A15 Bionic:
The first reason you should go for an Apple TV 4K over other streaming devices or just using your smart TV is the software experience—it just works.
That's partially because it has Apple's A15 Bionic chip in it. Most Smart TVs and other streaming devices have processors that are completely outclassed by the A15 Bionic.
In general, Smart TV processors are not great at running apps, especially over the long term. Their primary function is for picture quality first, and apps second.
Plus, once you buy your TV, it’s not like you can just replace its processor if you notice sluggish performance with the TV's streaming apps.
But if you have a dedicated streaming device, you can replace it while keeping the same TV. Given the performance of the Apple TV 4K over the past six months, though, it's unlikely you'll need to swap it out anytime soon.
The Apple TV 4K is also a beast when it comes to picture quality. This new version not only supports Dolby Vision but also HDR10, which some streaming services, like Netflix, only support for certain shows and movies.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait, what is HDR again, and why does it matter?" HDR, for the TVs that support it, gives you more contrast in a picture. The brighter part of an image will look brighter to you, which in turn makes the darker parts of a scene look darker. Depending on what you're watching, it can make a big difference in the perceived cinematic quality.
If you just purchased a brand new 4K HDR television, and you haven't purchased new HDMI cables in a while, you'll likely need to buy an upgraded HDMI cable.
The reason for that is both Dolby Vision and HDR10, which are the two predominant HDR standards around today, require a higher bandwidth HDMI cable. I'll leave a link in the description below to the exact cable that I use for my setup.
Now, if you have a TV that doesn't support Dolby Vision, the Apple TV 4K does have a color calibration feature that you can use if you have an iPhone with Face ID.
Also, if you have an Apple device already, like an iPhone or iPad, setting up the Apple TV 4K is relatively simple. You just bring that Apple device close to the Apple TV 4K after you've already plugged it in, and the Apple TV 4K will pull the information it needs off of that Apple device.
Dolby Vision:
If you upgrade from an old Apple TV, Apple backs up all the apps that you downloaded and your home screen layout, so your new Apple TV 4K screen layout will look exactly the same as it did on your old Apple TV.
When you get an Apple TV 4K, there are two main ways to watch content—either by going into individual apps or doing mostly everything in the Apple TV app. Now yes, Apple's naming conventions with their TV products are quite similar and can cause some confusion.
So let me break it down for you. Apple TV+ is Apple's own in-house streaming service. That's where you go for shows like Ted Lasso that you can watch from the Apple TV app, which has a dedicated tab for Apple TV+ content.
The Apple TV app also aggregates all the shows and movies you're currently watching across various streaming services in the Watch Now section (except for Netflix content).
It lets you discover new shows and movies across apps, has a dedicated sports section where you can tell the Apple TV to follow your favorite teams, so anytime there's a game on, it'll pop up to the front of your queue. Any movie or TV show that you buy or rent through Apple.
you can find in the Library section of the Apple TV app. I love that on the Apple TV home screen, Apple integrates your Universal Up Next queue. Though, I do wish from this view, you could long-press a content card and mark it as viewed or remove it from your queue. You can only do those actions within the Apple TV app.
Now, unlike with most TV streaming devices, with the Apple TV 4K, there are no ads cluttering the user interface. I have noticed that Apple does push their own content with their Apple TV+ streaming service. But overall.
I haven't really minded it, and that's because Apple TV+ has consistently put out some good content. The Apple TV also has multiple user profiles you can set up with different people in your home. That way, you can have individual up-next lists and content recommendations that are personalized for each user.
Another reason to go for an Apple TV is if you already have other Apple devices in your home. You get a lot of Apple ecosystem benefits, like being able to listen to content with my AirPods or AirPods Max in spatial audio, which mimics the effect of surround sound.
It's great for when you want to watch something without keeping your significant other or neighbors up. You can listen with up to two pairs of AirPods at a time, so you and your partner can stay up late watching something without waking up the kids.
If you don't have AirPods, you can just pair regular Bluetooth headphones to the Apple TV 4K, but importantly, you will miss out on that spatial audio feature. I can't emphasize enough how big of a deal that feature is with the Apple TV 4K.
Apple Ecosystem:
Another great use for AirPlay with the Apple TV is being able to play audio from the Apple TV to multiple speakers via AirPlay. I've used this in so many situations. It's great for when I'm in the kitchen and want to hear the TV while cleaning dishes, or during a Super Bowl party to play audio in every room.
Why would anyone buy an Apple TV when smart TVs already exist? This is the question everyone asks me when they are skeptical about buying an Apple TV. The truth is, the Apple TV is incredibly underrated—so underrated.
in fact, that it's one of my favorite Apple devices in the Apple ecosystem. I believe there are plenty of reasons why you'd want to start using an Apple TV.
With hardware improvements, the reality is that no matter what type of TV you buy—even if you spend over $7,000 on an ultra-thin 4K HD OLED TV—the processor in such TVs is often underwhelming. This is where the Apple TV shines.
It uses the same chipset found in iPhones, meaning your experience remains consistently fast, even years later. You can do almost anything on an Apple TV, including gaming. And sometimes, the best things are the simplest, like opening Apple TV, clicking on Netflix, and having it load instantly. Standard smart TVs, on the other hand, tend to slow down over time.
Another great feature is the picture quality. Apple TV offers higher resolutions than most smart TVs, with HDR and Dolby Vision support. You can even calibrate your TV's colors using your iPhone—a task that’s usually cumbersome with standard TVs. Apple TV makes it simple for anyone with an iPhone to achieve this with ease.
Integration with the Apple ecosystem is another reason to consider it. For instance, you can use FaceTime on Apple TV by propping up your iPhone, allowing you to share movies or attend Zoom meetings on the big screen. AirPlay lets you seamlessly share your screen.
photos, or videos from your iPhone or iPad to your TV. Want to connect AirPods? It’s as simple as tapping on a notification that appears on the screen. Apple TV supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, making it perfect for a premium sound experience.
Conclusion:
Additionally, Apple TV's Find My Remote feature allows you to locate the remote just like an AirTag. You can also interact with Siri directly on your TV, making commands like rewinding a scene or searching for Leonardo DiCaprio movies incredibly easy. The integration with HomePods adds even more convenience, allowing you to play or pause content using voice commands.
Apple TV also serves as a smart home hub, enabling you to control your home’s smart devices remotely. Whether you're adjusting the thermostat before arriving home or answering the doorbell notification that pops up while watching a movie, Apple TV simplifies smart home management.
Lastly, it’s simply an exceptional streaming device with a user-friendly interface, outstanding video quality, and sound performance that enhances any TV, regardless of its price. Whether you’re navigating through apps or enjoying the enhanced color accuracy Apple TV brings, it’s a perfect addition to your smart home setup.
If you’re new to Apple TV or considering buying one, it’s an investment that adds value to your entertainment and smart home experience.
