Apple TV 4K experience?

Renegade said:

Anyone using the Apple TV HD or 4K version? How has been the experience and long term usage feedback. Is the storage used for anything else besides the app? If not then whats the use for a 64GB version.

Edit - Most importantly, can we connect 2 bluetooth earphones and push audio on both simultaneously?

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Unless you want to stuff it with games, just get the 32GB variant

I have been using both the ATV HD and ATV4K for the past many years
Both are significantly faster than any streamer - and I have tried several

It is by far the best streamer I have used and I won't switch from it to any other option available currently.
However, I won't still recommend it to most users unless 2 or more of the below is true:

a) You need proper ATMOS support for Netflix and Prime ...This alone makes it worth the price to me at least but it may be non consequential to many
b) You use AirPods - in which case audio switches seamlessly between phone/ tab/ laptop/ TV + audio can be shared between two pairs - and while I have tried non AirPods BT headsets (which obviously works fine for 1 pair), I don't think audio sharing works with other BT headsets
c) You want the convenience of having the remote available directly within your iPhone swipe down menu

If not for the above , the 3X premium over say fire stick 4K is not worth it just for the faster UI

PS: I feel (but this is subjective) that the ATV does a better job at rendering HDR over the fire stick and in general runs more stable than FS (which itself is very stable esp compared to bug fest boxes like Mi 4k)

Have you considered Nvidia shield pro, I have seen that as the defacto streamer suggested everywhere without restrictions.

I would never go for such expensive streamers as I got a nuc for about 15k with 7th gen i3 and I don't think any streamer apple or Nvidia will be as fast especially with ssd and 16 gigs ram, plus unlimited control

I would recommend Fire Stick 4K. It is plenty fast and I don't think it's remote suffers from the drain issue. It is cheaper than Apple tv and being android you can Install 3rd party apps too for content consumption.

I have several apple devices but still haven't considered Apple tv as I personally don't see the worth and also I have got immensely used to fire stick and use apps that will never be there on apple tv.

Renegade said:

Actually I am thinking of upgrading my 10+ year old TV. It was a Samsung LA40C530 or something that Gannu had recommended way back then. Still runs fine and I don't know what will I do with it if I get a new one.

Anyway, so I know that most new TVs will come with their smarts but I would rather get a Fire Stick or an Apple TV, simply coz I don't trust any of the TV UIs. My current fire stick, which also is 4 years old, is extremely slow by today's standards and feels like running Windows on a non-SSD laptop. Also I have had poor experience with its remote. So wanted to check how is the competition doing. Now I have been in and out of the apple ecosystem and am planning to dive back in this year, so naturally this comes as a valid option.

I don't intend to own Airpods coz I think they are simply not worth it. The OnePlus wireless buds connects just fine with the macbook and phone. Its a shame that I won't be able to connect two buds with the ATV 4K even though it supports BT 5. My most usage would be on headphones and I have stopped watching TV lately simply coz it makes a lot of noise and disturbs others.

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TV UIs have gotten better - but are still some distance away from a good dedicated streamer.
Looking at your usage scenario, +1 to @raksrules suggestion of a FS 4K .. it offers 90% of the ATV at a much lower cost.
The new Fire TV box is supposed to be better / faster but haven’t used it

If however spending a +10K is ok in the bigger scheme of things, the ATV is still worth buying IMO.

msankadi said:

Have you considered Nvidia shield pro, I have seen that as the defacto streamer suggested everywhere without restrictions.

I would never go for such expensive streamers as I got a nuc for about 15k with 7th gen i3 and I don't think any streamer apple or Nvidia will be as fast especially with ssd and 16 gigs ram, plus unlimited control

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I have also heard good things about the nvidia - but the pricing/availability/warranty equation in India make the ATV a much easier choice over it. All the more so if user is already on ios or mac os
(Unless one has to mandatorily sideload ahem apps)

Also, While some people still swear by HTPCs, having used all sorts of HTPCs extensively in the past, i would never go back to them over say a FS 4K, let alone ATV.
Purely as a streaming device, the ATV (and very likely the nvidia too) is significantly more convenient - and snappier to use than any kind of HTPC

Get the Fire Stick 4K. I don't have the latest one, but the last year one works perfectly fine. Even when my life revolved around 100 percent Apple, never thought of Apple TV as Fire stick works perfectly fine.