(checked 2026-10-10)1,750 ratings for the Wi-Fi 64GB model; the Wi-Fi + Ethernet 128GB model has a separate listing. No 'Customers say' summary was shown.
The fastest box testers have used, with clean tvOS, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Atmos, and a HomeKit/Thread hub. Apple raised its price to $199 in June 2026, it puts Apple's own content first, and the touch remote can be finicky. A new Apple event is set for Oct. 13, 2026, so a refresh is possible.
Top complaints
- Expensive, and now pricier
CNET lists it as 'still a lot more expensive than rival, capable streamers' and Tom's Guide as 'still expensive'. PCMag notes Apple raised the price by $70 to $199 on June 25, 2026, citing memory costs.
- Finicky remote, no Find My
PCMag found the touchpad overly sensitive and the lack of a home button unintuitive (both can be changed in settings). Wirecutter calls the remote sometimes finicky, and Tom's Guide lists no Find My remote feature.
- Apple-first, with some gaps
Wirecutter says it puts Apple's content at the forefront. PCMag found tvOS and the Apple TV app confusingly overlapping, no live TV guide, no YouTube Music, and Siri only via the remote. Ethernet is only on the pricier model (CNET).
What owners love
- Fastest load times
Tom's Guide says the A15 chip beats the Fire TV Cube and Roku Ultra on loading Netflix, YouTube and Disney+. CNET timed it at 8 seconds vs 14 for the Roku Ultra (2024) and says it's quicker than the Google TV Streamer.
- Top formats and Apple integration
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, Atmos and lossless audio; easy setup from an iPhone; works as a HomeKit hub (PCMag). Tom's Guide notes Thread support for Matter.
- Still getting updates
tvOS 27 arrived on Sept. 15, 2026 for the 2nd and 3rd Gen Apple TV 4K, with faster app launches and quicker AirPlay (Tom's Guide).
Source: Tom's Guide (tvOS 27)
- You're on a budget
- You don't use Apple services
- You want hands-free voice control
- iPhone, Mac and HomeKit households
- The fastest app loading
- Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness+
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best for Apple users (updated 2026-10-01). Fastest app loads and the cleanest interface; still expensive and no Find My remote.
- PCMag: 3.5/5, best for Siri users. Fast and well integrated, but pricey, with confusing app overlap and Siri only through the remote.
- CNET: Best for gamers and power users, 8.0/10. Speedy, but much pricier than rivals and Apple Arcade gaming remains thin.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Not a pick: zippy and intuitive but Apple-content-first and not much more powerful than the cheaper Google TV Streamer.