color balance.

Together, these new improvements make the Apple TV 4K a must-own for those looking to replace their old unit — as well as consumers who are new to the streaming box setup.

The majority of people in the market for an Apple TV 4K are already deeply connected to the App Store. Getting the most out of a new Apple TV 4K requires several different subscriptions. This is true not only for video content from Apple TV+, but also workout classes with Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, and even games with Apple Arcade.

The all-in-one nature of Apple TV 4K means you can ditch the gym membership and Spotify account if you so choose. Thankfully, Apple makes managing multiple subscriptions easy by offering AppleOne, which bundles them all together into a convenient package.

The mileage you get out of your Apple TV 4K depends on how often you intend to use it for everything but video content. No other streaming box offers the variety of apps and services that can be found on the Apple TV 4K. That being said, if you’re just looking for a Roku-style experience and have no desire to play games or utilize other functions, it could be best to stick with your old Apple TV or other device.

No matter which of today’s numerous entertainment solutions you take on, you’ll want to protect your investment with an extended warranty. This goes above and beyond standard warranties in terms of coverage and service. An extended warranty from Upsie will also produce considerable savings as compared to the options provided by most retailers. Should you eventually need a repair, Upsie will find you a local shop to handle necessary fixes.