I am not afraid to purchase a used Apple TV 4K, and also you should not be both

It is no shock that I believe the Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming field available on the market. It does almost every little thing I ask of it, and when it lastly will get audio passthrough, I will not have something to complain about. Nicely, there’ll nonetheless be one factor.

Worth is an enormous gatekeeper for the Apple TV 4K, and if I ever go to advocate a streaming field, I am extra more likely to advocate one thing just like the Roku Streaming Stick to the typical individual. For individuals seeking to depart behind their sluggish sensible TV UI, a stick shall be greater than as much as the duty. A 3rd-gen Apple TV 4K prices $130 or $150, relying on the mannequin, and the fact is you may get a streaming stick for a fraction of that value. You’ll be able to even get the flagship Roku Extremely for $100, so the Apple TV 4K is a tricky promote.

One thing that helped me recover from that hurdle is being open to purchasing a used mannequin. Whereas it is doubtless widespread information at this level, eBay is a superb place to select up a variety of issues, together with streaming packing containers. I grabbed my first-gen Apple TV 4K with a second-gen distant from eBay again in 2023 for simply $51. It really works completely advantageous, and I saved fairly a bit of cash by taking that route. In truth, I’d do it once more.

Model

Apple

Bluetooth codecs

5.0

Wi-Fi

6

Ethernet

Gigabit (128GB mannequin solely)

Storage and RAM

64GB, 128GB

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The Apple TV 4K is nice, but it surely is not good.

Do not be afraid to purchase used

It is saved me cash, and it may possibly prevent some too

Pocket-lint / Apple

I perceive that used electronics might be scary for quite a lot of causes. The large one is that you don’t have any concept what the earlier proprietor did with their system or how lengthy it ran for. For instance, when crypto mining was enormous, individuals would promote their previous graphics playing cards that had hundreds of hours of use working 24/7, and that set you up for failure when you purchased one. These GPUs had way more put on and tear on them, and even when you did get one for a lower cost than standard, it was doubtlessly on its final legs by the point it arrived.

The Apple TV 4K I purchased might’ve very properly had the identical situation, however I made a decision to roll the cube. The factor I used to be extra frightened about was whether or not it got here from a house with a smoker, as electronics scent horrid once they’re uncovered to smoke. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and I have been utilizing this Apple TV 4K for about two years now with out a problem. It hasn’t proven many indicators of slowing down, however contemplating it is a system that dates again to 2017, the clock is ticking.

I have been holding out hope that Apple is on the verge of saying a 4th-gen Apple TV 4K, as a result of that is one thing I might bounce on straight away. If that does not find yourself occurring, I’d simply look to eBay for a used third-gen mannequin as that is the system that is nonetheless receiving all of the updates. It doesn’t matter what, I am getting it at a less expensive value than what Apple’s promoting it for, and if I plug it in, and it really works, that is all that issues. On the time of this writing, I can choose up a third-gen mannequin for $105, and that is the model that comes with an Ethernet port, making it a financial savings of $45. That is no small chunk, however you run into the issue of not realizing how the earlier proprietor handled this system or why they’re eliminating it.

To assist ease any fears you may need, simply know that I have been selecting up a great deal of electronics from eBay currently. I grabbed a Recreation Boy Advance and Recreation Boy Shade, and after doing shell swaps on every of them, each are in nice form. I suppose that is completely different from selecting up a used Apple TV 4K, as neither of those consoles can be found new anymore, but it surely exhibits that when you discover a dependable vendor, there’s nothing to be involved about. Fortunately, eBay has many protections in place as a purchaser in order that when you get one thing damaged, you possibly can simply get a refund.

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An Apple TV 4K of any gen is value it

Do not await too lengthy

Pocket-line / Apple

If Apple does not announce a brand new technology of Apple TV 4Ks on the horizon, I believe it is time to cease ready and simply chew the bullet. Whether or not you get a used mannequin on eBay or seize a brand new one for $150, the third-gen Apple TV 4K remains to be fairly a powerhouse. Even my first-gen mannequin remains to be nice, and I take advantage of it in my front room over my much-newer Roku Extremely from 2024. With that mentioned, I might say to go for not less than a second-gen mannequin when you can, as a result of it is nonetheless getting a number of the cool tvOS options whereas the primary technology is caught with nothing. Should you do not care about Liquid Glass, then by all means go for the most affordable possibility accessible.

There aren’t very many Apple TV 4K gross sales all year long, so your choices for getting one virtually all the time require you to pay the total value. It is a huge motive why I made a decision to take the used route, particularly since I did some analysis into what I wanted from mine. On the time of buy, all three generations of the system had been out, however I used to be on the lookout for one thing that labored with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music. There have been many older Apple TV fashions on the market, however solely the 4K iteration supported that, so I picked up the most affordable one.

Rumors have been swirling all yr a couple of 4th-gen Apple TV 4K, and Apple is quickly working out of time to not solely announce, however launch one this yr. At this level, it appears like an announcement and launch are coming inside weeks of one another if there’s going to be a brand new one for the vacation season. With the primary and second technology fashions lacking out on a number of the newest tvOS options, it is smart for a brand new technology to be on the horizon, except Apple simply plans on throwing all of the assist into the third-gen field. Solely time will inform, and I am conserving my fingers crossed {that a} new mannequin is coming.

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