HOW IT’S DONE
Apple TV 4K
Today on our teardown table, we have a shiny new Apple TV 4K. So what are we to do with Apple’s first 4K HDR streaming device? Binge-watch StrangerThings? We definitely thought about it... but, nah, we’re tearing this sucker apart!
MAJOR TECH SPECS
64-bit Apple A10X Fusion chip Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, IR receiver, HDMI 2.0a In the remote: glass touch surface, dual microphones, accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 4.0, IR transmitter, Lightning connector ≠
KEY FINDINGS
The newest Apple TV doesn’t tower over its predecessor, but we notice a couple of key differences in the design. The bottom panel has been redesigned for what looks like thermal venting. Bye-bye, USB-C port. Just like with its single-K sibling, the Apple TV 4K features repair-friendly plastic clips that secure its bottom panel. No moat of glue or uncommon screws? This upgraded unit gets a thumbs up. Peeling back the rear panel reveals ≠ a beefy fan secured by some T7 Torx screws. After pulling them out, we meet Apple TV’s biggest fan! It looks as though Apple merged the new fan with the heatsink/EMI shield assembly from the Apple TV 4th Generation, combining them to form a whopper of a cooling solution. This thermal assembly suggests that 4K HDR capability comes with a significant increase in thermal output. A twist of a few more Torx screws disassembles the assembly, revealing a replaceable fan driven by a Nidec brushless motor. Apple keeps with the tradition of easily removable logic boards for the Apple TV 4K. We don’t run into any surprises here; the heatsink remains the same as its predecessor from 2015. We take a moment to pluck a familiar pair of presumed power posts from the body of the heatsink. During our Apple TV 4th Generation teardown, we suspected that power was transmitted to the logic board via the heatsink screw posts. It looks as though this is still the case. With the heatsink and posts out of the way, the only thing left to do is remove the power supply board. The new power supply is rated for 12V at 1.083A. This is a modest bump from the 0.917A power supply we saw in the Apple TV 4th Generation. Again taking a design lead from its older sibling, the Apple TV 4K eschews internal wiring between ≠ the power supply and logic board. The use of conductive posts in lieu ≠ of wiring probably saves internal real estate and eliminates the possibility of pinched or bent wires during assembly. Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair). Plastic clips hold the case together for easy opening. Modular components make for easy disassembly and repair. Power supply is modular and features a removable AC-in jack. Standard Torx screws hold everything together. ≠ All major components are soldered ≠ to the logic board, meaning fixing any port problems will require board-level soldering or a full ≠ board replacement.