Apple TV 4K first impressions | I was so wrong! | Mark Ellis Reviews

In March, I wrote an article (linked below) about why Apple should cancel the Apple TV. Now, I have the new Apple TV 4K, and boy was I wrong! This is my first impressions of the admittedly brilliant new Apple TV 4K.

CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - My TV
02:29 - Colour and audio calibration
04:46 - The hardware
05:42 - The remote
06:52 - The UK problem

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I have zero interest in deep spec dives or long-winded comparisons. I review laptops, smartphones, tablets, headphones and the latest tech based on real experience. I'll tell you how it'll make you feel, whether or not it's worth your time (and money) and help you find the tech you need to get stuff done.

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I'm a UK-based freelance marketer and broke free of a regular job many years ago. Watch my videos to find the tech you need, without the jargon.

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[fluxwildly]

I agree the remote is much improved, you can turn off the touch surface in settings so it operates as click only which is nice to avoid accidental swipes.

[cejay]

I have an HD, old 4K and now the new 4K. They get moved down the TVs we have, so they are all used. It’s all we use for streaming and I find the interface to be the best. I’m glad you’ve got one and can see why others liked it.

[wanderingfool]

I haven’t got it yet, still on the old remote, but I believe you can switch off the touch functionality of the new remote in the settings somewhere. But if you still want to use it with touch, if you hold your finger on the jog wheel for a moment so the icon appears on screen, the scrolling will then work correctly.

[james_godfrey]

I love Apple TV, especially AirPlay screen mirroring awesome feature IMO, also combined with 2 OG HomePods it’s a great system, and as far as I am aware this new Apple TV allows anything to play through the HomePod due to it being ARC compatible, so whether your watching regular TV, another TV stick or a blu ray player all will come through the HomePod via ARC apparently

[AdventuresInTheSky]

I loved the old remote, but I like highly sensitive touch things. For better performance. But some people don’t have great hand/eye/feel coordination and wouldn’t like the remote of it didn’t feel comfortable controlling the UI that way.

[DaveCondie]

Bold move to admit you didn’t do any research. Respect sir. 🙏 The new Siri remote has absolutely changed my television experience. I can jump around with my voice which I neglected on the last Apple TV iteration because the black slate remote was trash. That said, I am happy with my upgrade from 2017. The color correction feels so balanced, but I am more content just knowing I future proofed it and I use it for hours a day.

[michaelwoolcock]

Used an HD apple tv and waited until the new one came. Everything works. My soundbar was the issue but now that audio sync trick is done I am getting Dolby Digital picture!

[jeebugorn]

i just got the AppleTV 4k a few days ago. my tv is also around 5+ years old. i did the color correction and my tv looks GREAT now.

[shikoku]

This is a great review Mark, I got the previous 4K Apple TV a couple of months ago and similarly was amazed at the quality bump on my 5 year old LG TV. I was using the built in TV apps, but there is an appreciable difference if I use the Apple TV over the inbuilt LG apps (this was primarily purchased to increase my app selection, especially Disney+ for my son, which isn't available for the version of webOS my LG is rocking), even if I lose the low quality HDR I have on Amazon and Netflix (my LG only supports HDMI 2.0 for 4K when an external device is plugged in). What is great is that due to the way tvOS updates I've got a lot of the features of the new box, for less money (I also use a Logitech harmony remote, so I'm a bit ambivalent of the usefulness of the old remote, which is still in its wrapping in the Apple TV box).

[rickypelletier]

For my application the best feature is the button learning function. I can use my hifi amp with the apple tv with just the apple remote. You can also use the mute button programed to turn off any device that has IR function.

[kathrin]

Best part of Apple TV is the screensaver mode connected to my iCloud photos collection. Finally all my old snaps are appreciated. The kids love it soo much we sometimes turn the saver on to get entertained by our own (slightly younger) mugs.

[mencken]

Here’s a nice change on YT: somebody who admits he was wrong.

[mick]

Have been using AppleTV for 3 years love everything especially the interface. My TV is 9 years old but this box brings out the best in it. My ISP Eir is also the TV provider for my Apple TV so all terrestrial UK & Ireland channels are available on the TV and it is a very good experience. In UK Vodafone is the TV provider for Apple TV I think.

[deans]

I’ve subbed purely on this vid! I also have the new Apple TV - haven’t set it up yet as wasn’t initially convinced that it’s apps would be visually better than the same apps on my 4K 50” Samsung TV but you’ve now turned around my thinking!!!👍🏼

[netmanswe]

I’m using the local TV provider’s app on the ATV. Provides all the channels and then some directly. The set top box has been in the cupboard for several years. The TV is only used as a monitor and the audio is sent to a pair of HomePods.

[supraman]

Thinking of switching from Fire Cube to Apple TV. This was a big help! BTW, nice 1200!

[rugbydoc]

I am planning to start using Hulu with live TV from an Apple TV box and hopefully that will solve all of my needs for different boxes, Already got rid of Direct TV and currently using Firestick 4K but I do like Apple products and think that I can get all of the other apps that I use on the Apple tv to consolidate my services in one set up and not really worry about storage space

[MarkEllisReviews]

Yes, there are two errors in this video - please ignore the two great big red error messages that appear! Instead, tell me your favourite Apple TV feature!

[juhasztamas]

For calibration, do you need to have the phone and apple tv on the same apple ID?

[pineappleroad]

Im starting to feel like my weird setup is somehow magical in the way that the audio remains in sync, even though everything connects to the display via an AV reciever