Important points
- Apple TV 4K is versatile and doesn’t require any Apple products.
- Simple remote control design with no extra buttons, but can be remapped.
- It has a faster UI, supports streaming apps, and has no ads compared to a TV.
After spending a lot of time navigating a slow TV UI, I decided it was time to switch to a streaming box. I have a PS5 and Xbox Series As a result, I had to switch to buy a streaming box. I already had a Google Chromecast 4K from when I tried the Stadia service, and it worked fine for a while.
Apple TV 4K (2022)
- brand
- apple
- Bluetooth codec
- 5.0
- Wifi
- 6
But I eventually made the switch to Apple TV 4K and there’s no going back. I don’t even own any other Apple products, but I’m glad I don’t even need to. If you have other Apple products like AirPods or an iPhone, you have even more versatility, but it’s not necessary. I could go on and on about what I like about this device, but I’ve narrowed it down to just five.
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Dolby Atmos on Apple Music
Spatial Audio for Victory
Oddly enough, the reason I decided to buy the Apple TV 4K in the first place was to take advantage of Apple Music’s spatial audio capabilities. I didn’t think just having Apple Music on my phone was enough to get Dolby Atmos through my receiver. Instead, I had to get an Apple TV 4K. Not all Apple Music supports Atmos, but I’m impressed with what I’ve listened to so far.
In some cases, you may find that the mix isn’t very good, so it’s nice to have the option to revert to a normal stereo audio setup. Apple TV 4K is simply there to give you choice. This is a nice little benefit that you don’t get with other streaming devices. Of course, buying a streaming box to listen to music isn’t for everyone, but for me it was worth the trouble and everything that came with the Apple TV 4K was great.
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Apple TV 4K remote control is simple
Apple TV 4K has a very simple design with volume controls, a back button, and a D-pad. It’s not a remote with lots of extra numbers and buttons like other remotes, so you don’t have to get stuck finding the right button to press.
There is also a Siri button on the side that allows voice control.
However, having fewer buttons also has its drawbacks. There’s no easy way to switch your TV’s input to your game console if you want. You can also remap the buttons to do other things, but I find it easier to keep the actual TV remote handy for when I need to do that. I use the Apple TV remote for most of my TV use, but it has its limitations.
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Apple TV 4K’s UI is now cleaner and faster
Navigation is an absolute dream
apple
It’s hard to understand how slow and sluggish my Sony Bravia X90J’s UI is. It works and has most of the apps I need, but navigating between them was a pain. Once you get the Apple TV 4K, all of those problems are gone and you’ll never want to go back. Also, ads no longer appear on the display. I didn’t realize this was a problem with the TV until I switched to it.
You don’t have to scroll through all the apps you’ve installed, you’ll see them all with large icons on your home screen. It’s hard to lose track of where you’re looking, so you can quickly access what you need. Apple TV 4K also supports all major streaming apps and stays up-to-date, so you never feel like you’re lagging behind on any content.
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Rewind with Siri on Apple TV 4K
A true game changer in my opinion
A feature I learned about a while ago is that Siri can rewind what you’re watching and automatically turn on subtitles if you miss what’s being said. Having an Apple TV 4K is a big plus, as some TV shows and movies make it difficult to hear the dialogue. What’s even better is that the subtitles are only active until you return to the starting position. When you catch up, the subtitles disappear. In my opinion, it’s a much better option than having to jump through menus to turn on subtitles and have them stay on the entire time you’re watching something.
Siri can do a lot more than this, but this is what I use Siri the most. You can use Siri to search for videos on YouTube, search for specific movies, and do anything else you would normally use the assistant on your iPhone. It’s great to have options available directly on the remote.
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Can also be used for light games
how to have fun
I don’t normally use my Apple TV 4K to play games, but after trying out Apple Arcade for a month, I was very impressed that I didn’t have to use my Xbox to get rid of the gaming clutter. It was wonderful. Oddly enough, there are some solid Apple Arcade games like TMNT Splintered Fate, but now that it’s on Switch, I don’t need that service anymore. However, we can guarantee that the Apple TV 4K is a solid gaming console. While you’re not looking to play the latest AAA releases, you can easily connect your controller and play anything available on Apple Arcade or purchased from the App Store.
If your internet connection is strong enough, you can stream games from your PC to your Apple TV 4K using the Steam Link app. This isn’t something I try often, but it’s an option that shows your streaming box is more than just for watching TV. I could connect an Ethernet cord to my Apple TV, but given how far away my router and modem are, that’s not an option for me.
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