As a follower of the Game of Thrones saga -in the books before the series- until the last of its chapters, in May 2019, I had a frustration. He had never managed to get a good look at the third episode of that last batch, entitled The Long Night and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. The reason for the disappointment is that few equipments were up to what the director created to narrate that great battle. “It looks too dark,” was the general complaint. Indeed, it was so. Well, I have finally seen it well, with the new Apple TV 4K and a latest generation Samsung Neo QLED screen.
After years of incorporating only the Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range) system into Apple TV – of great quality, although it implies the payment of rights to Dolby by the manufacturers that install it – Apple has decided to also add the HDR10 +, a standard created by Samsung, Panasonic and 20th Century Fox, which unlike the first, is free and obtains similar results with current televisions. HDR brings the image closer to the way the human eye sees.
Apple TV 4K, somewhat smaller in height than its predecessor
Apple
That is one of the novelties, not a minor one, of the new version of Apple’s set top box. Pretty much the only thing missing, but the new Apple TV 4K hasn’t stopped there. Its processor is the A15 Bionic chip, the same one that incorporated the iPhone 13 generation, which has given it much more performance (50% more CPU and 30% more GPU) with 30% less consumption and, at the same time, time, has allowed to reduce its size slightly, since it does not need ventilation.
The new Apple TV 4K responds much faster to any action that can be complemented by iPhone, such as typing in a text window. It instantly suggests doing it on the phone, instead of the cumbersome process of marking characters using the cursor on the screen. The setup of the set top box is very fast. It immediately detects the iPhone and proposes to use it with its account data. Within a few minutes, the device is ready for use.
Apple TV 4K y Siri Remote, con conector USB-C
Apple
This new Apple TV 4K is sold in two versions, one with only Wi-Fi connectivity, which has 64 GB of storage memory, and another that also has an Ethernet connector, with 128 GB. The latter is clearly more recommended, because a device to view content with image quality is preferable to be connected by cable to the internet modem to receive the best possible data rate. The cheapest version costs 169 euros and the most expensive 189 euros. Those 20 euros more are worth it for memory and connectivity, but this model is also 10 euros cheaper than the previous generation in its most basic version, 32 GB. It is not usual for a new product that improves on the previous one to lower its price so much. We are talking about Apple.
It is true that there are cheaper set top box options than the Apple TV 4K, but also that none offer the degree of quality of this one. The system allows color calibration through a guided procedure with the cameras of an iPhone. HDR is 60 frames per second, which smoothes out moving images to make them more natural, and the intelligent 4K upscaling it does from lower resolution images is very good, thanks to the power of the A15 Bionic. Finally, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos, so if you have a television or sound system that also plays it, a very immersive sound experience is achieved.
Apple TV 4K input screen
Apple
The Siri Remote control, released in the previous model, comes with a change that we are going to see in more Apple products due to European requirements for 2024: the charging connector is no longer Lightning to become USB-C. With the new version, Siri is capable of recognizing four different user voices and going to play a specific movie or series without having to go to the corresponding app.
One of the advantages of Apple’s television decoder is being able to use it as a video game platform, either by directly downloading apps from its store or from its Arcade subscription service. The greater power of the A15 Bionic and the increased storage capacity, its use as a video game console is becoming more and more interesting, although it is far from what can be done with a dedicated machine, such as the PS5 or the XBox.
The Apple TV 4K also allows you to play games and is compatible with Xbox and PS controllers.
Apple
One of the advantages of Apple TV is its integration into the Apple ecosystem, which opens the possibility of accessing music, photos or one of its latest services, Fitness +, a training tracking system that coordinates with Apple Watch to do guided exercises at home in front of the screen.
This new generation of Apple TV 4K is more powerful, faster, more complete and cheaper. It supposes the improvement of a device that Apple has been polishing, from a base that has been gaining in services over time. More than a center to watch television content, it has become a very complete multimedia center, with the screen in between. It is more than what a Smart TV offers and is ideal for those who are immersed in the Apple ecosystem and its differential characteristics, from AirPlay transmission to content shared with other users of Apple services.
Siri Remote is simple and convenient
Apple
The use of Apple TV 4K as the main input for the television is very much geared towards offering a very simple and comfortable user experience. The Siri Remote control, either through its wheel and buttons or the microphone for direct commands to Siri, is simpler and more practical than that of many televisions and a good option for those who use the apple ecosystem.
