Amidst the excitement over the new iPad Pro, iMac and AirTags, it would have been easy to miss the fact that Apple is also releasing a new Apple TV this month. The new Apple TV 4K is the company’s first update to its set-top streaming box in four years, and features a powerful upgraded processor, a dramatically updated remote control and some cool new capabilities like a color calibration mode that adjusts the screen to match the ambient conditions. And it’s coming soon—sometime late in May.
The last model to leave Apple’s labs was the previous version of the Apple TV 4K back in the fall of 2017. It was—and remains—a solid streaming player, but is definitely in need of an update. The aging A10X processor isn’t well equipped to handle new features. And the original remote control has the advantage simplicity, but it might earn the distinction of being the most disliked streaming player remote ever made.
What is the new Apple TV 4K release date?
The new Apple TV 4K was announced on April 20 at Apple’s Spring Loaded event, along with the new iPad Pro, purple iPhone 12, 24-inch iMac and AirTags. Like most of those devices, you can preorder the Apple TV 4K right now. It carries a retail price of $179 for the 32GB version or $199 for 64GB (Best Buy is alone in rounding the price up a dollar). There’s also a new HD version of the Apple TV as well for $149.
Depending upon which retailer your choose, you can get your new Apple TV 4K as early as May 24. Apple’s website currently promises delivery no sooner than June 1, though the longer you wait to order, the more backordered it might become, delaying your delivery further.
Amazon
You can preorder the Apple TV 4K at Amazon right now. Be sure to choose the model you want: the 32GB ($179) or 64GB ($199) version. You can also pick the new Apple TV HD in 32GB for $149. Amazon is claiming that all three will be available on May 24.
Best Buy
You can choose either the 32GB version for $180 or 64GB version for $200 at Best Buy. The Apple TV HD is also available for $149, so be careful you don’t select that one by accident if you really want 4K. The product page says that the Apple TV 4K should ship by May 24.
B&H
You can preorder wither of the Apple TV 4K models (32GB for $179 or 64GB for $199) or the new Apple TV HD model for $149 from this product page at B&H. Unfortunately, B&H doesn’t give any indication of when it expects to ship its Apple TVs.
Apple
Order either the 32GB model for $179 or 64GB version for $199. You can add AppleCare+ for $29 if you like. If you choose the Apple TV 4K 32GB, Apple is estimating that your order will be delivered between June 1-8. The 64GB version won’t arrive until June 8-15.
What’s New With Apple TV 4K?
From the outside, the Apple TV 4K looks the same as always—it’s still a modest little square puck with rounded corners. The same-as-always exterior hides a major processor upgrade: It now comes with the A12 Bionic, the same chipset you’ll find in last year’s iPad.
Keep in mind that the Apple TV 4K doesn’t need the absolute bleeding edge in processing power, which is why you won’t find something ludicrously overpowered like the M1 chip in here. The A12 Bionic is more than capable of handling all the streaming demands of the Apple TV 4K, including 4K upscaling and a new feature: high frame rate HDR, which should improve sports and some movies. (Though otherwise, you probably won’t notice much of an improvement.)
The Apple TV 4K also includes Dolby Atmos for enhanced surround sound support as well as Dolby Vision HDR. It continues to support AirPlay, HomeKit and Siri, just like the first-generation Apple TV 4K. It also works with Apple’s growing library of special services, like Apple Fitness+, Apple Music and Apple Arcade.
Perhaps the coolest new feature is the Apple TV 4K’s color calibration mode. Just point your iPhone at the TV screen and your Apple TV will adjust the color balance automatically for the best picture quality no matter what your room’s lighting conditions.
And don’t forget the new remote, which for some people who really dislike the first-gen controller, might be reason enough to upgrade all on its own. But you don’t have to spend $179 to get a new remote, because you can buy it separately for your old Apple TV as well. Read on for details.
The New Siri Remote
You can also purchase the new Apple TV 4K remote—called the Siri Remote—separately. And though it was designed for the new Apple TV, it’s compatible with all the previous model Apple TVs, including the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. So if you want to upgrade your remote without buying a new Apple TV, here you go—you can do it for $59.
Siri Remote (Second Generation)
The new second generation remote has a distinctly different look than the old remote. The old one was essentially symmetrical, forcing you to glance away from the TV just to see if you were pointing it in the right direction. The new model is finished in aluminum with a touchpad that’s composed of an iPod-style scroll wheel with a 5-way click pad. That’s the star of the show, but there’s also a button to invoke Siri on the side and a handful of other controls: Power, volume, mute and so on.
The touchpad gives the remote a definitive orientation, and it also makes using the remote substantially easier—you can use swipe gestures, move your finger in a circular motion (like on an iPod) to scroll through menus, or just press the click pad arrows.
"TV" - Google News
May 10, 2021 at 09:01PM
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The New Apple TV 4K: Everything You Need To Know, Including Where To Buy It - Forbes
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