I’m one of theApple TV 4K’sbiggest fans, so it’s easy for me torecommend to anybodylooking to leave their sluggish smart TV behind and get a true streaming box. The little device doesn’t take up a lot of space, and it’ll make your TV and movie viewing experience much better.
However, it is theonly Apple product I own, and while I’m leaving a lot of extra functionality on the table by not being part of the greater Apple ecosystem, it works just fine as a standalone device. If there’s one issue with it, it would be the high price tag. The third-gen Apple TV 4Kcosts $149for 128 GB of space, and the price only drops to $129 for 64 GB. That price still puts it as the most expensive streaming device around, and it’s a roadblock for many people.
Apple TV can do that? The 5 customization options you’ll wish you knew sooner
The Apple TV can be tweaked and tailored to your heart’s desire.
Somewhere Apple could be competitive is the lower-end market. Instead of getting a box that can play games from Apple Arcade, maybe targeting people who just want streaming apps could be worth a look. On paper, it sounds like a good idea, but it’s reportedly something Apple isn’t open to. A report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Appleshot down the ideaof making an affordable TV stick. It’s a strange decision, and it could have a long-lasting impact on Apple gaining market share with the Apple TV.
Apple TV 4K (2022)
Apple shouldn’t ignore the affordability factor
Cheaper options still matter
It has to be mentioned that a Fire Stick 4K costs $50 at full price, and deals can often bring it down to half the price. If you need something that enhances your viewing experience and have no use for the extra bells and whistles an Apple TV 4K offers, the Fire Stick is an enticing choice. With a $100 price difference, it’s almost a no-brainer if you have no particular need for anything Apple has to offer.
This is part of why it’s important for Apple to target this market, because there’s a lot of people in the same situation that I described. A reliable way of hitting that type of price point for an Apple TV 4K is buying an older, used model, but that’s not something that everybody wants to do. It’s truly puzzling to see Apple not wanting to be competitive in this field because it’s easy to see a bunch of upsides here.
7 Fire TV Stick hacks that aren’t in the manual
Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks are a versatile tool to have on your coffee table. But they’re a lot more powerful than you think.
If Apple wants to target the market of people looking for the best streaming quality they can get, that’s what can happen with an Apple TV stick.
Fire Stick owners might not switch over
It could be too late
Speaking from experience, I’m a creature of habit. I don’t like to change things if there’s nothing wrong with my current situation. I stuck with Xfinity as my internet provider for far too long, even when cheaper options became available, because I didn’t see much of a reason to switch. Trust me, I get it. For these reasons, it could be difficult for Apple to win over somebody who has already invested in a different streaming stick, whether that’s from Google, Roku, or Amazon.
I know it’d be difficult for me to leave behind something I already bought and something that works just fine. It could be a different story if this hypothetical person owns a Roku stick but wants to use their iPhone with their Apple TV. Buying into an ecosystem has a lot of benefits, so that could be the tipping point for somebody.
Apple TV just got a big feature upgrade, but only for users with this other Apple device
A new feature in macOS Sequoia 15.2 will make using AirPlay with your Apple TV way better.
The most recent Apple event came with plenty of announcements, but there were no additional updates given for the Apple TV line. We’re currently in the third generation of the Apple TV 4K, and whilerumors have swirledabout a possible fourth generation, it’s all just guess work at this point.
In an ideal world, a cheaper option would present itself in the form of a stick. I can’t really see a downside to it at this point, and while I already have an Apple TV 4K, getting a cheaper stick for my bedroom TV would definitely be something I consider. Smart TVs are often slow and sluggish, and even my first-gen Apple TV 4K blows them out of the water. It’s fair to expect a streaming stick to do the same thing.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K can stream in 4K resolution. It offers millions of titles on a variety of streaming services.
Keep your fingers crossed
Apple could do the right thing
Although Apple made the decision to skip a streaming stick a few years back, seeing how much money is being left on the table could lead to a change. It’s not that I want to side with a corporation or look like I’m rooting for one, but I would welcome an Apple streaming stick with open arms. For starters, the Apple TV ecosystem is by far the easiest way to catch up on the latest Apple TV+ shows and movies.
A streaming stick would likely not have Apple Arcade or FaceTime support due to the smaller size and weaker hardware, but that’s okay. Not everybody buys a streaming box to game on. If Apple wants to target the market of people looking for the best streaming quality they can get, that’s what can happen with an Apple TV stick.
The rumored 4th-gen Apple TV 4K is coming at the perfect time
The 4th-gen Apple TV 4K is the right upgrade at the right time.
Considering an announcement didn’t happen this year, there’s still a long wait before we even find out if Apple plans on filling this void. Apple has always shown a lot of hesitation about meeting the budget-centric consumer, and that’s especially the case if you look at how long it took for the company to release a lower-end iPhone. Unfortunately, for anyone looking to get their hands on a cheaper Apple TV, the ball is firmly in Apple’s court. The only thing we can do is keep our fingers crossed, and hope Apple has some information to share in the coming year.
