Apple TV 4K 2021 review: Apple streams ahead, now everyone else needs to catch up
| Published date | 20 May 2021 |
| Publication title | Express, The/The Express on Sunday: Web Edition Articles (London, England) |
The previous Apple TV 4K supported High Dynamic Range shows and movies, but it's the support for that 60 frames-per-second streaming that promises to improve things further this time around. Other treats include a new remote and faster processor tucked inside its shell.
So, if you already have an older Apple TV under your television, or fancy treating yourself to a new streaming set-top box to add more content to that new telly ... is the 2021 Apple TV 4K a good investment? Express.co.uk has been putting the latest box from Apple to the test. Here are our thoughts on this £169 streaming box...
Apple TV 4K 2021 review:First up, let's talk about the design. Sadly, Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV set-top box itself, so there are no signs of the fruity-fresh colours that now grace the iPhone 12, iPad Air, and all-new iMac. That's a bit of a shame.
Instead, you'll find the same glossy black box that's looked pretty identical since September 2015. We're guessing most people tuck these devices away in a media cabinet, so maybe it's not a huge deal, but given that Apple can fit a screen, quad speakers, studio-quality microphones, a processer capable of powering an iMac and more into the 5.9mm chassis of an iPad Pro... it's a little baffling as to why the Apple TV 4K needs to be such a chunk. At 35mm, it's almost the height of six iPad Pros stacked on top of one another. For those hoping for a small USB-sized streaming box, like you'll get from rivals Roku and Amazon, this is much more substantial and needs its own shelf.
Where things have really changed for the better is the new remote. This channel changer has received a completely new look, which now includes a silver aluminium design. But most importantly, it also changes how you interact with the Apple TV. If you own previous versions of the Apple TV, you've probably found the gestures and swipes on the small touchpad a little irritating. The touch area was always a little jittery and made it difficult to precisely swipe to the episode or show you were looking for.
Thankfully, these swipes have now been replaced wholesale by a clickable wheel that is far more precise. It's a really nice change as it allows you to both physically tap around the outside of the circle – like a directional pad – or...
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