I love my Apple TV 4K, but there's nothing compelling about the more-expensive new model

I love my Apple TV 4K, which I think is the best streaming device you can buy if, like me, you're already all-in on Apple.

But while my Apple TV 4K (2022) is great, it's also four years old.

That's an eternity in TV tech, so I was excited to see what new features and capabilities the new Apple TV 4K announced today would bring.

Unfortunately, there are hardly any new features or capabilities.

But the new Apple TV is much more expensive, so… uh, thanks? What I saw today was a bit like if Apple took four years to make a new season of Pluribus , restricted it to a new Apple TV tier costing twice as much, and it turned out to be identical to Season 1 but 3% brighter and 5% faster.

I'm not the only Apple TV fan to be disappointed.

Reddit is unhappy too. (Image credit: Apple TV 4K (2026)) The 2026/2027 Apple TV 4K: the good, the bad, and the ugly reaction I'm not an Apple TV newcomer: while I've used lots of different streamers I've had an Apple TV for everyday viewing for over a decade.

I bought my first Apple TV in 2012 for £85, and I'm currently on the 2022 Apple TV 4K.

That came in two versions, one with Ethernet and one without, and the cheapest one was $129 / £149 / AU$219.

Now there's only one version, and it's $299 / £299 / AU$449.

Apple was already more expensive than most rival streaming models, but not terrifyingly so — and fairly, given that the price wasn't subsidized by ads.

Now, though, it's way more pricey than its best competitors.

Yes, there's a component shortage that's putting prices up.

But that's affecting rivals too, and they're yet to up their prices so dramatically.