Hands-On With the New Apple TV: A Closer Look at the Hardware and tvOS

The new Apple TV officially became available for purchase today, with Apple selling the fourth-generation set-top box in retail stores around the world. We went hands-on with the Apple TV to give MacRumors readers who want to know more about the device a chance to get an overview of the hardware and the software.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

Apple's latest Apple TV marks a significant departure from the previous-generation Apple TV, with a thicker external design, a touch-based motion-enabled remote control that doubles as a gaming controller, and a more powerful A8 processor.

On the software side, it's running a new operating system called tvOS, which includes universal search features for finding television shows and movies across a wide variety of platforms, Siri integration for voice-based search, and a full App Store that's open to third-party developers. We're going to take a closer look at the App Store and the Siri/Search features in videos coming later this evening.

Earlier today, we shared a tidbits post on the new Apple TV, and our forum members have also been posting their first impressions and thoughts on the device, a thread that's well worth reading for those still trying to decide whether to make a purchase.

Apple is selling the new Apple TV in retail stores and from the online Apple Store. It's priced at $149 for 32GB of storage and $199 for 64GB of storage.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red Green

The 30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 6:46 am PST by
Black Friday is here, and as always this is the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...

Top Rated Comments

John.B Avatar
132 months ago
Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID. o_O
The lack of support for Bluetooth keyboards (or Apple's Remote app) is simply mind boggling! Did no one at Apple flick their way through a setup of their Netflix/Hulu/HBO accounts? Boxing mine back up for a return. I'll "try again" when Apple "tries again".
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trifid Avatar
132 months ago
Everyone has been waiting for the Apple TV to have an app store, (many have been waiting for half a decade for Plex app). I almost buy it but then I asked myself: do I really need this?

I already got used to airplay and taught this to everyone in my family, there is always an ipad or iphone available to airplay, with all the apps you can imagine. There is the games aspect, but 'lite' tv gaming is already available on so many devices already, including my old Roku 3.

It seems to me Apple TV 4 offers too little too late. The only thing I would find useful is if it served as a central homekit with always on Siri so I could say "hey siri turn off lights" without touching a remote, but it doesn't even have that.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sshambles Avatar
132 months ago
Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID. o_O
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
drewyboy Avatar
132 months ago
Seriously, what the crap have they been up to for the last 3-4 years? I find it absolutely pathetic that they showcased the the 3D view for a movie poster. I feel sorry for that gal that got stuck with showing off that "feature" and please don't even pass it off as that "attention to detail" bs.

I know it will sell well because there are some here that think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I mean really what kind of update is this? There is nothing they couldn't have done 3-4 years ago. Definitely too little too late.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jazz1 Avatar
132 months ago
Would love to purchase this if Touch ID was featured.

The outdated way of entering passwords, instead of using Touch ID on the remote itself (as my hope for Apple TV 4 was) is a mistake. Perhaps the Apple Remote app will update to use Touch ID from iPhone, but they had the chance to put it on the actual remote. They added 3 extra buttons, but of course one of them couldn't be Touch ID. o_O
Adding passwords is pure Hell with the remote. Even worse if you use the voice! Like having a parrot squawking at you while your trying to remember what you entered.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ClaytonK Avatar
132 months ago
Is the iOS Remote app going to work at some point? I'm new to Apple TV and it was miserable typing in all my usernames and passwords for each app using the onscreen keyboard.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)