Differences Between Apple TV 3 and Apple TV 4 (2015): EveryMac.com – AppleTV 4 Jailbreak (appletv4jailbreak.com)
If you find this page useful, please Bookmark & Share it. Thank you.
What are all the differences between the Apple TV 3rd Gen and Apple TV 4th Gen (Siri) models? Which is best for me?
There are two different Apple TV 3rd Gen models and a single Apple TV 4th Gen model. These look similar, but have many differences in terms of hardware and software alike.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple TV 4th Gen)
External & Connectivity Differences
Externally, the Apple TV 3rd Gen (below) and Apple TV 4th Gen models (above) would be easy to confuse for one another, and they have the same footprint, but the later model is roughly half an inch taller and a third of a pound heavier than its predecessor.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Apple TV 3rd Gen)
The Apple TV 3rd Gen and Apple TV 4th Gen have significantly different connectivity. Depending on your perspective, the newer model may be better or worse in this regard.
Both models have a power connector and a 10/100Base-T Ethernet port, but otherwise vary.
The Apple TV 3rd Gen models have an HDMI port, an optical audio out port, and a Micro-USB port that formally is for “diagnostic use only” as well as support for 802.11a/b/g/n wireless. It also supports Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound via pass-through.
The Apple TV 4th Gen models, on the other hand, have an HDMI 1.4 port and a USB-C port formally “for service and support.” It also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO capability, but it does not have an optical audio out port. It supports Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Plus 7.1.
Remote Differences
Both the Apple TV 3rd Gen and Apple TV 4th Gen support remotes, but the subsequent model is much more advanced.
The Apple TV 3rd Gen includes a silver colored aluminum “Apple Remote” with a dedicated directional key button, Menu, and Play/Pause buttons.
The Apple TV 4th Gen, on the other hand, has a black colored aluminum “Siri Remote” with an advanced “Glass Touch” surface for directional control, an internal accelerometer and gyroscope for additional control options (particularly for games as pioneered by the Nintendo Wii), and dedicated buttons for the Menu, Home, Up/Down, Play/Pause, and Siri. Siri Voice Command support doesn’t always work well, but it’s neat when it works as intended.
However, although the “Siri Remote” is more advanced, it also is worth noting that it is quite fragile and does not have a replaceable battery like the simpler “Apple Remote.”
The Apple TV 4th Gen also supports third-party controllers, which should open up additional gaming and maybe even productivity possibilities.
Identification Differences
The Apple TV 3rd Gen and Apple TV 4th Gen are easy to differentiate when they’re next to one another. However, as there are two Apple TV 3rd Gen models and the Apple TV 2nd Gen model also looks identical to the Apple TV 3rd…
