On this page · 5 sections ▾
The Apple TV 4K (2026) is worth it for Apple ecosystem owners who want the best streamer: 3 critics average 8.8 out of 10, praising the faster A19 chip, picture and sound, and hands-free Siri, but faulting the steep $300 price. This page is a consensus of published critic reviews, not hands-on testing by TechWorthIt.
Is the Apple TV 4K worth it?
Critics broadly say yes, with a caveat about cost. Scores range from 8 to 10 out of 10, and nobody questions the hardware. The disagreement is over how much the price rise matters. What Hi-Fi? gave it 5 out of 5 and called it the best video streamer you can buy despite the increase. XDA scored it 8.5 out of 10, and The Indian Express gave 4 out of 5.
What critics loved
- Performance: XDA praised the powerful A19 chip as a strong upgrade, and The Indian Express noted the pairing with 8GB RAM makes the box faster.
- Picture and sound: What Hi-Fi? found better picture quality, especially with lower-resolution content, plus cleaner, punchier and more dynamic sound. It also liked the reliable frame-rate matching across apps. The Indian Express highlighted Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos support.
- Hands-free Siri: All three liked the three far-field microphones. XDA said they work well with Siri AI, and What Hi-Fi? called the features useful.
- Extras: XDA pointed to the Siri Remote gaining Find My support and a speaker. The Indian Express cited built-in Ethernet and Thread, and both it and What Hi-Fi? liked the option of four-HomePod surround.
Where it falls short
Price is the main complaint. The Indian Express called it the biggest price increase in the lineup's history, XDA called $300 very expensive, and What Hi-Fi? described a substantial rise.
XDA also felt it is not a massive upgrade over the last generation. The Siri AI features are in beta: The Indian Express said they are English-first, and What Hi-Fi? called them patchy, with limited Netflix integration. The Indian Express added that Precision Finding requires a recent iPhone and that the remote is sold separately for older models. What Hi-Fi? noted no 4K HDR via BBC iPlayer and no DTS or Dolby TrueHD support for Blu-ray rips.
Who should buy it
Owners of older Apple TV models who want a clear speed boost are the natural audience, according to XDA. The Indian Express says it suits mainly Apple ecosystem owners, especially those who want HomePod surround. Home cinema fans will appreciate What Hi-Fi?'s praise for picture and sound. Anyone content with their current streamer, or on a budget, has less reason to pay.
Questions buyers ask
How much does the Apple TV 4K (2026) cost?
XDA and What Hi-Fi? put the price at about $300 for the 128GB model. The Indian Express lists it at Rs 39900.
Is the 2026 Apple TV 4K a big upgrade over the last model?
XDA calls it a strong performance upgrade for owners of older models but not a massive change from the last generation. What Hi-Fi? describes the picture and sound gains as subtle but real.
Does it support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos?
Yes. Critics list Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Atmos support. What Hi-Fi? notes it lacks DTS and Dolby TrueHD.
