The new Apple TV 4K went on sale online and in stores last week, offering improvements over what some say is the best streaming hardware available. The 2022 model has an A15 Bionic processor, a significant update over the A12 inside the previous model, which shipped in May. A 16-core neural engine and added RAM are among the upgrades. Starting at $129 for Wi-Fi only with 64GB of RAM, there is also a higher-end $149 version with 128GB that is Wi-Fi and Ethernet compatible and has a Thread IoT modem that supports Matter.

“In both cases, that represents a $50 price cut when compared to the models they replace,” says TechCrunch, noting that while still pricier than competing options from Amazon and Roku, Apple TV 4K offers “the best navigation, performance, color rendering and overall experience” in the category.

A key improvement is compatibility with HDR10+, the Samsung-supported high dynamic range alternative to Dolby Vision — a plus for anyone that has or is considering purchase of a new Samsung display.

The 2022 Apple TV 4K “definitely offers a boost when it comes to using the Apple TV as a gaming device, helping it keep up with the most graphically demanding Arcade and App Store titles available,” writes TechCrunch, noting that “with expanded controller support via the most recent tvOS update, the Apple TV is a better gaming console than ever combined with the A15’s performance prowess.”

The A15 Bionic is “the same processor that’s found in the iPhone 13 lineup and the sixth-generation iPad mini, and one that we’ve found to deliver super-fast performance on devices that arguably demand more than an Apple TV box that’s primarily designed to stream video,” writes CNN.

Apple claims the new Apple TV 4K delivers up to 50 percent faster processing performance and a 30 percent improvement for graphics.

Another new feature is something Apple calls Quick Media Switching, designed to eliminates the blackout that occurs when switching between media with different frame rates.

“If you have the ‘Match Content’ for frame rates turned on, you’ll be familiar with this, since it happens almost any time you start streaming an actual show or movie from most apps,” TechCrunch writes, noting “QMS will get rid of that blackout — once it arrives via a software update later this year.”

Also in the “coming soon” category is personalized Siri support, which will recognize the voices of different users, automatically playing content from their individual profiles (no matter which account is signed in).

Related:
Apple TV 4K Review: Unmatched Power at a Much Better Price, The Verge, 11/2/22
Apple TV 4K Review: Apple Is Finally Selling More for Less, ZDNet, 11/2/22