Apple has expanded its media streaming horizons in recent years, opening its Apple TV app, Apple TV+ subscription service, and AirPlay streaming platform to non-Apple media streamers and smart TVs. The Apple TV 4K still has its own media hub, specifically targeting Apple users with its form and functions. The second-generation Apple TV 4K has been updated with a new processor and remote control for a faster and more intuitive experience. Still, at its heart, it is essentially the same solid media streamer as the previous model.
It offers enough to satisfy true Apple devotees, but everyone else can spend much less with models from other brands that offer similar functionality. The Apple TV 4K Gen 2 is a faster and more powerful version of the original 2017 device, largely thanks to the new A12 Bionic CPU. But the biggest change is not in the little black box at all but in the new Siri voice remote control. The relatively high prices Apple charges for its 4K streamer ($179 for the 32 GB version and $199 for the 64 GB model) have remained unchanged.
Inside the fully recyclable cardboard box, you will find the Apple TV 4K, a power cord, the new Siri remote, a USB-to-lightning cable to charge the remote (or any other Lightning-based Apple device you may own), some printed warranty and safety materials, and the ubiquitous white Apple logo stickers. Although still very expensive, the second-generation Apple TV 4K is a technological tour de force for streaming, and the new Siri remote finally solve one of its least attractive features.
If you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem and appreciate its many features, the new Apple TV 4K is a worthwhile investment. No other media streaming device has all the Apple TV 4K features, but not everyone needs what Apple offers. Yes, but only if you value the exclusive features of the Apple TV 4K. Otherwise, the less expensive options we listed above are a better buy. Since the new Siri remote can be purchased on its own for $59, first-generation Apple TV 4K owners are better off paying this price than spending $179 for a new device.