Apple improves Apple TV 4K, faster & 30% cheaper to run

And if you’ve not watched Severance yet, you should..

Just in time for the next sports season, Apple has introduced a tweaked iteration of its Apple TV 4K multimedia entertainment box. Improvements include a more capable A15 Bionic chip and HDR10+ support. The price now begins at $129 and the Siri Remote now charges up over USB-C.

Faster, better, cheaper

The new chip should make for faster performance and more fluid gameplay. Given spiralling energy costs, it feels important to note the move also means the system uses less energy in use or standby. The company claims it uses nearly 30 percent less power than the previous generation while achieving more powerful performance. The efficiency gains of A15 Bionic eliminate the need for an internal fan, resulting in a more compact design and contributing to a 25 percent reduction in carbon footprint over the previous generation.

Both CPU and GPU performance promise to be faster (up to 50 percent and 30% faster respectively) than the previous generation. HDR10+ support joins Dolby Vision on Apple TV 4K.

What’s available?

The new Apple TV 4K is available in two configurations:

• Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi), which offers 64GB of storage.
• Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet), with 128GB storage and Gigabit Ethernet and also Thread mesh networking protocol to connect even more smart home accessories.

The new Apple TV is available to order now but won’t reach stores until November 4.

What Apple said

“Apple TV 4K is the ultimate way for Apple users to enjoy their favorite entertainment on the biggest screen in the home, and now it is more powerful than ever,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

“The new Apple TV 4K is unlike anything else out there, given its seamless connection to other Apple devices, ease of use, and access to amazing Apple content. It offers something for everyone in the family to love.”

What about tvOS?

Apple hasn’t said a huge amount about its plans for tvOS. Announcing the new TV box, it tells us new features will include updates to Siri.

The voice assistant has been completely redesigned and will be able to recognize each user’s voice so they can easily access their movies, shows, music, games, and apps, and pick up where they left off. By using the Siri Remote and asking “What should I watch?” users can get tailored recommendations.

[Also read: Apple’s unannounced product already sounds better than Meta]

When wearing AirPods, users can say “Hey Siri” to search and enjoy a hands-free way to control Apple TV. Siri support on Apple TV has expanded to Chile, Finland, and South Africa, and will launch in Denmark, Luxembourg, and Singapore later this year, bringing Siri on Apple TV to 30 countries and regions.

With iCloud Shared Photo Library on Apple TV, everyone in the family will be able to enjoy everyone’s photos together on the big screen. Cross-device connectivity on Apple TV 4K will enable developers to integrate personalized experiences between their iPhone and Apple Watch apps with Apple TV.

Users can continue to enjoy SharePlay by starting a FaceTime session on iPhone or iPad and watching a TV show or movie on Apple TV to stay completely in sync. With shared playback controls, including using the Siri Remote, anyone in the SharePlay session can play, pause, or jump ahead.

The smart home thing

Apple TV 4K also securely connects to compatible smart home accessories, including HomeKit cameras, lights, shades, and more; allows the user to set scenes and control their smart home while away; and ensures that accessories can run automatically.

Apple says the box is an essential building block for Matter, but I’m not quite sure if this means other Apple devices that act as Homekit hubs cannot act as portals in this way. The company does explain that with Thread networking support, Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) connects compatible Thread-based smart home accessories reliably and securely.

Apple TV 4K and the Environment

Apple TV 4K features:

• The Apple TV 4K lineup is free of mercury, BFRs, PVC, and beryllium.
• 100 percent recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards, which also include 100 percent recycled tin in the solder.
• The thermal module is made with 80 percent recycled aluminum
• The enclosure of the Siri Remote includes 100 percent recycled aluminum.
• Over 90 percent of packaging is fiber based, bringing Apple closer to its goal of completely removing plastic from all packaging by 2025.

What it costs…

The new Apple TV 4K with Siri Remote will be available starting at $129 (US). Customers can order the new Apple TV 4K beginning today, with availability starting Friday, November 4, in more than 30 countries and regions, including the US.

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