What is the difference between different versions of Apple TV?

The Apple TV device is a wonderful product capable of making the dreams of any user of the Apple ecosystem come true. With Apple TV we can watch our favorite Netflix series, watch YouTube videos, listen to music on Apple Music, view the iPhone photo gallery and even play games with MFi controllers.

The last time Apple released a new Apple TV model to the market was in late 2022, in October, with the launch of the 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K with an A1A Bionic processor, HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and a Siri Remote with USB-C port.

This new product joined a series of models from previous generations of Apple TV, so if you are thinking of buying this great miniature device, it will be of great interest to you to know all the differences between all the Apple TV models.

All Apple TV models

Apple, led by the good Steve Jobs –CEO of the firm at the time–, presented its first Apple TV model in January 2007. Since then, the company with the bitten apple logo has been perfecting its small device designed for the living room of our homes.

These are all the Apple TV models that the company has launched on the market:

Apple TV (1st generation)

• Release date 2007
• Silver color
• Capacity: 40GB and 160GB
• Processor: Intel Crofton Pentium M

Apple TV (2nd generation)

• Release date 2010
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 8GB NAND Flash
• Processor: Apple A4

Apple TV (3rd generation)

• Release date 2012
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 8GB NAND Flash
• Processor: Apple A5

Apple TV HD (4th generation)

• Release date: 2015
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 32GB and 64GB
• Processor: Apple A8

Apple TV 4K (1st generation)

• Release date: 2017
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 32GB and 64GB
• Processor: A10X Fusion

Apple TV 4K (2nd generation)

• Release date: 2021
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 32GB and 64GB
• Processor: A12 Bionic

Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)

• Release date: 2022
• Colour: Black
• Capacity: 64GB and 128GB
• Processor: A1A Bionic

Several interesting things to add before starting the next section on Apple TV. First of all, it is curious to discover that Apple tends to update this device every two or three years, but keeping the same compact and minimalist design. Another very suggestive note in relation to the Siri Remote control of Apple TV, its design has ended up being a kind of fusion between the control of the first original model (first generation) and the previous generation model (4K) which adds a plus of nostalgia for many consumers.

Other significant differences

These are the four models of the latest generations of Apple TV that you can find on the market both on second-hand goods sales platforms and in official Apple stores.

Additionally, it is also worth mentioning that the third generation Apple TV does NOT have an application store, while the Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) models do have an application store from the App Store from which users can download their favorite apps.

On the other hand, as we previously indicated, there are other small differences in the design of Apple TV devices. As a general rule, the small audiovisual content playback equipment has not changed much over the years, but its Siri Remote has, coming to have many more buttons and functions. Also, the Siri Remote on the second-generation Apple TV 4K is slightly larger than the remote on previous generations.

How much does each Apple TV model cost?

If you are thinking of buying an Apple TV to enjoy all its advantages in your living room, it is convenient for you to know what the prices of the different Apple TV models are.

In some cases, such as the third-generation Apple TV, it is difficult to know at what price it can be found on platforms such as Aliexpress, eBay or Wallapop. So in this case it will be an approximate price for what you can find.

Apple TV (3rd generation) is very hard to find these days, even refurbished, but it might be available in unofficial stores for around 25-40 euros. If you plan to buy one, keep in mind that it is second-hand equipment.

The fourth-generation Apple TV – later renamed Apple TV HD – comes with the second-generation Siri Remote built-in and is available in its 32 GB version at the official Game store for €129.99.

How could it be otherwise, Apple also sells its latest generation of Apple TV 4K on Amazon. The version with 64 GB of storage capacity is available for 169 euros while the version with 128 GB of storage capacity is around 189 euros.