Apple TV (3rd generation)

The 2012 Apple TV is easy to confuse with its predecessor, since the size, ports and price stayed the same. What changed was the processor and the maximum resolution: with a single-core A5 chip it could play full 1080p video for the first time.

The interface was rebuilt with icon tiles for each service. Apple added iTunes Match, iCloud photo sharing and later support for Hulu, HBO and other apps, though third parties could not publish their own software until tvOS appeared in 2015.

AirPlay mirroring made it simple to show a Mac or iPad screen on a TV, and the box became a presentation tool in homes and classrooms. A revised 2013 board used a smaller A5 chip. The box lived on for years as a $69 entry model.