The Apple TV media streaming device is finally available in different versions. This might confuse some consumers who are looking to get the best bang for their buck, so we are going to attempt to make your decision making easier.
At the moment, there are two versions of the Apple TV. In one corner, we have the new Apple TV, and in the next corner, we have the regular Apple TV that we have come to know and love over the years. So, which one of the two should consumers consider taking home this holiday?
Not an easy question since both do the same basic thing, and that is to stream media content. However, one is cheaper and obviously by that, it must be less impressive when compared to the newer version.
The old Apple TV
It costs $69 at every Apple store; you may be able to get it cheaper elsewhere or as a used product if you're up for that. On the outside, the design is small and compact, and it comes with a silver remote with a brush of black here and there. The box itself supports up to 1,080p video content and Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound. It is powered by an Apple single-core A5 chip, which has proven the test of time.
We also like the fact that the remote comes with a replaceable lithium battery.
On the software front, it supports the iTunes Store, but only in the form of iTunes movies, iTunes TV shows, iTunes music and iTunes Radio.
The new Apple TV
In terms of price, this beauty will set you back around $169. That's $100 more than the regular Apple TV, so what's going on here? Well, the new Apple TV comes with a fast A8 processor at the heart of it, 1,080p video output, and Dolby 7.1 channel surround sound. The remote supports Siri voice commands for those who love to chit chat with technology. The downside here is the built-in battery that is non-replaceable.
The remote also supports Bluetooth 4.0 and an accelerometer and gyroscope.
On the software side of things, the new Apple TV supports iTunes movies, iTunes TV shows and Apple Music. There's no Apple Music support with the old version of the Apple TV media streaming box.
Which one to get?
From our point of view, the regular Apple TV is just fine if consumers just want to stream movies and TV shows without all the bells and whistles. One doesn't need to be talking to Siri to get these things up and running, so if fancy voice commands are not your thing, go ahead and throw down that $69.
As for the new Apple TV, folks should purchase it if they feel the need for a faster process, Apple Music and the ability to play around with Siri. Those are the main selling points now.
