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The 2021 Apple TV 4K at $80 is a near-no-brainer

By Phil Nickinson November 23, 2022

Apple TV 4K is the best streaming device you can buy. And while the 2022 model made it even better (and slightly less expensive at the full retail price), this is nearly too good to pass up.

The question, then, is what you’ll lose out on if you instead to go with the slightly older version, which is available for an astonishing $80, which is nearly $100 off the regular price of $179.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that it is, well, bigger. It’s ever so slightly larger, mostly due to the fact that the 2021 model has a fan for active cooling, and the 2022 model does not. However, in the more than five years in which I’ve owned an Apple TV 4K, I’ve never once actually heard the fan spin up.

The Apple TV 4K (2022) and Siri remote on a table. — Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

Then there’s the internals. The 2021 model uses the A12 Bionic processor, whereas this year’s model uses the A15 Bionic. Basic math tells us that the 2022 version is three better than the older one. But in actuality, you’ll never notice the difference. (You can read our full Apple TV 4K 2022 review for more details.) The same goes for the 2022 model having double the number of cores on the processor and an extra gigabyte of RAM. The simple fact is what you’ll save in cash more than makes up for specs on paper that you’ll never actually notice in real life anyway. Will you suffer with Wi-Fi 5 versus Wi-Fi 6? Probably not. And in any event, both versions have Gigabit Ethernet if you’re able to plug in.

There’s maybe a slight argument to be made for the updated remote control, which uses USB-C to recharge instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector. But that’s small potatoes, and there’s a nearly 100% chance that you already have a Lightning cable laying around if you’re even considering an Apple TV 4K.

Otherwise, you’re still getting an excellent platform for watching any and all video, whether it’s from Apple’s own store, any of the live-streaming services like YouTube TV, or any of the various on-demand streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+. You’ll get it all in a simple user interface, with no advertising (you can’t say that about the other platforms) and software that’s going to stay up-to-date for years.

You almost can’t pass this up.

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Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…

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Save $650 on Samsung’s 55-inch outdoor 4K TV today

The Samsung 55-inch The Terrace mounted outside.

TVs are fussy about lighting. Its just a fact of nature, it seems, with how light reflects off of screens. Increasingly, though, our screens are fighting back against the elements. We've seen this in our phones changing brightness levels as we step outside, desperate for our undivided attention. Now, Samsung is bringing full TVs to the outdoors, creating the best QLED TV for the outdoors, the Samsung Terrace. Today, you can get a 55-inch Samsung Terrace for only $2,850 (that's $650 down from its usual $3,500) while this deal lasts. Unfortunately, that happens to be for just a short time. Until midnight, in fact, at least for citizens of U.S. Central time zone. So, tap the button below to grab one now if you've been waiting for this moment for awhile now or read on to get the details.

Why you should buy Samsung's The Terrace
If you're a TV nerd that wants more sunshine, this deal is for you. The Terrace is designed to work in partial sun (i.e. on your terrace) and adapts to the changing lighting conditions of a natural environment well. In a move that is rare for a TV, The Terrace even comes with an IP rating of IP55, which means that it contains both water and dust protection in a way that is certified by a 3rd party. This is a TV that you can sit outside and not worry about. Well, at least from an environmental perspective, you still might want some of the best outdoor security cameras looking in its direction to deter pesky humans.

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This 43-inch 4K TV just had its price slashed to $190

The Insignia F30 Series 4K TV mounted on a wall with the Fire TV interface on the screen.

Anyone looking for cheap TV deals already knows that Best Buy is a great place to check. Right now, it's excelling itself with an 43-inch Insignia F30 4K TV for $190 instead of $300. $300 was a tempting price as it was but dropping down further to $190 makes it a fantastic offer for anyone on a tight budget and in need of a new TV. Whether it's a replacement for your living room set, or you want to add it to your bedroom or den, it's a decent option. Here's what you need to know before you think about hitting that buy button.

Why you should buy the 43-inch Insignia F30 4K TV
Insignia may not be one of the best TV brands, but it sure is cheap. With the 43-inch Insignia F30 4K TV, you still get all the essentials you might need from a budget-priced TV. Of course, there's a 4K resolution which is always welcomed. There's also HDR support, so you get a wide range of color details and sharper contrast than usual. An LED-backlit LCD screen further helps matters with reliable and long-lasting LED lighting.

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You can buy a 65-inch QLED 4K TV for under $500 right now

vizio 65 inch m series p quantum 4k tv amazon deal 55 2 768x768

Ten years ago, 4K was all the rage. These days, every TV on the market is 4K. The next step up is QLED, and that technology is quickly becoming cheaper too. Of course, awesome 4K TV deals help, like this price cut at Walmart that brings the 65-inch Vizio M6 down to $498 from its usual $678. If you want a large QLED TV from a respected brand, this is your chance to get one for cheap. Don't let this deal pass you by.

Why you should buy the 65-inch Vizio M6 QLED 4K TV
If you're not familiar with Vizio smart TVs and soundbars, the M-Series is its mid-tier offering which still manages to hit relatively budget-oriented pricing by using cheap tech smartly. For example, if you aren't familiar with QLED vs. OLED, where QLED shines is being able to light each individual pixel very brightly, allowing it to recreate colors better. On the other hand, OLED TVs can switch their pixels off completely, letting you get deeper blacks, which helps with the overall contrast. While both pieces of tech have their own advantages, and while OLED might come out slightly on top for image reproduction, QLED TVs are much cheaper and offer a close enough experience that you likely won't notice unless you have the two different panels side by side.