Apple TV 4K’s $300 price raises questions over missing features

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K adds a faster chip, Find My support for its remote, built-in far-field microphones for Siri, and a dedicated AV1 decoder. But its $300 price has renewed questions about features that remain absent.

The Verge’s John Higgins writes that Apple dropped the previous 64GB, Wi-Fi-only option, leaving a 128GB model with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, priced at $300. He notes that other major streaming devices cost at least half as much.

Higgins welcomes the AV1 decoder, which can improve streaming quality in supporting apps such as Netflix. He is less persuaded by Apple’s new option to build a surround sound system from matching pairs of HomePod 2 and HomePod Mini 2 speakers. He already has an Atmos system with SVS and Revel speakers and does not want to replace them.

He also wanted audio passthrough, which would let an external receiver decode raw audio, and 120fps output, which could benefit Moonlight game streaming. The device tops out at 60fps. Other possibilities he mentions are an HDMI input for passthrough and a digital optical output. Higgins says the omissions may matter little to most buyers, but questions whether the premium price is justified without these niche features. He says Apple’s privacy approach is a plus and leaves open whether future additions could change his view.