The best for now
The Apple TV 4K is the best version of this product Cupertino has made to date. It's fast, offers excellent video capability, and has nearly every app you can think of, including every live TV streaming service out there. Still, there's no denying it's pricey.
For
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- Great lineup of 4K titles in the iTunes Store
- Dolby Atmos support
Against
- Pricey
- Siri Remote can be unintuitive
- Might be replaced soon
Fewer features
First introduced in 2015, the Apple TV HD includes the same interface as the 2017 Apple TV 4K. However, it's lacking essential internals that should make most think twice before buying. However, it's still worth considering for specific would-be buyers.
For
- Great price
- Content the same as 4K
- Same interface as 4K
Against
- Not that much less expensive than 4K
- Older internals
The Apple TV 4K provides much more than a better video format versus the HD model. It also supports better audio, offers more storage, and is speedier than its predecessor.
Break it down now...
If you've purchased a TV in the last few years, the odds are good you bought one offering 4K resolution. This distinction refers to any resolution with a horizontal pixel count of approximately 4,000. The Apple TV 4K offers a maximum of 3840x2160 pixels, while the HD model supports 1920x1080 pixels. Beyond this, the 4K supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, unlike the older model.
With HDR10, the picture offers brighter, more realistic colors and greater detail.
Dolby Vision is Dolby Laboratories' vision of HDR, which it says goes beyond standard HDR. Dolby Atmos, by contrast, is the company's fully immersive three-dimensional audio product. The Apple TV 4K is the first streaming player to be both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos certified.
The Apple TV 4K has an Apple A10X Fusion CPU versus the Apple A8 found on the older model. The A10X features four cores in total, with two of those considered high-performance cores. It has been designed to be over 50% faster than the A8. The speed difference isn't nearly as significant as it would be on a mobile device like an iPhone or iPad, except when it comes to gaming. If you're planning on using your Apple TV for gaming, you'll want to get the Apple TV 4K, along with Apple's Arcade subscription service. Just make sure you have a compatible game controller
Don't have a 4K television yet? You can still buy an Apple TV 4K and take advantage of the better internals.
Note: Both Apple TV models support tvOS 14 and offer the same content, including video, music, apps, and games. Additionally, both support Cupertino's Apple TV+ premium video service.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Apple TV 4K | Apple TV HD |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2015 |
| Price | $179/$199 | $149 |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB | 32GB |
| Max resolution | 2160p (4K) | 1080p (HD) |
| HDR10 | Yes | No |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
| Voice control | Siri | Siri |
| Apple TV Plus | Yes | Yes |
| tvOS 13 compatible | Yes | Yes |
| CPU | Apple 10X Fusion | Apple A8 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
You might think that the Apple TV HD is worth it despite the less powerful internals thanks to its lower price. However, with only a slight price difference between the two, it has become increasingly difficult to recommend the HD version. Gamers and anyone with a 4K television should bypass the HD model altogether. If you don't own a 4K tv, consider buying one; you'll be happy you did.
If you aren't into gaming, don't have a 4K television (and don't plan to get one anytime soon), the HD is still great to have. After all, the set-top boxes offer identical content. Otherwise, go with the 4K model. Gamers should buy the 64GB model.
Time frame
Cupertino could retire both the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD this fall. Keep this in mind before making a new purchase.
A great streaming box
With support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the presence of almost every video service, and speedy performance, the Apple TV 4K is a worthy addition to the home theater setup of any Apple fan, hampered primarily by its high relative price.
Not for most users in 2020
Apple TV HD is an aging entertainment box. Despite this, it does offer the same great content as the 4K model. If you're not into gaming and don't have a 4K TV, find one of these on sale and enjoy.
