There are some fun Apple-exclusive features that folks might enjoy but I didn’t really use. Otherwise, I had no problems loading content over Wi-Fi. (I found it odd that Plex wouldn’t let me choose video quality settings, though this could be a problem with Plex instead of the Apple TV 4K.) If you have a slower wireless connection, spring for the higher-end model with Ethernet to eke out the fastest speeds possible.

I streamed HBO Max, Netflix, Plex, Prime Video, Paramount+, and more, and all worked great. But Apple doesn’t force you into thinking its content is the only stuff available. It leans toward Apple TV+ content in the same way that an equivalent Fire TV streaming device will put Amazon content front and center, or how Roku advertised the Weird Al biopic on its homepage. It’s far more than what you’ll find on the likes of the Chromecast with Google TV. Who knows how big mobile games will become down the line, but it’s nice to know I have plenty of room to install time-wasters from Apple Arcade (Apple provides three months for free when you buy the Apple TV 4K). I also like that you get 128 GB of internal storage. This is also a big differentiator over cheaper streaming sticks as you’ll hardly ever experience any stutters or lag moving through the menus. That means better colors from supported content, and more future-proofing as media gets better and brighter down the line. Inside the new Apple TV 4K is where you’ll find the biggest change: A huge upgrade in chip technology with the A15 Bionic-the same that powers the iPhone 13-making the streaming box capable of supporting HDR10+ (its predecessor maxed out at HDR10). Call it a victory for anyone that hates clutter and using different cables to recharge devices. It looks the same as the older version, except this time it comes with a more universal USB-C port for recharging instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning cable. It feels like the iPod Nano of old, milled out of a piece of aluminum with soft touch buttons and a sleek drag-and-move pad in the middle that lets you glide around menus like the trackpad on a laptop. The included remote is how you’ll interface with the Apple TV 4K, and it’s one of the most well built in the business.

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