Why I made the Apple TV 4K my essential streaming system

Key Takeaways

Apple TV 4K is flexible and does not require Apple merchandise.
It has a easy distant design that lacks additional buttons, however can remap.
There’s a sooner UI in comparison with TV, and it helps streaming apps — plus, no adverts.

After spending approach an excessive amount of time navigating by way of my gradual TV UI, I lastly determined it was time to chew the bullet and make th change to a streaming field. Though I’ve a PS5 and Xbox Sequence X, I do not like to at all times activate my console to maintain up with the newest reveals, so I dominated these out as worthy alternate options. As a consequence, I needed to make the change to get a streaming field. I already had a Google Chromecast 4K from once I tried out the Stadia service, and it labored nice for some time.

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However, I finally switched to an Apple TV 4K, and I am unable to see myself ever going again. I do not even personal different Apple merchandise, and the good factor is you do not even need to. There’s much more versatility if in case you have different Apple merchandise like AirPods or an iPhone, but it surely’s removed from a requirement. I can go on and on about all the things I like concerning the system, however I narrowed it down to simply 5.

Apple TV 4K (2022)

Model: Apple
Bluetooth codecs: 5.0
Wi-Fi: 6

1 Dolby Atmos on Apple Music

Spacial audio for the win

Surprisingly sufficient, my determination to choose up an Apple TV 4K within the first place was to reap the benefits of the spatial audio function by way of Apple Music. I believed having Apple Music in your cellphone wasn’t sufficient for Dolby Atmos by way of my receiver — as a substitute, I wanted to seize an Apple TV 4K. Not all the things on Apple Music has Atmos assist, however I have been impressed thus far with what I’ve listened to.

Typically, the combination does not appear nice, so having the choice to change again to a daily stereo audio setup is sweet to have. The Apple TV 4K is simply there to provide me choices, and it is a good little profit that different streaming units cannot give me. In fact, shopping for a streaming field to hearken to music is not for everybody, however for me, it was definitely worth the hassle, and all the things that comes with the Apple TV 4K has been icing on the cake.

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2 The Apple TV 4K distant is straightforward

An Apple TV 4K and a Siri Remote on a table.

The Apple TV 4K retains it quite simple with quantity controls, a again button, and a route pad. It isn’t a distant saddled with extra numbers or buttons like some others are, so you aren’t getting slowed down looking for the best button to hit.

There’s additionally a Siri button on the aspect that enables for voice management.

There are downsides to having fewer buttons, although. There’s not a simple solution to change your TV’s enter to swap to a sport console if it’s essential. You possibly can remap the buttons to do different issues, however I discovered it is easy to simply hold my precise TV distant round for once I want to do this. For the majority of my TV use, I take advantage of the Apple TV distant, but it surely has limitations.

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3 Apple TV 4K has a cleaner and sooner UI

Apple

It is onerous to place into perspective simply how gradual and sluggish the UI of my Sony Bravia X90J is. It really works and has a lot of the apps it’s essential get by, but it surely was such a problem navigating between them. Selecting up an Apple TV 4K places all of these issues to relaxation, and I am unable to think about ever going again. There are additionally no extra adverts on my show, one thing I did not understand was such an issue on my TV till switching over.

As a substitute of getting to scroll by way of all of the apps you’ve got put in, you as a substitute have all the things proper on the house display screen with giant icons. It is onerous to ever not know the place you are wanting, and that makes it simple to get to what you need a lot sooner. It additionally helps that the Apple TV 4K helps all the key streaming apps and retains them up to date, so I by no means really feel behind on any content material.

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4 Rewind with Siri on the Apple TV 4K

A real game-changer, for my part

An Apple TV remote and box sit on a wood table next to popcorn.

A function I discovered about not too way back is rewinding what you are watching with Siri, and subtitles will robotically activate if you happen to miss what was said. With some TV reveals and films that make it tough to listen to dialogue, it has been a giant bonus to have an Apple TV 4K. What’s even nicer is the subtitles are solely energetic till you catch again as much as the place you first had been. As soon as it catches up, the subtitles flip off. If you happen to ask me, it is a a lot better possibility than having to leap by way of menus to toggle on subtitles after which depart them on the whole time I am watching one thing.

Siri can do much more than this, however that is what I take advantage of her for essentially the most. Siri can seek for movies on YouTube, discover particular motion pictures, and no matter else you’d normally use the assistant for in your iPhone. It is simply good to have the choice accessible to me instantly on my distant.

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5 It could deal with gentle gaming

A enjoyable solution to go time

I do not sometimes use my Apple TV 4K to play video games, however for the month I attempted out Apple Arcade, it was fairly cool not having to make use of my Xbox to scratch the gaming itch. Surprisingly sufficient, there are some strong Apple Arcade video games like TMNT Splintered Destiny, but it surely’s since come to the Swap, so I do not want the service anymore. Nevertheless, I can vouch for the Apple TV 4K as a strong gaming machine. You are not going to play the newest AAA releases on it, however you may connect to a controller and simply play what’s accessible on Apple Arcade or no matter you obtain from the App Retailer.

In case your web connection is powerful sufficient, you may reap the benefits of the Steam Hyperlink app and stream video games out of your PC to your Apple TV 4K. It isn’t one thing I’ve tried to do fairly often, but it surely’s an possibility that reveals the streaming field is for extra than simply watching TV. You too can hook up an Ethernet wire to your Apple TV, however that is not an possibility for me contemplating how far-off my router and modem are.