Product and service names can be confusing sometimes, and Apple TV is a prime example. The company’s home entertainment nerve center isn’t just a streaming device or an app—it’s an entire ecosystem encompassing hardware, software, and even a premium streaming service.
Apple TV — the hardware — is a small streaming device you can place in your living room, bedroom, or anywhere else, paired with your TV. Whereas the Apple TV app is a separate piece of software that works on your mobile device or smart TV and gives you access to much of the same content you’d find on the physical Apple TV box.
Meanwhile, Apple TV+ is a paid streaming subscription. You pay for it to access high-quality video content, including films, TV shows, sports, and more. In short, Apple TV 4K is the physical device, Apple TV app is the platform to watch shows, and Apple TV+ is the streaming subscription.
Generally speaking, when you talk about Apple TV, you’re talking about hardware, commonly called a set-top box, that plugs into your television via HDMI. The official name of the current hardware is Apple TV 4K, which is now in its third generation.
The box itself is about the size of a couple of decks of cards. And in typical Apple fashion, it’s a pretty stark design. Matte black plastic, with just the Apple logo on top and some ports on the back. Apple TV 4K comes in two versions, and they share most parts and features. Apple refers to them as the “Wi-Fi model” and the “Wi-Fi + Ethernet model.”
As the names imply, one only has wireless networking, and the other has a gigabit Ethernet port. That’s not the only distinction, though. The model with Ethernet has double the onboard storage at 128GB and support for the Thread networking standard, which will make smart home support even more seamless.
Both models are powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, and they share the same Siri Remote. It’s still the sleek silver deal we’ve enjoyed for a while now and has a combination directional/clickable button/pad thing that sounds weird on paper but works fine in practice, with a minimal smattering of buttons. It also has proper power and volume controls, and can be recharged through USB-C.
The Siri Remote for Apple TV has undergone several design iterations since its introduction. The latest 3rd generation model, released in 2022, features a sleek silver aluminum casing and a touch-enabled clickpad for intuitive navigation. This clickpad allows users to select titles, swipe through playlists, and utilize a circular gesture on the outer ring for precise scene seeking. A built-in microphone enables voice control via Siri, making it easy to find content and control playback.
The remote connects to the Apple TV 4K via Bluetooth 5.0 and includes an IR transmitter for controlling other devices like TVs and soundbars. It is rechargeable through a USB-C port, offering months of battery life on a single charge. The design is intended to be ergonomic and easy to use, providing a comfortable and efficient way to interact with the Apple TV interface.
And then there’s the official Apple TV Remote app.
The functionality of the “Apple TV Remote app” is primarily integrated into the Control Center of iPhones and iPads. This feature lets you control your Apple TV directly from your iOS device without needing a separate app.
By adding the “Apple TV Remote” to your Control Center, you gain access to controls such as navigation (swiping), selection (tapping), menu and home buttons, playback controls (pause/play, skip), volume adjustment (if your Apple TV is set up with a HomePod or AirPlay-compatible speakers), and even Siri voice control (by pressing and holding the Siri button).
This Control Center remote works with Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, and Apple TV (3rd generation), as well as AirPlay-compatible smart TVs. To use it, your iPhone or iPad needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV or smart TV. On iPhones with iOS 12 or later and iPads with iPadOS 13 or later, this remote functionality is often automatically activated when the device connects to the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV. You can also manually add the “Apple TV Remote” button in the Control Center settings.
The Apple TV 4K runs tvOS, Apple’s dedicated operating system for the big screen. The experience is centered around an app-based home screen, with access to streaming services, utilities, music apps, and games through the App Store. You can also switch between apps, open Control Center, and mirror content from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac using AirPlay.
Available apps run the gamut. There are all the streaming services, of course, like YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV. And utilities. And music and other videos. And if you’re a gamer, Apple TV has a bunch at the ready, too, via Apple Arcade.
Multiple profiles are particularly useful if you share an Apple TV with family members. Each person can have their own recommendations, Watchlist, and personalized content. The latest software also lets family and friends create profiles without their own Apple Account
And if you’re the owner of an Apple Watch, Apple TV is a brilliant way to use Apple Fitness+.
For those who are into Apple’s smart home ecosystem, Apple TV (the hardware) allows you to use HomeKit (the software) to control supported devices. That ecosystem should grow exponentially once Thread support is mainstream, so that’s a reason to get the more expensive of the two current Apple TV 4K options.
Like other Apple products, tvOS will see updates alongside Apple’s other software.
We’ve mentioned the TV button on the Siri Remote. Press it, and it takes you to the TV app. This is where things start to get a good bit more confusing.
The short version is that Apple is trying, with various degrees of success, to make the TV app the one place to go for all TV on Apple TV. Except it’s not.
A number of major video apps allow their content to be surfaced in the TV app. That’s how you might see an on-demand movie from, say, HBO Max, alongside something from Disney+, Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. There are more than 130 services that can pipe content into the TV app.
The Apple TV app also is where you’ll find MLS Season Pass. It’s a separate subscription that gets you every MLS game, plus playoffs, without any blackouts. In addition to the live games themselves, you’ll also get replays, interviews, and features on every team.
The cool thing, though, is that the TV app is available on iOS, iPad OS, Mac OS, and Apple TV.
Apple added a noticeable visual refresh with tvOS 26, introducing its Liquid Glass design with translucent menus, rounded controls, and redesigned app icons. The update also changed how content is presented in the Apple TV app, using vertical posters so more movies and shows fit on screen.
Profiles became more convenient, too. Apple TV can automatically display a user’s profile when it wakes, making it easier for everyone in the household to get to their own recommendations. tvOS 26 also ties supported app login information to your Apple Account to make setting up an Apple TV less tedious.
For Apple Music subscribers, Apple Music Sing gained an iPhone microphone feature. You can use your iPhone as a microphone while following lyrics on the TV, with emoji reactions and song queues adding a little karaoke-party flair. tvOS 26 also expanded FaceTime with incoming call notifications, larger Contact Posters, and Live Captions in several languages.
tvOS 27 is the latest version, released on September 14, 2026. Unlike tvOS 26, it is a relatively modest update focused more on performance and smaller quality-of-life improvements. The Podcasts app gets a redesigned interface, while Control Center is more responsive. Apple also says apps launch faster and animations are smoother, and AirPlay connections from other Apple devices are quicker.
There are some useful accessibility improvements, including larger text options and customizable subtitles. Apple Music also gains Hi-Res Lossless audio support on Apple TV. The Settings app now shows AppleCare coverage information, while tvOS 27 can generate subtitles on-device for supported uncaptioned video.
One thing worth noting for anyone with an older Apple TV is compatibility. tvOS 27 works only with the second-generation Apple TV 4K and newer. That means the 2015 Apple TV HD and first-generation Apple TV 4K, from 2017, can run tvOS 26 but cannot upgrade to tvOS 27. For the current Apple TV 4K models we discussed above, that’s not a concern because both are based on the third-generation Apple TV 4K and therefore support tvOS 27.
If you’re wondering whether your Apple TV 4K will get tvOS 27, the answer depends on which generation you own. Apple is supporting the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K, while the first-generation model is left out of the update.
You can check your model directly on the Apple TV by going to Settings > General > About and looking for the model number. The second-generation Apple TV 4K is A2169, while the third-generation models are A2737 and A2843. The first-generation Apple TV 4K is A1842 and does not support tvOS 27.
If you still have the original Apple TV 4K, you’re stuck on the previous software generation. You can also check the model number printed on the bottom of the physical box if you can’t access the settings menu. Non-4K Apple TV models aren’t eligible for tvOS 27 either.
Then there’s Apple TV+. It’s Apple’s own premium streaming service that is all about exclusives. If you’re watching it on Apple TV+, be it a movie or series, you can’t watch it anywhere else.
Apple TV+’s exclusivity is not particularly unique. Although you can watch it on the Apple TV app, you can also access it on other platforms such as Roku, Amazon, Google, and web browsers. This widespread availability makes sense because a streaming service wouldn’t be beneficial if it were only accessible on specific devices.
Apple TV costs $14.99 per month after a free seven-day trial, or $119 for a full year. It’s also included with Apple One, which now starts at $21.95 per month and bundles Apple TV with other Apple services like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ storage.
In some cases, you can get an Apple TV+ subscription for free when you purchase a new Apple product. However, that offer isn’t available very often.
Apple is expected to launch a new Apple TV 4K this fall, although there is no official release date as of now. The upcoming model would replace the current third-generation Apple TV 4K, which launched in 2022.
The biggest change could be support for Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. Unlike the current Apple TV, the new model is expected to have enough processing power to handle Apple’s more advanced AI features. That could include a smarter Siri and potentially AI-powered analysis of footage from HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
The processor is also expected to get a major upgrade. Earlier reports pointed to chips such as the A17 Pro or A18, but more recent evidence suggests Apple could use an A19 or A19 Pro, potentially alongside 8GB or 12GB of RAM. The current Apple TV 4K uses an A15 Bionic with 4GB of RAM.
Another significant upgrade could be Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which is expected to bring Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. The current model supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. Apple is also reportedly preparing a new Siri Remote. Details remain limited, but the updated remote could introduce better ways to locate it if misplaced.
The design is not expected to change dramatically, but the combination of a faster chip, more memory, upgraded wireless connectivity, and AI capabilities could make this a much bigger hardware update than the current model. Pricing and the exact launch date remain unconfirmed.
Apple TV was the name historically used for Apple’s subscription streaming service. Apple now calls the service Apple TV+. It gives subscribers access to Apple’s original movies and shows, along with other programming offered through the service.
This is separate from the Apple TV 4K hardware and the Apple TV app. The naming can be confusing, but the easiest way to think about it is that Apple TV 4K is the device, the Apple TV app is the software, and Apple TV is the subscription streaming service.
The Apple TV 4K is a physical streaming device that connects to your television through HDMI and runs Apple’s tvOS software. It gives you access to apps, streaming services, games, AirPlay, FaceTime, Apple Music, and other features.
Whereas the Apple TV app is software that you can use on Apple devices and supported third-party TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and other platforms. It brings Apple’s streaming service and other video content into one place. You don’t need Apple TV 4K hardware to use it. Here’s how to setup an Apple TV and Apple TV 4K.
The Wi-Fi-only Apple TV 4K costs $199, while the one with more storage, plus Ethernet and Thread support, costs $249. In case you need us to spell it out, you should just go ahead and spend the extra money. Because if you can plug into your network, you should, and if you ever want support for Thread, this is how you get it.
Yes, Apple TV 4K can work as a smart home hub, connecting your HomeKit and Matter accessories through Apple’s Home app. That means it can help you control compatible lights, locks, cameras, sensors, and other devices.
You can also use Apple TV 4K for automations and control your smart home remotely when you’re away. If you use Thread-based Matter accessories, you’ll need a Thread-enabled home hub. Apple’s current Apple TV 4K with Wi-Fi and Ethernet includes Thread networking support.
No. You do not need an Apple TV 4K to use Apple TV, the streaming service . You can watch Apple TV through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, PC, supported smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and AirPlay-enabled TVs. Apple also lets you watch through a web browser at tv.apple.com.
In the U.S., the current third-generation Apple TV 4K starts at $199 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model. The 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet model costs $249. Both models use Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. The $249 version adds Gigabit Ethernet, Thread networking, and twice the storage
You can use Apple TV 4K with HD and UHD televisions that have an HDMI port. You don’t need a 4K TV to use the device, although you need a compatible 4K HDR television to get 4K HDR output.
Apple requires an HDMI cable, which is sold separately. For 4K HDR content, Apple recommends an HDMI 2.0 or later cable, while an HDMI 2.1 cable can provide access to all of the Apple TV 4K’s features.
Yes. Apple TV 4K supports Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service, along with games available through the App Store. It also supports Bluetooth game controllers, so you aren’t limited to playing with the Siri Remote. Apple TV 4K is therefore capable of handling more than streaming, although its gaming experience is built around the games and controllers supported by tvOS.
Yes. Apple includes an Apple TV Remote in Control Center on iPhone and iPad. You can use it to navigate Apple TV 4K, select content, and control playback without reaching for the physical Siri Remote. Your iPhone needs to be on the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV 4K. The feature can also control compatible AirPlay-enabled smart TVs.
Yes. AirPlay lets you send compatible content from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Apple TV 4K. You can stream video or audio to the TV, or mirror the screen of a compatible Apple device. Apple TV 4K also works with AirPlay-enabled speakers and other compatible devices. That makes this streaming hardware particularly useful if you already have several Apple devices and want an easy way to get their content onto your television.
Yes, but you need a compatible iPhone or iPad to provide the camera, unless you use a supported dedicated camera setup. Apple added FaceTime to Apple TV 4K with tvOS 17.2 and later. You can make and receive FaceTime calls on the television, hand off calls from an iPhone or iPad, use reactions, and use features such as Split View. SharePlay also lets you watch supported content together during a call. FaceTime requires an Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) and a compatible iPhone or iPad.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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