Full Details on Every Generation of the Apple TV

A simple guide to comparing Apple TV models

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on December 20, 2022
Reviewed by
Jessica Kormos
Jessica Kormos
Reviewed by Jessica Kormos
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

Most models of the Apple TV look confusingly similar: they're pocket-sized devices that resemble extra-large, square hockey pucks. Sure, the Apple TV 4K is about twice as tall as the third-generation model, but that's a pretty subtle difference.

The relatively similar outsides actually conceal a lot of difference. The things that separate the 2nd and 5th generation Apple TV models, for instance, are huge. The newest model — the Apple TV 4K, which is the 5th generation — has a number of obvious differences and is a revolutionary improvement over earlier Apple TV models. On the other hand, a quick glance at the chart below may cause the 2nd and 3rd generation models to appear identical.

This chart helps you understand how the models are different by comparing the features, benefits, and specifications of each Apple TV generation. The easy-to-read and compare chart is designed to help you understand how the Apple TV has evolved over the years and to make the right purchase.

Apple TV Comparison Chart

  3rd Gen. Apple TV 4k 2nd Gen. Apple TV 4K Apple TV 4K 4th Gen. Apple TV 3rd Gen. Apple TV 2nd Gen. Apple TV 1st Gen. Apple TV
Release Year 2022 2021 2017 2015 2013 2010 2007
Processor Apple A15 Bionic Apple A12 Bionic Apple A10X Fusion Apple A8 Apple A5 Apple A4 1 GHz Intel Crofton Pentium M
Storage 64GB
128GB		 32GB
64GB		 32GB 64GB 32GB 64GB 8GB 8GB 40GB
160GB
App Store Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Games Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Siri Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Universal Voice Search Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Maximum Video Resolution 2160p 2160p 2160p 1080p 1080p 720p 720p
Dolby 5.1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Dolby 7.1 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes Yes No No No No
HDR10 Yes Yes Yes No No No No
Interfaces HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, IR Receiver HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, IR Receiver HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, IR Receiver HDMI, Ethernet, IR Receiver HDMI, Ethernet, Optical Audio, IR Receiver HDMI, Ethernet, Optical Audio, IR Receiver HDMI, Component A/V, Optical Audio, Analog Audio, Ethernet, IR Receiver
Networking Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
USB No No No USB-C Micro-USB Micro-USB USB 2.0
HomeKit Hub Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Remote Control Siri Remote 3 Siri Remote 2 Siri Remote (touchpad & mic); black Siri Remote (touchpad & mic); black Apple Remote; aluminum Apple Remote; aluminum Apple Remote; white
Weight 7.3 oz (Wi-Fi); 7.5 oz (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) 15 oz 15 oz 15 oz 9.2 oz 9.2 oz 2.4 lbs
Size (inches) 3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.3 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.1

Which Apple TV Model Should You Buy?

For almost all people, the answer is the Apple TV 4K. You can usually find the past two generations available for sale, but if you can afford it, you should spring for the newest one with the most storage. Doing so ensures that you get the most updated features, and it may be compatible with your other devices for longer.

The current generation of Apple TV 4K comes in both Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi/Ethernet options. Functionally, they're the same, but Ethernet can provide a more stable connection if your internet service isn't reliable. If your Apple TV isn't going to be near your router, however, and you don't want to run a long cable, Wi-Fi will be the better option.

Both 1st generation models, the 2nd generation, and 3rd generation Apple TV are no longer available from Apple, but you may still find them used. While they were good models when they debuted, we no longer recommend them, as they don't support the most recent technologies.

Comparing Apple TV to Other Streaming Options

The Apple TV isn't the only device that plugs into your TV and lets you stream video, play games, and more. In addition to comparing Apple TV models, you should also compare the Apple TV with Google Chromecast and Roku.

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