The middle man

More than ever, the Apple TV box has become an essential conduit for home-entertainment!

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Yes, it looks identical to the previous generation Apple TV but the HDMI port now gets a spec bump to HDMI 2.1 status and that opens up more bandwidth and thus, higher frame rates. Bluetooth 5.0 also ensures no line of sight is required for the remote and you can wirelessly connect a pair of AirPods for private listening too!

While 4K/60fps content on the ground is thin at the moment, any personal videos shot on iPhones from the recent past will be able to AirPlay a video shot at 4K/60fps through this new Apple TV 4K, and that’s something no smart TV can boast of at the moment.

Thankfully, with the bump in processor to A12 spec, the same used in iPhone XS/XR series, it’s only a matter of time until Apple TV 4K makes a serious dash for 120fps gaming glory. Elsewhere, the difference in performance is imperceptible compared to the previous generation box.

If you have the Apple TV connected to a full-blown home cinema system, the HDMI 2.1 port is capable of ARC and e-ARC too now, allowing you to route audio in various ways from a soundbar or a Dolby Atmos multi-speaker setup as part of the home-theatre.