Apple TV 4K (4th generation)

Whether the device is a stick that plugs straight into the TV's HDMI port and hides behind it, or a box that sits on the TV stand and connects with an HDMI cable.

Sticks are cheaper and travel well; boxes have room for faster chips, an Ethernet port, USB and better cooling, so they stay quick for longer.

The platform the device runs, such as tvOS, Google TV, Fire OS, Vega OS or Roku OS.

The operating system decides the home screen, which apps are available, how recommendations work, which voice assistant answers and which phones can cast to it. It matters more day to day than the hardware.

Internal storage for apps, games and their updates.

8 GB fills up quickly once a few streaming apps and their caches are installed, which slows the device down; 16 GB or more leaves room for games and keeps updates from failing.

The highest video resolution the device can output, usually 4K (2160p) or Full HD (1080p).

A 4K streamer is only worth it with a 4K TV, but it also unlocks the HDR formats, which most HD-only devices leave out.

HDR10 is the base high dynamic range format every HDR TV understands. It brightens highlights and deepens colors compared with standard video, using one set of picture settings for the whole movie.

HDR10+ adds dynamic metadata to HDR10, adjusting brightness and color scene by scene. It matters most on Samsung TVs, which do not support Dolby Vision, and is used by Prime Video and others.

Dolby Vision is the dynamic HDR format used by Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and Max for most of their HDR catalog. It adjusts the picture scene by scene for the specific TV, and only shows up if both the streamer and the TV support it.

Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) is the HDR format broadcasters use for live TV and sports, such as BBC iPlayer and some live streaming apps. It works on SDR and HDR TVs alike.

Upscaling that uses a trained model to sharpen HD video to 4K, instead of simply stretching it.

It makes a visible difference on older shows, YouTube and live TV, which are rarely streamed in 4K.

Dolby Atmos is the surround sound format that adds height to the sound, so effects can come from above. The device passes it to a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, and most streaming services carry it on their 4K titles.

Range: The 2.4 GHz band offers a longer range, meaning it can cover larger areas and penetrate solid objects like walls more effectively than 5 GHz.

Speed: Generally, 2.4 GHz provides slower speeds compared to 5 GHz due to a lower maximum data rate.

Interference: More prone to interference since many other devices (like cordless phones, microwaves, and Bluetooth devices) operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, leading to potential congestion and slower network performance.

Range: Offers a shorter range compared to 2.4 GHz and may have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstacles.

Speed: Typically provides faster speeds and higher data rates due to more available bandwidth.

Interference: Less prone to interference as fewer devices operate on this frequency, leading to a more stable connection.

Availability: Only a device with a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 radio can use the 6 GHz band, and your router has to broadcast it.

Interference: The cleanest of the three bands, because older devices cannot reach it at all, which keeps 4K streaming steady in a crowded home.

Range: The shortest reach of the three and the weakest through walls, so the device should sit near the router or a mesh node.

Ethernet is a widely used technology for wired networking, providing a stable and high-speed connection between devices on a local area network (LAN).

Speed: Ethernet can offer higher and more consistent speeds compared to Wi-Fi. Modern Ethernet standards can support speeds from 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet) to 10 Gbps (10 Gigabit Ethernet) and beyond.

Stability and Reliability: Because it uses a wired connection, Ethernet is less susceptible to interference from other devices and physical barriers, leading to a more stable and reliable connection.

Lower Latency: Ethernet typically offers lower latency compared to Wi-Fi, making it ideal for applications that require real-time data transfer, such as online gaming and video conferencing.

Security: A wired connection is generally more secure than a wireless one, as physical access to the network is required to intercept data.

Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology used for exchanging data over short distances.

Bluetooth enables devices to communicate wirelessly within a short range, typically up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) for most consumer devices.

A USB port on the device itself, for a flash drive or hard disk with your own videos, extra storage, a webcam, a keyboard or a game controller.

Google Home serves as a central hub for a variety of smart devices, including lights, thermostats, cameras, and speakers. It leverages Google Assistant for voice control, enabling users to manage their smart home with simple commands.

Amazon Alexa is one of the most widely used smart home systems, known for its compatibility with a vast array of devices. Users can control everything from smart lights to appliances using voice commands through Echo devices.

Apple HomeKit is designed for users in the Apple ecosystem, providing a seamless way to control compatible smart devices through iOS devices using the Home app or Siri. It emphasizes security and user privacy.

SmartThings is a flexible platform that connects a wide range of devices from different brands, offering a unified interface for control. It supports various communication protocols, allowing for extensive device compatibility.

Home Assistant is an open-source platform that allows for extensive customization and integration of a wide variety of smart devices. It supports a multitude of protocols and brands, making it ideal for tech-savvy users.

Matter is a unified, open-source connectivity protocol designed to standardize and simplify communication between smart home devices from different manufacturers. Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (formerly the Zigbee Alliance), Matter aims to improve interoperability, security, and reliability across various smart home ecosystems.

Matter operates over existing networking technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread, providing flexibility in device connectivity. Its IP-based nature allows seamless integration with existing internet infrastructure and cloud services. Matter uses a mesh networking topology, particularly when operating over Thread, to enhance range and reliability by allowing devices to relay data through each other.

Security is a cornerstone of Matter, with end-to-end encryption and secure device onboarding processes ensuring robust protection for data and privacy. Matter also supports over-the-air updates, allowing devices to stay current with the latest features and security enhancements.

A Matter Controller commissions and controls Matter devices, so the streamer keeps lights, plugs and sensors working when your phone is away and runs their automations from the living room.

It reaches Matter-over-Thread devices only when the streamer is also a Thread Border Router.

A Thread Border Router connects your Thread mesh network to your home network, letting Thread devices (many Matter sensors, locks and bulbs) reach apps, hubs and the internet. A streamer that is always plugged in near the middle of the house is a natural place for one.

AirPlay sends video, music and photos from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to the TV, and can mirror the whole screen.

It is built into Apple TV and offered by some other platforms, which matters in a home full of Apple devices.

Google Cast (Chromecast built-in) lets you tap the cast icon in YouTube, Netflix and thousands of other Android, iPhone and Chrome apps to play on the TV, with the phone acting as the remote.

Miracast mirrors the screen of a Windows PC or an Android phone that supports it, without going through an app or the internet. Useful for presentations, photos and apps that offer no casting button.

The included remote has a microphone and a button to search, open apps or control the smart home with your voice.

The remote can turn the TV on and off and change its volume and input (over infrared or HDMI-CEC), so the TV's own remote can stay in a drawer.

Buttons that light up when the remote is picked up, so you can find the right one in a dark room.

The remote has a built-in battery charged over USB, instead of disposable AAA batteries.

A button on the device, an app or a voice command makes a lost remote play a sound, so you can find it under the sofa cushions.

One or more buttons on the remote you can assign to an app, an input or a smart home action, instead of the fixed shortcuts printed on it.

The assistant that answers when you talk to the remote or the device, such as Alexa, Gemini, Google Assistant, Siri or Roku Voice.

It decides what voice commands can do beyond search: controlling lights and cameras, showing a doorbell feed on the TV, or answering questions.

Microphones in the device (or a remote that listens for a wake word) let you speak from across the room without picking up the remote, like a smart speaker.

The device pairs with Bluetooth game controllers (Xbox, PlayStation or its own) for the games in its app store and for cloud gaming services.