Apple’s Apple TV 4K Falls Short of Expectations

It’s been a long wait of four years since the last Apple TV 4K hit the market, and during that time, gamers and home theater enthusiasts alike have been dreaming of what the next version might bring. Expectations included a new chip, support for 4K/120Hz, audio passthrough, a remote locator, and improved home control integration. The 2022 Apple TV 4K is a solid device, but there’s still plenty of room for enhancements. With the announcement of the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K, some of those wishes were fulfilled, while others were sadly overlooked.

One major talking point is the device’s pricing. Apple has removed the more affordable 64GB, Wi-Fi-only model, leaving only the 128GB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet version, which now comes with a price tag of $300. Yes, $300 for a streaming device. That’s a steep cost when you consider that most competitors are priced at half that or even less.

There are some new features that I find appealing in this year’s Apple TV 4K. The increased processing power is a plus—though my third-gen model is still running smoothly—and the Find My support is a lifesaver for when the remote inevitably disappears into the couch or gets lost in blankets. The addition of built-in far-field microphones for Siri is also a nice touch, as long as you don’t tuck the box away in a cabinet like I do. The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K also introduces a dedicated AV1 decoder, enabling higher-quality streaming from compatible apps like Netflix, which is a fantastic upgrade. Any enhancement to streaming quality is definitely welcome.

However, my main concern is how the Apple TV 4K fits into my home theater setup. Apple has introduced the option to create a surround sound system using its HomePod 2 and HomePod Mini 2 smart speakers in pairs for front and surround channels. For fans of the Apple ecosystem looking to build a surround sound experience similar to Sonos or Bose, this is an intriguing concept (and I’m all for getting more people into immersive audio). But like many who invest in high-end streaming hardware, I already have a sound system—an Atmos setup featuring SVS and Revel speakers. I’m not about to swap out my existing speakers for a pair of HomePod 2s and spend another $300 on HomePod Mini 2s.

What I, along with many other users, have been hoping for from the Apple TV 4K for years is the inclusion of audio passthrough. This feature would allow my more advanced audio/video receiver to decode the raw audio stream instead of relying on the Apple TV’s Continuous Audio Connection, which can lead to playback issues.

It would also have been great to see Apple support 120fps output, especially for those who use Moonlight to stream games. This feature would have distinguished the Apple TV 4K from other streamers, which typically max out at 60fps, and could have justified the higher price point. It would also have been a step toward enhancing TV gaming capabilities. For movies, the 60fps cap isn’t a major issue, as the box can output 24fps, allowing a native 120Hz TV to utilize 5:5 pulldown.

Additional premium features that could have made Apple’s streaming box stand out and attracted home theater enthusiasts include an HDMI input for passthrough or a digital optical output. I understand that omitting these features might have been necessary to keep the price from skyrocketing further. This device is already on the pricey side, but it does leave the Apple TV 4K in a tricky position, pairing a high-end price with features that are often available elsewhere for much less.

Are these high-end omissions a dealbreaker for most users? Not really. However, those users will likely glance at the $300 price tag of the Apple TV 4K and then consider alternatives from Google, Roku, or Amazon, which are all significantly cheaper. While the Apple TV 4K is seen as the premium streaming option, the added cost without some of the more specialized features gives me pause.

Perhaps the new Apple TV 4K will surprise me. I’ve been looking forward to it for quite some time. I appreciate Apple’s approach to privacy, and if they roll out new features in the coming months, it might just be worth the investment. But that $300 price? It might be better allocated elsewhere in your home theater setup.