Apple TV 4K Review

What's the Apple TV 4K?

The Apple TV 4K is an Apple TV that's, well, 4K. Apple's set-top box is back, but it doesn't make too many departures from Apple's big overhaul back in 2015. The biggest physical change is a white ring around the "menu" button on the remote.

The real updates come in the form of support for 4K HDR video, along with a faster processor under the hood. But what does this actually mean?

4K - also known as Ultra HD - refers to the resolution a TV runs at. Specifically, it refers to a resolution of 3840x2160, which is four times the size of Full HD. If you had a 55-inch HD TV next to a 55-inch 4K TV, the 4K one would have clearer, better defined picture since it has more pixels in the same space. More pixels in the same space means smaller pixels, and thus a more detailed image. It's a more lifelike TV experience. Of course, you won't get any benefits from a 4K TV if you don't have 4K content to watch.

While 4K refers to size, HDR refers to colour. HDR - short for High Dynamic Range - expands the range of contrast of video; essentially, the difference between how bright it can go and how dark it can go. HDR promises deeper blacks and brighter whites, which in turns results in a wider colour space. Reds can be redder, blues can be bluer, and greens get greener, so images seem to have more depth. In terms of pure numbers, regular content can use 16 million colours. HDR content can use over a billion. Once again, you'll need a HDR capable TV and HDR video.

So where does the Apple TV 4K fit into this? Well if you have a TV capable of displaying 4K HDR videos, you still need 4K HDR content. The Apple TV 4K helps solve this problem by acting as gateway that lets you take advantage of these newfangled features.

What’s good about the Apple TV 4K?

The Apple TV 4K is arguably the most comprehensive streaming box on the market. You've got access to Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7Plus, 9Now, and Tenplay. The only major omission is currently Foxtel Now, but if you've got an iPhone or iPad, you're able to beam shows and movies to the Apple TV using the mobile app and AirPlay.

With the exception of Foxtel Now, the Apple TV's universal search functionalities ties theses services together. If you ask Siri to search for America Gods, you'll find that you can stream it through Amazon Prime Video or purchase individual episodes through iTunes. Or if you search for Lantana, you'll get the option to buy it or stream it through ABC iview. Universal search solves the problem of "I know what I want to watch, but I don't know where I can watch it".

In terms of other video apps, you can also access YouTube, Docplay, Optus Sport, Plex, Hayu, and AnimeLab, to name a few. There's a pretty big list, and you're almost guaranteed to find a service you haven't heard of. I mean, what in the world is a Crunchyroll? (It's a streaming service specifically for Japanese animation, as I've just learnt.)

One of Apple TV 4K's big new software features is a "TV" app. This is mostly used to highlight free-to-watch content from Australia's free-to-air networks that you can stream instantly. It's very slick, and a great jumping off point if you're just looking for something to watch.

Outside of streaming and catch-up services, there's a surprising amount of apps available on the Apple TV. You can even get Tinder, if you, for some reason want to use Tinder on a TV. While games are easily the most popular kind of app after video, you can also get recipe apps, yoga apps, news apps, and the Ikea catalogue. While the utility isn't always there - more on this later - you could very well find a gem or two.

You'll navigate the Apple TV 4K using the "Siri Remote", a candy bar shaped gadget with a laptop-style trackpad taking up the top quarter. Swiping back and forth on this is the primary way you'll interact with the Apple TV. There's a small learning curve, but you'll pick it up quickly.

Voice search is another key form of navigation. As the name might suggest, the Siri Remote has a button for summoning the eponymous personal assistant. You can find a show or movie by simply saying its name, but if you don't know what you want to watch, you can ask Siri much more specific questions. If you're looking for horror, just say "horror movies". You can then refine these searches with follow up statements like "just the good ones", "just old ones", "just recent releases", or "just ones directed by John Carpenter". It's easily the fastest way to get around the Apple TV.

While the Siri Remote is great most of the time, entering passwords with it is a punishment typically reserved for the ninth circle of hell. If you've got an iOS device on hand, you'll get a notification that gives you the option of using your iPhone or iPad keyboard for passwords and usernames instead. You will absolutely want to do this.

Of course, all of these features were available in the 2015 Apple TV, and are available in the cheaper HD only model. What makes the Apple TV 4K stand out is 4K.

If you've got a 4K TV, there's a good chance there's already a Netflix app preinstalled. Mine also has Stan and Amazon Prime Video. But what these services tend to lack is new release movies. iTunes is one of the few places you can buy or rent 4K movies in Australia. Notably, they're the same price as HD, and Apple will upgrade any HD movies you own on iTunes to 4K HDR free of charge.

The number of 4K HDR movies on iTunes keeps growing, with Disney as the only major studio holdout. This does unfortunately mean there's no way to rent or buy the likes of Star Wars, Marvel movies, or anything Pixar in ultra high definition. Hopefully Disney comes to the party sooner or later.

If you're after new release 4K movies in Australia, your only other option is picking up a 4K Blu-Ray Player and buying physical discs. New release 4K Blu-Ray discs tend to start around $40, whereas you're looking at around $25 if you buy digital on iTunes. If you're okay with renting, it's $7.

The only catch is you can't save 4K movies to the Apple TV 4K's internal storage (presumably due to their large file size). As such, you'll need to make sure your internet connection is fast enough to stream 4K video (around 25Mbps) and has a big enough data cap (you're looking at least 14GB for a two hour movie).

What's not so good about the Apple TV 4K?

The Apple TV 4K is one of the more expensive set-top boxes on the market, starting at $249 for 32GB. The 64GB model costs an extra $30, but the storage bump probably isn't necessary for most. It's not that the Apple TV 4K is overpriced, it's just that competitors like the Telstra TV 2 get you 90% of the way there and can be had for as little as free (with a Telstra broadband plan). A cheaper HD only version is available for $209, but we'd recommend getting the Apple TV 4K for future-proofing.

Despite the higher end pricing, you don't get a HDMI cable in the box. While any old HDMI cable will work, you'll need to grab a "Certified Premium" High Speed HDMI cable if you care about watching 4K HDR content. Apple recommends a $50 cable from Belkin, but you can find cheaper certified cables. Amazon Australia has a home-brand option for around $13, for example.

Apple TV might have an impressive app library, but there's a question of utility when it comes to software beyond video and games. You can get Airbnb for Apple TV and use it to browse properties, but you'll still need to go to a computer or a phone to make a booking. Recipe apps with step-by-step instructions aren't great unless you happen to have your TV in the kitchen - and your Apple TV hooked up to it. It's not that Apple TV doesn't have interesting apps, it just seems that quite a few exist for the sake of existing. It's telling that the App Store top 20 is dominated by video players and games.

One area where the Apple TV 4K falls short when compared to rivals is the lack of aerial input. The Telstra TV 2 and Foxtel Now Box both let you plug your antenna directly into the set-top box, which is a welcome feature. In short, it means you can watch live TV without changing input on your TV or swapping remote. The omission is hardly a deal breaker, but we've found aerial input is nice to have and helps make your set-top box experience just a little more seamless.

Who's the Apple TV 4K for?

The Apple TV 4K is a comprehensive set-top box solution that's simple to use and offers easy access to most streaming content in Australia. While those already in the Apple ecosystem will have the best Apple TV 4K experience, it's still easy to recommend even if your life is otherwise free of iDevices. 

While rivals like the Telstra TV 2 are compelling alternatives, the Apple TV 4K stands out for purely making new release 4K content widely available and somewhat affordable. If you want to take advantage of your new TV's latest features and watch new release movies in the best quality possible, go and pick up an Apple TV 4K.