Apple TV 4K

For many, watching Apple CEO Tim Cook on stage at the 2017 launch of the Apple TV 4K, talking about 4K and HDR almost as if they were Apple inventions, was both hilarious and galling. After all, 4K technology was already around when the previous Apple TV launched in 2015, and Apple simply chose to ignore it.

But our irritation proved short-lived because, upon release, the Apple TV 4K was clearly one of the best video streamers available. What’s more, Apple has shown laudable dedication to updating the little black box with AV aficionado-pleasing features that mean it’s no longer one of the best – it’s the best.

No need for large capacity

There’s just 32GB storage in the standard model (£179), and 64GB in the version we have on test here, priced at £199. That sounds paltry, but as the Apple TV 4K doesn’t download movies, TV shows or music, but exclusively streams them, the only storage it needs is for the apps themselves, which tend to be pretty small – Netflix is just 41.6MB.

Once switched on, you’re treated to a typically slick Apple experience, particularly if you have an iphone or other IOS device, which can be used to share all of your account and wi-fi info.

The device detects if your TV supports 4K and adjusts its output accordingly. It also tests for HDR support, sending an HDR signal to the TV. If you can receive it, everything the Apple TV 4K sends to your TV from this point will be in 4K.

The menu system itself is neat, clean and intuitive, as you’d expect, and Siri has been cleverly tailored to the video streaming focus, proving more intuitive and useful than the equivalent voice controls of Amazon’s streamers and TVS from the likes of LG and Samsung.

If you’re more partial to controlling your TV the old-fashioned way, you might want to use the remote control from the TV that’s connected to the Apple TV 4K, as the touchpad on the Apple remote is a bit skittish.

Apple TVS also get an app – rather confusingly called ‘TV’ – that consolidates all the content available across all the apps you’ve installed and have subscriptions to, and allows you to dip back quickly into the last thing you were watching or find something new to watch via an algorithm that recommends content based on your viewing patterns. It works pretty well, but the one big issue is that Netflix isn’t integrated into the TV app, so if that’s your primary streaming app you’re going to find TV a bit lacking.

There’s Amazon Prime Video, along with BBC iplayer, ITV Player, My5 and All 4 catch-up services, but the Apple TV 4K’s biggest selling point is its library of 4K HDR movies. The catalogue is expanding at an impressive rate having started off with well over 200 films.

Sky Q has a similar quantity of 4K films, with TV shows and sport added into the mix, but you obviously need a Sky dish and subscription. Apple TV’S simple pay-as-you-go model will be more appealing to many, particularly as the extra pixels don’t cost any extra money – most films can be bought for the same price as the HD versions.

If you’ve already bought a film on itunes that is subsequently upgraded on the store to 4K, you automatically get the new version at no extra cost.

An Apple TV 4K stream might be no match for the equivalent UHD disc when it comes to picture quality, but 4K movies streamed via itunes still look lovely. Compared with a Full HD stream, there’s a clear step-up in sharpness and definition, giving the image much more solidity and depth. Detail is also lifted significantly, making clothing textures, such as the furs and leather in the early scenes of Wonder Woman, appear more natural, realistic and distinct.

But it’s HDR that makes movies pop from the screen. Whites are pure and bright, colours are more vibrant and vivid, and blacks deeper and more solid. It’s simply a more enticing picture.

So far, we’re really talking about only HDR10 content, but the itunes Store also carries many movies with Dolby Vision, a more advanced version of HDR that’s applied on a frame-by-frame basis and capable of even better results. What’s more, a recently announced upgrade means that, from the autumn, the Apple TV 4K will also support 4K-quality content from Youtube.

Soaking up the Atmos

The audio performance here is just as impressive, with Dolby Atmos support included. The Atmos delivery is impressively accurate and awesomely atmospheric – but, whichever format you use for sound, the Apple TV 4K is a clear, weighty and precise performer, with greater punch and dynamic range than the more affordable video streamers that you might also be considering.

That exclusive catalogue of 4K content continues to be the Apple TV 4K’s greatest strength. The only rival that gets close to mounting a serious challenge to it is the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (see left), which is undeniably awesome for the money. But between the superior performance and unrivalled selection of 4K HDR movies, Apple’s streamer more than justifies the extra outlay.

“From the autumn, the Apple TV 4K will support 4Kquality content from Youtube”