Apple has unveiled the third generation of Apple TV 4K. Here is how it compares in terms of specifications and features to the previous Apple TV boxes.
Changes in the 2022 version compared to the 2021 version are marked in orange.
Apple TV specifications
| Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
|---|
| Design | Box | Box | Box | Box |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 3.1 x 9.3 x 9.3 cm | 3.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm | 3.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm | 3.5 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm |
| Weight | 208 / 214 g | 425 g | 425 g | 425 g |
| Cooling | Passive (heatsink) | Active (fan) | Active (fan) | Passive (heatsink) |
| Hardware | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
| System chip (SoC) | A15 Bionic | A12 Bionic | A10X | A8 |
| Technology node | 5nm | 7nm | 10nm | 20nm |
| RAM | 4GB (LPDDR4X) | 3GB (LPDDR4X) | 3GB (LPDDR4) | 2GB (LPDDR3) |
| Storage | 64/128GB | 32/64GB | 32/64GB | 32/64GB |
| Storage type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD | SSD |
| Video/audio | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
| HDMI version | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.0b | HDMI 1.4 |
| HDMI 2.1 QMS | | | | |
| Video out | HDMI
Up to 4K60 DV | HDMI
Up to 4K60 DV | HDMI
Up to 4K60 DV | HDMI
Up to 1080p60 |
| Video decoding | 4K60 DV / HDR10 / HDR10+
4K60 SDR | 4K60 DV / HDR10
4K60 SDR | 4K30 DV / HDR10
4K60 SDR |
1080p60 SDR |
| Video codecs | HEVC
MPEG4
MPEG2 | HEVC
MPEG4
MPEG2 | HEVC
MPEG4
MPEG2 | HEVC
MPEG4
MPEG2 |
| HDR formats | HDR10
HDR10+
Dolby Vision | HDR10
Dolby Vision | HDR10
Dolby Vision | - |
| HDMI eARC/ARC (all TV audio to HomePod) | | | | |
| Audio out | HDMI
Bluetooth
WiFi (AirPlay 2)
WiFi (Home Theater) | HDMI
Bluetooth
WiFi (AirPlay 2)
WiFi (Home Theater) | HDMI
Bluetooth
WiFi (AirPlay 2)
WiFi (Home Theater) | HDMI
Bluetooth
WiFi (AirPlay 2) |
| Audio codecs | e-AC-3 (DD+)
AC-3 (DD)
FLAC
Apple Lossless
MP3
HE-AAC
AIFF
WAV | e-AC-3 (DD+)
AC-3 (DD)
FLAC
Apple Lossless
MP3
HE-AAC
AIFF
WAV | e-AC-3 (DD+)
AC-3 (DD)
FLAC
Apple Lossless
MP3
HE-AAC
AIFF
WAV | e-AC-3 (DD+)
AC-3 (DD)
FLAC
Apple Lossless
MP3
HE-AAC
AIFF
WAV |
| Dolby Atmos | Decoding
Output: HDMI (MAT 2.0) or WiFi (to HomePod) | Decoding
Output: HDMI (MAT 2.0) or WiFi (to HomePod) | Decoding
Output: HDMI (MAT 2.0) or WiFi (to HomePod) | - |
| Spatial Audio w/ AirPods | | | | |
| OS & features | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
| OS (at launch) | tvOS 16.1 | tvOS 14.5 | tvOS 11 | tvOS 9 |
| OS (latest supported) | tvOS 16.1 | tvOS 16.1 | tvOS 16.1 | tvOS 16.1 |
| Match frame rate | | | | |
| Match HDR/SDR | | | | - |
| Color Balance calibration | | | | |
| AirPlay 2 | | | | |
| HomeKit | | | | |
| Siri | | | | |
| Connectivity | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
| Remote control | Siri Remote 2022
USB-C port | Siri Remote 2021
Lightning port | Siri Remote
Lightning port | Siri Remote
Lightning port |
| TV control | HDMI CEC + infrared | HDMI CEC + infrared | HDMI CEC + infrared | HDMI CEC + infrared |
| Ethernet | 1000 Mb/s (only 128GB version) | 1000 Mb/s | 1000 Mb/s | 100 Mb/s |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (ax) with 2x2 MIMO | WiFi 6 (ax) with MIMO | WiFi 5 (ac) | WiFi 5 (ac) |
| Thread | (only 128GB version) | | | |
| Matter | | | | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Controller support | PS5/PS4
Xbox One/Series
Nintendo
MFI | PS5/PS4
Xbox One/Series
Nintendo
MFI | PS5/PS4
Xbox One/Series
Nintendo
MFI | PS5/PS4
Xbox One/Series
Nintendo
MFI |
| Services | Apple TV 4K (2022) | Apple TV 4K (2021) | Apple TV 4K (2017) | Apple TV HD (2015) |
| Apple App Store | | | | |
| Apple TV+ | | | | |
| Apple Arcade | | | | |
| Apple Music | | | | |
| Apple Fitness+ | | | | |
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