The long wait is over and the new Apple TV 4K is on the way. It costs $300, but it represents a big upgrade in performance over its predecessors. I’m still rocking a first-generation model, so anything’s an upgrade over that. What appeals to me the most in the new model is the hands-free Siri implementation. That’s one of my favorite features of the Fire TV, so it’s cool to see that type of versatility moving to other platforms.
All things considered, this fourth-generation model should feel like an actual upgrade, and if you can afford to spend $300 on a streaming box, you won’t be disappointed. However, there’s still one glaring problem with the new model, and I really don’t get why it’s the case. I’m talking about audio passthrough, and the fact that it doesn’t exist. This means any audio is handled by the Apple TV 4K, which is fine if you’re only watching things with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. It’s not as good when you are watching things that are unsupported, like DTS:X.
When you look around at competitors with this feature, for even cheaper, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I can’t think of a good reason for Apple to continue omitting passthrough, and it’s a huge bummer.
Apple TV 4K updates
Trivia challenge
From chips to remotes — how well do you know the evolution of Apple’s
premium streaming box?
HardwareFeaturesSoftwareRemotePerformance
Which chip powers the third-generation Apple TV 4K, released in 2022?
Correct! The third-gen Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip, the same
silicon found in the iPhone 13 lineup. This gives it a significant performance boost over its
predecessors and enables smoother 4K HDR playback.
Not quite. The third-gen Apple TV 4K is powered by the A15 Bionic chip.
Apple often reuses chips from recent iPhone generations in its Apple TV hardware to balance cost and
performance.
What controversial feature was removed from the Siri Remote when Apple redesigned it
in 2021?
Correct! The original Siri Remote had a slippery glass touch surface on
top that many users found frustrating to use, often causing accidental inputs. Apple replaced it with a
more traditional clickpad ring design in 2021.
Not quite. Apple removed the smooth glass touch surface that acted as a
trackpad on the original Siri Remote. It was widely criticised for being too slippery and easy to pick
up the wrong way around.
Which video calibration feature, introduced in 2021, uses an iPhone to automatically
adjust Apple TV’s picture output to suit your TV?
Correct! Color Match uses an iPhone’s front-facing camera to measure the
color output of your TV and automatically calibrates the Apple TV’s display settings for the most
accurate picture possible. It’s a clever use of the iPhone ecosystem.
Not quite. The feature is called Color Match. Introduced with tvOS 14.5,
it uses an iPhone held up to the TV screen to measure and fine-tune the Apple TV’s color output to match
your specific display.
What was the name of Apple’s major tvOS update that introduced the Home screen
redesign with a top shelf for apps?
Correct! tvOS 13 brought a significant visual overhaul to the Apple TV
interface, including a redesigned Home screen, full-screen previews, and a new multi-user support
feature allowing different profiles per household member.
Not quite. It was tvOS 13 that introduced the refreshed Home screen
layout and multi-user support. This update was considered one of the biggest interface changes Apple TV
had seen in years.
What significant connectivity change did Apple make to the third-generation Apple TV
4K in 2022 to reduce cost?
Correct! Apple dropped the built-in Ethernet port on the base model of
the third-gen Apple TV 4K to hit a lower price point of $129. Ethernet was retained only on the more
expensive Wi-Fi + Ethernet model priced at $149.
Not quite. Apple removed the Gigabit Ethernet port from the entry-level
third-gen Apple TV 4K model. Customers who needed a wired connection had to opt for the pricier Wi-Fi +
Ethernet version or use a compatible USB-C adapter.
Apple TV 4K supports HDR video, but which HDR format did Apple add support for —
often associated with LG OLED TVs — alongside HDR10 and Dolby Vision?
Correct! Apple TV 4K supports HLG, or Hybrid Log-Gamma, which is a
broadcast-friendly HDR format commonly used by streaming services and broadcast TV. It works alongside
HDR10 and Dolby Vision to give the device broad HDR compatibility.
Not quite. The answer is HLG, which stands for Hybrid Log-Gamma. It’s a
widely used HDR format in broadcast and streaming, and Apple TV 4K supports it in addition to the more
commonly advertised HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats.
Which gaming-related feature was added to Apple TV with tvOS 16, making it easier to
use a wider range of controllers?
Correct! tvOS 16 added support for the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox
Adaptive Controller, expanding the range of compatible gamepads for Apple TV. Apple had previously added
support for standard Xbox and PlayStation controllers in tvOS 13.
Not quite. tvOS 16 brought support for the Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox
Adaptive Controller to Apple TV. Apple has steadily expanded controller compatibility over the years,
starting with standard Xbox and PlayStation pads back in tvOS 13.
Which tvOS version introduced the ability to use your iPhone as a camera for
FaceTime calls on Apple TV?
Correct! tvOS 17 introduced FaceTime support on Apple TV, using your
iPhone or iPad as the camera via Apple’s Continuity Camera feature. It was one of the headline additions
of the update and brought video calling to the living room in a seamless way.
Not quite. FaceTime on Apple TV arrived with tvOS 17. It leverages the
iPhone or iPad as a webcam through Continuity Camera, meaning Apple TV itself doesn’t need a built-in
camera to make and receive video calls on the big screen.
Your Score
/ 8
Thanks for playing!
Audio passthrough still eludes us
It might be time to give up the dream
Audio passthrough is a big deal to people who audio systems. I have a receiver that can handle every audio format available, so I don’t need my streaming box or TV to handle it. That’s why it’s annoying when my Apple TV 4K, a device that doesn’t support every format, still takes the audio and decodes it itself. I have a receiver for this very reason, so it’s frustrating when an inferior device holds back my audio equipment.
It’s especially annoying because the Apple TV 4K is my favorite streaming box by a landslide. Even my first-gen model is faster than my 2024 Roku Ultra. As much as I like the Roku Ultra, I just like my Apple TV better, and that’s what makes it my main living room device. Sure, my receiver reads as “Multi-In” when it’s something the Apple TV 4K doesn’t recognize, but I’m willing to put up with it as long as the Apple TV continues to deliver its promise of an ad-free experience.
There are a lot of people who aren’t willing to put up with this oversight, and I don’t blame people who aren’t. I care about my home theater setup, as modest as it is, and the Apple TV 4K clearly isn’t the best box for this role. Fortunately, I do most of viewing on my 4K Blu-ray player, and what I do watch on HBO Max tends to have an Atmos mix, so the audio passthrough flaw isn’t something that impacts me there.
The Apple TV 4K positions itself as a high-end streaming box, which is why the lack of audio passthrough is all the more baffling. Something available for half the price, like the Roku Ultra, shouldn’t have this while a $300 Apple TV 4K doesn’t. Unfortunately, I’m not in charge of the Apple TV 4K’s features. If I were, you can rest assured knowing that I’d solve this problem.
The price tag is tough to swallow
With or without HDMI passthrough
The main problem with the Apple TV 4K isn’t its lack of audio passthrough, it’s the price. I can only speak for myself, but this high price tag means it’s pretty much dead on arrival. There’s just no way I can justify spending nearly the price of a game console, at least the price of one before all of these price hikes happened, on a streaming box. My first-gen Apple TV 4K is still going strong, and I’m going to keep on using it until it finally gives up. With this device approaching 10 years in age, I fear that time is coming sooner rather than later. Fortunately, I’m ready for it, but I don’t want to say goodbye yet.
I don’t know if the price of anything is ever going back to normal. I also can’t imagine the Apple TV 4K selling very well at $300, even if it’s a powerful device. As much as I don’t like using them, smart TVs have a UI that does exactly what the Apple TV provides, just worse. However, it’s better to spend nothing than it is to spend $300. My TV also has audio passthrough, so I don’t have the same hangup there as I would with my Apple TV 4K. I’m not ready to rely on my TV yet, but I can see that being the path forward for a lot of people if the Apple TV 4K never goes on sale. If Apple history is anything to go by, sales aren’t anything you should hope for.
