I cut cable at home in 2019 with an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Over the years, I've tried other popular streaming devices, Roku OS, Samsung's Tizen OS, Amazon's Fire OS, Google TV, and Apple's tvOS. While these smart TV platforms may excel in certain areas, Apple TV consistently delivers a comprehensive package that prioritizes user experience, privacy, and speed. These combined strengths led me to boot my Xiaomi smart TV with tvOS.
Related
The 8 best Apple TV apps for streaming any time of day or night
Your Apple TV will love these apps.
1 Extremely fast
Finding your favorite shows and movies is easy
If you're moving to Apple TV from an existing smart TV platform, you'll notice an increased responsiveness. Whether you're navigating the OS, searching through countless options in settings menus, switching apps, or checking your iCloud albums, tvOS just gets the job done without any hassle.
When I switched from the Fire TV Stick 4K to the Apple TV 4K, I decided on tvOS simply because of how fast it was. I never experienced the same speed on the Xiaomi Android TV, Roku Streaming Stick 4K, or Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. In classic Apple style, animations are precise, smooth, and without a shutter sound. This is mainly due to the combination of tvOS optimizations and the powerful A15 Bionic chip.
2 Great multitasking
Switch between apps like a pro
Clumsy multitasking has always been a pain for cable-breakers. Switching between apps has always been slow and sluggish, and it can be frustrating when the system has to start an app from scratch. In contrast, Apple TV's multitasking setup is great. Double-click the TV/Home button to open the app-switching menu, select a different app, and instantly resume your content. Handy for keeping track of live NFL games or your kids' favorite TV shows.
3 User Experience
Clean, organized and easy to use UI
Unlike Fire OS and Google TV, tvOS doesn't overwhelm your home screen with endless suggestions of different categories, TV shows, movies, and more. The entire UI is clean and minimalist, making it easy for the whole family to navigate. The home screen only shows large app icons, a top row of your favorite apps, and a Continue Watching section for selected apps.
The live screensavers are also thoughtfully designed, unlike the boring wallpapers on Android TV and Fire TV Stick. The same user-centric approach is reflected in the Siri Remote, which is minimal and compact but retains all the necessary buttons and has an intuitive touch click pad. Controlling video playback using gestures in supported apps is a lot of fun.
Four Privacy and Security
No ads and multiple options for adjusting privacy settings
Are you tired of the proliferation of ads and recommendations on your Smart TV? You're not alone. Most Smart TV platforms, except for Apple TV, flood the main feed with ads, partner apps, recommendations, and more. These streaming devices are affordable, so they offset the price by showing partner content on the home screen.
In contrast, tvOS has no ads. Selecting a top row app shows you only trending TV shows and movies from a particular service. You can also set up your Apple TV to limit access to your personal data, such as location and tracking. You can also adjust which apps have access to your media library, Bluetooth devices, or HomeKit devices.
Sharing analytics data with Apple or third-party app developers is optional and can be disabled in the settings menu. Privacy-conscious people will appreciate the recent addition of VPN support to Apple TV. Use your preferred VPN and adjust your IP address on your Apple TV.
Related
How to Manage Apps on Apple TV
Unlocking the true potential of Apple TV
Five Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem
A match made in heaven for iPhone, iPad, Mac and HomePod users
Apple TV is tightly integrated with all Apple devices. The digital Apple TV remote is in Control Center and can be accessed with just a swipe from the Home screen. I'm a Pixel 8 user, but my wife has an iPhone 14 Plus and uses the default Photos app to check out my iCloud Media Library and the rear camera during FaceTime calls with friends and family.
Apple TV also acts as a HomeKit router, allowing you to access and control HomeKit-enabled locks, thermostats, and cameras. My favorite add-on is how it pairs perfectly with AirPods. I can bring my AirPods closer to the TV, press the TV button on the remote to connect, and enjoy live sports games while the kids are sleeping.
An apple a day keeps you away from boring TV
In a world crowded with smart TVs, Apple TV stands out thanks to its seamless integration with other Apple devices, user-friendly UI, and responsiveness, which is why I keep reaching for my Siri Remote when I want to stream YouTube videos or binge-watch my favorite TV shows on Netflix.
If you don't like tvOS and prefer Google TV, don't worry: the search giant recently released the new Google TV Streamer to compete with Apple TV and other streaming devices. Check out our separate post for more details on the main successor to the Chromecast 4K.
Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)
The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) may be more expensive than any Roku streaming device, but it's one of the best media streamers on the market. If you're already part of the Apple ecosystem, there's no better Roku alternative. Plus, the latest version of the device, the 3rd generation Apple TV, is significantly cheaper than previous models, starting at $129. For that price, you get the powerful Apple A15 Bionic chip that keeps everything running smoothly, a very friendly user interface, a solid collection of apps, and game controller support. The Apple TV 4K also supports all major HDR standards, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and can decode or pass through Dolby Atmos surround sound audio formats. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't bundle an HDMI cable in the box, and you'll need an Ultra High Speed ​​HDMI cable to realize its full potential. Also, the Ethernet port and Threaded network support are limited to the more expensive 128GB model.