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Apple TV

Product shot of Apple TV 4K with Siri Remote and the words "Apple TV: Cult of Mac Superguide."
Everything you need to know about the Apple TV streaming box.

Apple TV is a set-top box for streaming video and games. Apple announced the first-generation device in September 2006 under the name “iTV.” However, the name changed to Apple TV before the device’s launch in March 2007.

Since then, Apple has continued to update the streaming box, adding new features and reducing the device’s size.

Original Apple TV

The first-gen Apple TV measured 7.7 inches by 7.7 inches by 1.1 inches and ran on an Intel Pentium M processor. It retailed for $299.

Second-gen Apple TV

Apple released the second-gen Apple TV in September 2010. Powered by an Apple A4 chip and just a quarter the size of the original model, it ran a modified version of iOS. It retailed for $99.

Third-gen Apple TV

The third-gen Apple TV, released in 2012, looked the same as its predecessor but sported an Apple A4 ship. It also added HomeKit support so it could work as a smart home hub, but retained the $99 price tag.

Apple TV HD

Apple released the fourth-generation model, called Apple TV HD, in October 2015. It ran on a new operating system, tvOS, with an App Store for downloading third-party apps. Powered by a 64-bit Apple A8 chip, it and added support for Dolby Digital Plus audio. Slightly taller than the second- and third-gen models, it came with a redesigned Siri Remote with a touch surface that registered both taps and swipes. It started at $149.

Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K arrived in September 2017. Powered by an Apple A10X chip, it supported 2160p output, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HEVC hardware decoding. Pricing started at $179.

Second-gen Apple TV 4K

The second-gen Apple TV 4K arrived in April 2021. With an Apple A12 Bionic chip inside, it supported high-frame-rate HDR, HDMI 2.1 and Wi-Fi 6. It came with a larger, completely redesigned Siri Remote featuring a scroll wheel with navigational buttons. It also added a Thread radio.

Third-gen Apple TV 4K

Apple released the third-gen Apple TV 4K in October 2022. Powered by an Apple A15 Bionic chip with a five-core CPU and a five-core GPU, it brought support for HDR10+. The set-top box is smaller and lighter than its predecessor. A Wi-Fi-only model ($129) comes with 64GB of storage. The more expensive 128GB model ($149) adds Ethernet and a Thread radio.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Apple TV:

3 reasons to watch Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV

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Down Cemetery Road review
New Apple TV thriller Down Cemetery Road is a compelling whodunnit (and who did what, exactly?).
Photo: Apple TV

New Apple TV crime thriller Down Cemetery Road, based on British author Mick Herron’s debut novel, might not always match the fast-and-dirty fun of Slow Horses, the hit stablemate also derived from Herron’s work.

However, it offers enough intrigue, stellar performances (especially from star Emma Thompson) and dark humor to deserve your attention. 

Here’s why you should stream the eight-episode conspiracy thriller.

Ben Stiller’s touching new documentary tells his famous parents’ tale

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Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost documentary
Anne Meara Stiller, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller and Amy Stiller back in the day.
Photo: Apple TV

Ben Stiller, a driving force behind Apple TV hit workplace psychodrama Severance, now turns to a much more personal subject as a director: his famous comedian parents. His new documentary, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, begins streaming Friday on Apple TV. And it looks like it might prompt laughs as well as tears.

Apple TV might try to buy massive Warner Bros. Discovery content library

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New Apple TV logo for 2025
Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV with a more colorful logo.
Screenshot: Apple

It seems Apple might buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the media and entertainment company that owns HBO, CNN and other high-profile properties. Apple reportedly expressed interest in acquiring parts of the company, particularly its extensive film and television library, as the media giant explores a potential sale, according to a report Thursday.

Such a deal would be a massive boost for Apple TV, adding depth to the streaming service’s catalog.

Apple and NBCUniversal bundle Apple TV and Peacock at a discount [Now available]

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Apple TV and Peacock bundle
Soon one bundle will give you a discount on content from both Apple TV and Peacock.
Photo: Apple

Update: As of Monday, you can sign up for the new Apple TV and Peacock bundle through the Apple TV app, by itself or as a discounted addition to an Apple One bundle. You can also sign up through NBCUniversal’s Peacock app or website.

A new streaming bundle will combine content from Apple TV and Peacock into a single subscription available starting Monday (October 20), the iPhone giant said Thursday. The partnership marks the first collaboration of its kind between the two entertainment companies. It offers customers access to both platforms’ content libraries at a discounted rate.

“We’re thrilled to introduce this all-inclusive bundle of incredible programming and to bring Apple TV’s beloved shows and movies to more viewers in more places,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple TV, Apple Music, Sports and Beats. “From acclaimed originals to can’t-miss live sports, the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle unites the best of entertainment in a simple and seamless experience.”

Soccer fans! Apple TV subscribers can catch MLS Cup Playoffs action for free.

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2025 MLS Cup Playoffs
Apple TV subscribers can watch the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin this week.
Photo: MLS

You don’t need an MLS Season Pass to watch the Major League Soccer playoffs this year. The games in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs are available to anyone with a subscription to the Apple TV streaming service.

This includes Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF kicking off a best-of-three series against Nashville SC this Friday.

When you can watch F1: The Movie on rebranded ‘Apple TV’

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When you can watch F1: The Movie on rebranded 'Apple TV'
"F1: The Movie" is coming soon to an Apple TV streaming service without the "+" sign.
Photo: Apple

F1: The Movie with Brad Pitt as a racer will make its streaming debut on Friday, December 12, following the film’s record-breaking theatrical run, Apple said Monday. And the announcement came with a surprise twist: Apple TV+ gets rebranded as simply “Apple TV” (no “+”) with what the company called a “vibrant new identity.”

It remains to be seen how vibrant the identity is, but it’s the same exact name as the Apple TV hardware and the Apple TV app. Maybe they meant “confusing new identity.”

Play-Doh World and 3 other exclusive games hit Apple Arcade [Now available!]

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exclusive games join Apple Arcade
Four exclusive games come to Apple Arcade August 7.
Photo: Apple

Everybody’s favorite gaming service, Apple Arcade, expanded its library Thursday as four new exclusive games joined. We knew they were coming — and now you can play them. That brings the subscription service’s catalog to over 200 ad-free games, Apple said.

Here are the latest additions: Play-Doh World, a creative digital playground; Worms Across Worlds, the newest entry in the beloved strategy series; Let’s Go Mightycat!, a whimsical puzzle adventure; and Everybody Shogi, a colorful take on the traditional Japanese board game.

All the new Apple products coming in the next year

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Apple roadmap 2025-2026
Here’s everything rumors told us to expect from Apple in the next year.
Photo: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple is gearing up for a blockbuster year, with a packed product roadmap that spans nearly every category in its lineup. From an iPhone redesign to upgrades for the Mac, iPad and Apple Watch families, the next twelve months promise a steady stream of hardware refreshes, software milestones and perhaps a few surprises.

Whether you’re a casual user or a die-hard fan, here’s a look at every major Apple product expected between now and next summer.

Today in Apple history: Apple TV makes its big-screen debut

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20140902_apple-tv_0061-780x520
Apple TV did not become an instant smash hit.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

March 21: Today in Apple history: Apple launches the Apple TV March 21, 2007: Apple launches the Apple TV, a gleaming-white set-top box with a remote control, for bringing iTunes media to the living room.

Unfortunately, the device lacks key features needed to make it a killer entertainment system. It’s something of a missed opportunity for Apple.

Get an intuitive Apple TV button remote for less than $25

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Enjoy a more intuitive Apple TV experience with this button remote, now only $39.99.
Trade your standard Apple TV remote for this sleek, simple button remote for $40.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For many Apple TV owners, there’s still one kink to be worked out: the remote. The Siri Remote is all about being skinny and putting Apple’s AI assistant front and center. But some people prefer an alternative Apple TV remote with lots of buttons, like the recently upgraded Button Remote from Function101 (see our hands-on review).

Upgraded with Bluetooth connectivity in addition to infrared, it works with Apple TVs and more than a hundred other television brands. And you can get one for only $24.97. That’s just two-thirds the price of a replacement sixth-gen Siri Remote from Apple.

Netflix relents, starts cooperating with Apple TV app [Update: Nope!]

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Netflix and Apple TV
Netflix and Apple TV cooperating?! No.
Image: Netflix, Apple

Netflix content started showing up for the first time in the Apple TV application. Until now, the streaming behemoth refused to cooperate with Apple’s app that displays content from a variety of services.

Netflix’s new integration with Apple TV appears to be still rolling out, so it’s not yet available to all users.

Update: A Netflix spokesperson now says integration between the streaming service and the Apple TV was just a mistake.

Control your Apple TV from your iPhone or Apple Watch

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You won’t lose this remote
The Apple TV remote is easy to lose, but it’s harder to lose your phone — much less the Apple Watch strapped to your arm.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can use your iPhone (or even your Apple Watch!) as a remote for your Apple TV. It’s a convenient feature when you’ve lost the remote in the couch cushions. (You can use your iPhone to help find it as well.)

Even if your remote’s not gone missing, sometimes it’s sitting on the table way over there and you don’t want to interrupt a show by asking for someone to pass it to you. Or maybe, someone is intentionally hogging the remote and you want to pause the video yourself. Either way, it’s really easy to do from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.

Genius MacBook rig makes space with clever wall mounts [Setups]

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MacBook setup with wall-mounted display
While some commenters quibbled with the ergonomics, most people raved about how cool this MacBook setup is.
Photo: [email protected]

You’ve got to love a computer, gaming and TV setup with a big external display that’s so efficiently arranged it barely even takes up any desk space. Today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation manages the feat by mounting a big smart TV as a display on the wall, along with a pegboard for peripherals storage. But the MacBook setup with wall-mounted display took some pretty serious DIY skills, described below.

3 overlooked Apple products getting updates in 2025

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Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in 2025
Apple has mostly neglected three of its products, but that’s reportedly about to change.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iPhone and Mac get all the attention — and the annual upgrades — but you can expect a trio of Apple products that haven’t been improved in years to get some love from Cupertino in 2025.

Fans of some of Apple’s secondary devices rejoice: Rumors point to new versions of Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in the coming months. If you’re an AirTag user, it’s important to stay updated with the latest AirTag firmware update to ensure optimal performance.

What to expect from HomePod and HomePod mini in 2025

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Product shot of five HomePod minis with a pink background and the words
Apple's planning a big push into smart homes in 2025, and HomePods will be part of it.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple’s significant expansion of its smart home lineup in 2025 should include new HomePod and HomePod mini models. The company plans to introduce both a display-equipped HomePod and a refreshed HomePod mini amid a renewed focus on the smart home market.

As usual, you can expect Apple to emphasize quality audio as well as airtight security. Here’s what to expect from HomePod and HomePod mini in 2025.

Today in Apple history: Second-gen Apple TV hits 1 million sales

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apple tvPIC
On this day in 2010, the Apple TV hit a sales milestone.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

December 27: Today in Apple history: Second-gen Apple TV hits 1 million sales December 27, 2010: Almost four months after the second-gen Apple TV’s debut, Cupertino says it has sold 1 million of the streaming video devices.

The news shows that Apple’s set-top box is gaining momentum. However, Apple’s PR move — which included a preemptive press release issued on December 21 that said Apple “expects sales of its new Apple TV to top one million units later this week” — is also a low-blow shot at competitor Roku, which recently said it planned to hit the 1 million unit mark by the end of 2010.

Apple’s 2025 Apple TV and HomePod to use in-house Wi-Fi chip

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HomePod mini is one of the devices that can be a Thread 1.3.0 border router.
2025 HomePod mini can use Apple's in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple will switch to its in-house “Proxima” WI-Fi and Bluetooth chip on its devices starting next year. The chip will debut on the Apple TV and HomePod mini next year.

By 2026, Apple will bring its in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module to the iPad and Mac.

iOS 18.2 enhances Apple TV and Apple Music with natural language search

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iOS 18.2 mockup
iOS 18.2 brings a range of new AI features.
AI image: ChatGPT

iOS 18.2 will make searching on Apple Music and Apple TV much easier with natural language support. This means you can use natural language to describe and search for TV shows or music you are looking for.

The revamped Photos app gained support for similar search capabilities with the iOS 18.1 update.

Soccer fans can watch MLS Cup final for free on Apple TV app

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watch MLS Cub for free
After a thrilling MLS postseason, the championship promises to be a good watch (and free!).
Photo: Apple

The culmination of a Major League Soccer postseason filled with upsets and comebacks, the MLS Cup championship unfolds Saturday as LA Galaxy hosts the New York Red Bulls. And you can watch the MLS Cup final for free on various Apple TV platforms via MLS Season Pass, the streamer said Thursday.

Apple Cyber Monday deals: iPads, AirPods, Apple Watch and more [Updated]

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A graphic illustrating Apple Black Friday deals.
All the insanely great deals we can find on Apple products on Cyber Monday.
AI image: MidJourney/Cult of Mac

There are plenty of great Apple deals this Cyber Monday 2024—but not from Apple directly. As usual, Apple keeps its discounts minimal (Tim Cook loves his big fat profits!). This year, you can get up to a $200 gift card with select purchases, but the newest products, like the iPhone 16, M4 MacBook Pros, iMac, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, aren’t included.

That said, third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and B&H Photo are offering significant discounts on a ton of Apple gear. From AirPods to iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads, you’ll find some fantastic deals. Here’s a roundup of the best offers we’ve come across.

Why Apple won’t make a TV

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Why Apple won’t make a television set
We’re never going to see an Apple-branded TV.
AI image: Imagen 3/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly considering making a television set, but don’t get your hopes up. There are simply too many reasons why Apple won’t make a TV. Like so many things, it all comes down to profits (and the lack thereof).

You need look no further than Apple’s set-top box and monitors to see why an Apple-branded television isn’t going to happen.

How to control volume with your Apple TV remote

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One Remote To Rule Them All
All hail the mighty Siri Remote.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can set up your Apple TV to control volume on a separate sound system, like a sound bar. It may not work out of the box, but poking around in Settings, you can use the convenient volume buttons built into the Siri Remote.

If you have a separate sound system or an older television, the volume buttons on your Apple TV remote may not work directly. You don’t have to keep two or three remotes sitting around — you can make it all work from just one. It just takes a little setup

Update your Apple Watch and Apple TV with these bug fixes today

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Apple Watch and Apple TV
Apple Watch and Apple TV users have software patches to install.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple released watchOS 10.6.1 and tvOS 17.6.1 on Monday, a pair of “bug fix” patches for Apple Watch and Apple TV that offer no new features.

New versions of iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 from two weeks ago went out at the same time, but don’t appear to be available for most models.

How to turn off those irritating Apple TV sports notifications

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Fix the Apple TV’s Most Annoying Problems
Turn off those pesky sports notifications, and much more.
Image: Davidbspalding/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can turn off those annoying Apple TV sports notifications to stop the constant interruptions while you’re watching your shows and movies. Considering I have no interest in sports, I never watched live sports on Apple TV, and I never agreed to be shown these notifications, every time they come up, I’m intensely irritated.

Apple did a fairly good job of hiding the setting that lets you turn off those irritating sports notifications. However, you can do it — if you know where to look. In this how-to, I’ll show you how to shut them down, along with some of the other Apple TV settings you should change while you’re at it. Keep reading or watch our video.