Skip to main content

Go ahead and spend the extra $20 on the good Apple TV 4K

Apple has announced two new versions of the Apple TV 4K. Both are good for all kinds of reasons. Better internals. New features. And prices that are much more likely to be competitive, even if they’re still a good bit north of what folks are spending on the likes of Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.

But two new Apple TV 4K boxes — and the death of the lower-resolution Apple TV HD — means you’ve got a decision to make. Which Apple TV 4K is right for you?

We’ll just go ahead and cut to the chase: Spend the extra $20 and get the more expensive model. Here’s why:

Apple TV 4K 2022.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Better bandwidth

When it comes to connected devices at home — especially if it’s something that’s going to be moving large amounts of data — plugged in is always better than wireless. That’s not to say that you can’t get good wireless speed on an Apple TV 4K. You most certainly can. But wired is almost always more stable and faster, and that means you’ve all but removed speed and stability as variables when it comes to troubleshooting.

In other words, Ethernet means not having to say you’re sorry. If you know you’re going to put an Apple TV 4K in a place that has an Ethernet cable, go ahead and use it. That’s worth the extra $20.

More storage

There’s an adage when it comes to onboard storage: You can never have enough. And Apple TV (unlike other devices of this ilk) doesn’t give you the option to add any sort of external storage. So what you buy is what you get.

Do you actually need 128GB of storage on an Apple TV 4K? It’s easy to argue that you do not. It’s not the sort of product that you’ll need to download a huge amount of data so you can watch shows and movies offline since it’s not the sort of thing you’ll be using without an internet connection. On the other hand, when was the last time you ever saw a software update come back smaller than the one before it? So more storage makes sense there.

You’ve got two options here — 64GB with the Wi-Fi-only model and 128GB with the $20 upgrade. From a pure math standpoint, you get a better gigabyte-per-dollar ratio from the $150 model with twice the storage. That in and of itself just makes sense.

And at the end of the day, you’re talking just a 15% premium for a little future-proofing. Spend that Hamilton.

Apple TV 4K 2022 rear of the devices.
Apple TV 4K 2022 — one with Ethernet and one without. That’s the only visible difference on the outside. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Better network support

This part admittedly is pretty nerdy. And if you don’t care about things like Thread and Matter — which aren’t the same thing but are very much part of the same universe when it comes to smart home devices — then just go ahead and move on.

But here’s the deal: The slightly more expensive Apple TV 4K with more storage and Ethernet also has support for Thread, which is a mesh networking protocol for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It allows things to talk to each other quickly and easily. And Matter — the latest in a long line of smart home standards, but one that might finally work — utilizes Thread.

So if you know you’re going to use your Apple TV 4K as a smart home hub, go ahead and spend the extra $20 and get the one that supports Thread.

More on Apple TV

What about Apple TV HD?

Now that there are two Apple TV 4K models at $130 and $150 — and it’s worth noting that these are retail prices before any sales go into effect — there’s really no place for a device that costs the same but does less. Apple TV HD was limited to 1080p resolution.

And so Apple TV HD is no more. It’s Apple TV 4K or nothing.

Which Apple TV should you buy?

This one isn’t quite a no-brainer. You can make all kinds of arguments for saving $20 and just getting the Wi-Fi-only model of the Apple TV 4K, and nobody should give you too hard a time for that decision.

But things like Ethernet and more storage can’t be added in after the fact. (Not with Apple TV, anyway.) And since you’re already spending at least $130, it’s not a far stretch to tack on another $20 for some future-proofing.

And for those reasons alone — never mind the Thread support — we’d just go ahead and get the more expensive Apple TV 4K.

Editors' Recommendations

Phil Nickinson
Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
Best 70-inch TV deals: Get a big screen for sports for $450
The Samsung 70-inch Class 7 Series 4K TV in a living room.

A 70-inch TV is great for watching sports, and since most options in the market are smart TVs, they're also perfect for streaming shows and streaming movies. However, the best TVs that come with this screen size don't usually come cheap, which is why we've rounded up the top 70-inch TV deals that you can shop right now. Our favorite bargains involve the best TV brands to make sure that you'll get fantastic quality and the latest features, but if you want any of these to take center stage in your home theater, you're going to have to hurry as the discounts may not last long.
Insignia 70-inch F30 Series LED 4K TV — $450, was $500

Whether upgrading your home theater or building one from scratch, the Insignia F30 4K TV has everything on the stat sheet. It presents all of your favorite content in breathtaking 4K resolution, and HDR technology provides a wide range of color details and sharper contrast, making movies more immersive and things like sports more impactful. Versatile connectivity ports make it easy to connect home theater peripherals. This TV also offers smart features like Alexa voice control, DTS Studio Sound, and Apple AirPlay. The Insignia 70-inch F30 4K TV is also a Fire TV, which gets you instant access to over 500,000 streaming movies and TV episodes, and access to thousands of channels and apps, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and more.

Read more
Best Buy TV deals: Save on QLED TVs, OLED TVs, and 8K TVs
The Vizio V-Series 4K TV in the living room.

If you're planning to upgrade your home theater setup, Best Buy is one of the top sources for deals on TVs of all shapes and sizes. The retailer is always offering discounts on some of the best TVs, as well as on a long list of alternatives from the best TV brands. The sheer number of offers may prove to be overwhelming for most people, so to help you out, we've rounded up our favorite bargains on QLED TVs, OLED TVs, 8K TVs, and more from Best Buy. You better hurry though, as these prices may return to normal sooner than you think.
TCL 4-Series 58-inch 4K Smart Roku TV — $304, was $320

If you’re shopping on a budget but still want to ensure a good picture and some Smart TV features, the TCL 4-Series 4K Roku TV is the one for you. It has 4K resolution that produces lifelike images and graphics and an LED display that offers superior brightness, high color contrast and good light uniformity. It will work well with any room, as its 58-inch size is large enough to see from a decent distance without taking too much space in a smaller room. This is also a good TV to break in with the best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Max, and more, as it has access to streaming services built right into its interface.

Read more
Best 65-inch TV deals: Get a 65-inch 4K TV for under $400
A Vizio 65 inch TV hangs on a living room wall.

There are a lot of TV options out there, with each of the best TV brands making a number of different models utilizing different technologies and smart features. Sizing is another thing you need to consider when shopping. A 65-inch TV is a good combination of size and pricing, with some of the best TV deals often including 65-inch TVs. Retailers aren’t holding back on 65-inch TV deals right now, with models by TCL, LG, Samsung, and Sony seeing discounts, among others. We’ve rounded up what we feel are the best 65-inch TV deals currently taking place, so read onward for more details on how to save.
Hisense 65-inch A6 Series LED 4K TV — $378, was $430

Despite its low price, this TV sacrifices nothing in terms of picture quality. I brings the modern clarity of 4K resolution to your living room. It’s even able to upscale older content into Ultra-HD resolution. The Hisense A6 4K TV is a good option for gamers and people who like to take in the fast-paced action of sports and action movies. It has a 60Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, which makes sure the TV can handle the rigors of next generation gaming consoles and intense, fast-paced scenes. This keeps the image from tearing, lagging, or breaking apart, even during the fastest moving action sequences.

Read more