Features and News of the Apple TV 4K of 2021

Features and News of the Apple TV 4K of 2021

Almost four years after the first Apple TV 4K, the Californian company announced its long-awaited renewal. Your new digital receiver that you keep calling in the same way is also known as the 2021 Apple TV 4K or the sixth generation Apple TV. In this article we analyze all its characteristics, as well as the news that it has presented with respect to its predecessors.

A design that sounds a lot like other years

If you look at the box of an Apple TV 4K of the previous generation and the new one from 2021, you will be faced with the fun challenge of guessing which is which. Aesthetically they are identical and there is no appreciable change other than that of the weight, which can always vary depending on the capacity of this and the way in which it has been manufactured. This is neither good nor bad. The Apple TV 4K is a device that continues to have the right dimensions to integrate it into any room where there is a television and with a black design that does not clash. Another rooster would sing if we were talking about another type of device in which the designs do have a certain appeal.

apple tv 4k 2021

Comes with a new controller that extends to the rest

The Siri Remote , which is what Apple calls its remote control for the Apple TV, has been revamped. The previous model generated some controversy for being unintuitive, despite the fact that once the learning curve is overcome, it is not a bad device. With this new device we find a renewed remote control in every way and that is not only compatible with this Apple TV , but it is also compatible with the previous 4K and with the HD that is still being sold and that in fact will also bring it as standard. .

This new command has dimensions of 13.6 centimeters high, 3.5 wide and 0.92 thick. If we take into account that it only weighs 63 grams, we find a tremendously compact controller that is comfortable to use even for video games. Of course, it can be counterproductive if we take into account that it can be easier to lose it, this being one of the most common problems in homes and even the reason for discussions (we hope that it is always in a good tone). What if it shares something with its predecessor is that the battery is charged through a Lightning connector , thanks to the port on its bottom and the cable that is included in the box.

The form factor that this new controller has adopted is the same as other brand devices such as the iPhone, iPad and even iMac: straight and flat edges with curved corners. In this case with a silver color that is also reminiscent of the first command we had in these devices up to the third generation. Its button layout is as follows:

nuevo siri remote mando apple tv

  1. On / off button
  2. Siri access
  3. Button to open multitasking or control center
  4. Volume up and down
  5. Touch pad for navigating the interface
  6. Wheel to control content playback
  7. Go back function
  8. Play / pause button
  9. Mute button

It should be noted that it can be purchased separately for 65 euros.

Video and sound formats supported by this Apple TV

Enjoying content with an Apple TV depends largely on the type of monitor or screen to which it is connected, although obviously the device must be compatible with the video formats that that screen supports. For this Apple TV we find interesting news regarding the image with the compatibility of Dolby Vision as the most outstanding novelty.

Supported video formats

  • H.264 / HEVC SDR video up to 2160p, 60 fps, Main / Main 10 Profile (Main / Main 10 Profile)
  • HEVC Dolby Vision (Profile 5) / HDR10 (Main Profile 10) up to 2160p, 60 fps
  • H.264 in Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC sound up to 160 Kb / s per channel, 48 kHz and stereo sound in m4v, mp4, and mov file formats
  • MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mb / s, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 f / s, Simple Profile with AAC-LC sound up to 160 Kb / s, 48 kHz and stereo sound in file formats m4v, mp4 and mov

Supported audio formats

  • HE ‑ AAC (V1)
  • AAC (up to 320 Kb / s)
  • Protected AAC (from iTunes Store)
  • MP3 (up to 320 Kb / s)
  • MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless
  • FLAC, AIFF and WAV
  • AC ‑ 3 (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • E ‑ AC ‑ 3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 Surround Sound)
  • Dolby Atmos

Color calibration thanks to the iPhone

It must be said that this functionality, despite being presented with this Apple TV, has also become compatible with fourth and fifth generation devices as long as they have a software version equal to or later than tvOS 14.5. What this function allows is to adapt the color shown on the screen to the light circumstances in the environment, for which it takes advantage of the iPhone’s light sensor. The calibration is done in a few seconds and you can get a view of how the image looked by default and how it remains after the calibration, being able to keep the one we like the most.

calibrar color apple tv

How to squeeze the power of the A12 from this Apple TV

The leap at the processor level of the Apple TV 4K 2021 has been important, although perhaps not as big as what many might expect based on what was being rumored. This chip is the same one that the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR incorporated at the time. It is a good chip that even includes a neural motor that speeds up any process even more.

On an iPhone and even iPad it makes sense to have a chip that is powerful, but on an Apple TV is that much necessary? Well, yes and no at the same time, since it will fundamentally depend on the use you want to make of the device. One of the main advantages offered by this chip is to provide more power to the device to enjoy demanding games such as those available in the App Store and Apple Arcade. Precisely the company’s video game service could be the main excuse for adding a chip like this to Apple TV, given that it is expected that even more demanding games may be added in the not too distant future, although it remains to be seen if by then the A12 has fallen short.

Apple Arcade en Apple TV

Storage may fall short

What if it seems a surprising fact is that Apple has not changed the internal memory of this player with respect to the previous ones. There are still two options to choose from, 32 and 64 GB. A priori and in the middle of the streaming era it could be more than enough even with 32, but it loses sense if we take into account that focus on video games that Apple wants to take. If you are a heavy user of Apple TV games, obviously the 64 GB one will be the best option, although always with caution not to fill the space.

Still no HDMI cable came in the box

If there is something that has been missing in the Apple TV box for years, that is the HDMI cable that allows you to connect the device to the television or monitor. It is not difficult to find one in any store and there are even them at very affordable prices. Also, whoever buys an Apple TV may have one in a drawer that is not being used. However, we cannot generalize and it is at least controversial to find a device that cannot be used unless you buy this cable separately. We insist that it is not something serious either, but it is something to take into account when buying this equipment.

cable hdmi

What else can this device do?

Among the most interesting functions that this Apple TV has and that is largely shared by its predecessors, we highlight the following:

  • Watch series and movies on Apple TV +, Netflix, HBO, YouTube and other platforms.
  • Listen to music or podcast.
  • Play video games even with video game controllers such as PlayStation 4 or 5 and the last two generations of Xbox.
  • Use one or more HomePods with the television.
  • Serve as a second monitor for a Mac.
  • Share the screen of an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

duplicar pantalla iphone monitor

Available prices of Apple TV 4K 2021

The price of Apple TV has been in the spotlight for years. The competition dominates the sector thanks to more compact devices and with a lower price. Apple TV is a team that is more complete than them by offering a dedicated operating system with frequent updates and a power that undoubtedly surpasses all of them. Now, there will be those who do not need more or even with their Smart TV can manage, so this is a terminal that in the end cannot be classified as “suitable for all audiences” in that sense, although logically it is available to everyone. who wants it.

  • 32 GB version: 199 euros
  • 64 GB version: 219 euros

Note: At the time of publishing this article, the Apple TV 4K is only available for pre-order, as its official launch date is set for the second half of May.

Is it worth buying with a previous one?

It will depend on what Apple TV model you have, if it still works properly and your claims with the device. If you have the previous Apple TV 4K released in 2017, you probably won’t be interested in the change as features like color calibration and more are already available on your device by upgrading to tvOS 14.5. Now, if you need more power for video games or enjoy Dolby Vision, this purchase could be interesting. With respect to the Siri Remote it is also a good change, although it must be said that this is sold separately and is also compatible with previous ones as we have seen in previous sections.

What if you have an Apple TV HD? Well, basically the points to take into account for the decision would be the same as those explained above, with the addition that the jump in processor would be more noticeable and that you will be able to play content in 4K without the 1,080p limit that this has. Regarding Apple TV 3 and earlier , it may certainly be worth the change if we take into account that these ran out of updates years ago and that their benefits are much lower.