The Apple TV has finally gotten its long-overdue hardware upgrade for the first time in nearly four years. It was unveiled alongside the new iMac, iPad Pro, AirTag, and a purple-coloured iPhone 12 earlier this year. Naturally, many Apple fans are excited, but what does it mean for the general consumers? If you have ever wondered what’s the whole deal with the Apple TV 4K and why you should even consider getting one, read on for our explainer.
What Is The Apple TV 4K?
The Apple TV is a digital media player and an entertainment device for the television, or in other words, a set-top box.
First introduced in 2007, the Apple TV has gone through six hardware revisions over the years, with the latest being the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation). Currently, Apple is selling two versions of its micro console—the new Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD.
See the table below for a detailed comparison between the two models.
| Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) | Apple TV HD | |
| Resolution | Supports up to 2160p (4K) | Supports up to 1080p |
| Video Quality | SDR, HRD 10, Dolby Vision | SDR |
| Audio Output | Supports 7.1.4 channels with Dolby Atmos | Supports 7.1 channels |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic, 2.49GHz hexa-core | Apple A8 chip, 1.5GHz dual-core |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| HDMI | 2.1 | 1.4 |
| Storage Option | 32GB/64GB | 32GB |
| Wi-Fi | 6 | 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 4.0 |
Why Should You Get The New Apple TV 4K?
4K Streaming At The Highest Quality
4K TVs are not as expensive as they used to be, and they can be purchased at pretty competitive prices these days. If you have one (or are planning to get one), you would want to watch 4K content on it. The latest Apple TV is by far the best 4K-enabled set-top box you can buy right now.
It features twice the frame rate for high dynamic range (HDR) videos at 120Hz, which is good news if you tune in to a lot of fast-action sports. The high refresh rate translates to ultra-smooth movements on screen too.
Aside from that, the set-top box also delivers Dolby Vision as well as Dolby Atmos. If you have the right setup that supports these two formats, you are in for a true cinematic experience at home!
Apple TV+ Is Consistently Adding Good Shows
Apple TV+ is included with Apple’s latest set-top box. The streaming service has had a bumpy beginning with a dearth of content at launch, but it is steadily adding top-quality shows to its roster.
Joining Apple Originals like The Morning Show and For All Mankind as tentpole launch shows are the likes of Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, and Central Park, which have garnered critical acclaim and are beloved by many. On top of that, there are other highly-anticipated upcoming shows such as Foundation and Invasion later in the year to look forward to. Evidently, there are enough arresting shows to get you hooked throughout your time at home.
Plus, you get three months of free Apple TV+ trial when you purchase the Apple TV 4K, or any new Apple devices for that matter.
A Great And Affordable Gaming Machine For The Whole Family
The Apple TV 4K is more than just a video streaming box as it also offers access to a huge library of games on the App Store. There are games of every genre ranging from platform adventures to puzzle games.
Then there’s Apple Arcade, a subscription-based service filled with only the highest-quality games that are free from any forms of ads and microtransactions.
If you have enjoyed playing some of the games on your iPhone/iPad, you can play them even better on the big screen with proper Bluetooth gaming controller support on the media box.
Workout At Home With The Help Of Top Trainers
Your home workout routine probably involves sifting through tons of fitness channels on YouTube, and it can be overwhelming. With the recent launch of Apple Fitness+, Apple has curated its fitness programmes featuring world-class workouts by some of the world’s best trainers.
The Apple TV 4K is one of the few devices that is compatible with Apple Fitness+. To have expert trainers guiding your workout routines through your TV is probably the next best thing to going to the gym.
Play Your iPhone/iPad Content On Your TV With Just A Few Taps
The big screen is always the best way to enjoy multimedia content. The Apple TV 4K brings AirPlay support to any TV. AirPlay allows you to share movies, music, home videos, holiday photos, and even presentations from your Apple devices to the Apple TV so they can be viewed and enjoyed together by everyone in the household.
TVs that let you cast content directly from your mobile devices are the exception rather than the norm. Apple’s streaming box brings that functionality even to your old, dumb TV.
Apple TV 4K Price And Availability In Malaysia
The Apple TV 4K could be one of the best purchases for your home entertainment system. It is a 4K content streamer, a gaming console, and a home workout hub all wrapped in one tiny, portable box.
You can purchase one on Shopee Malaysia with the official RRP set at RM849 for the 32GB model and RM949 for the 64GB model. The Apple TV HD is also available for purchase at RM719.
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